Abstract
The therapeutic efficacy and reduction in side effects claimed for new antischizophrenic drugs such as clozapine and risperidone have been ascribed to their heightened affinity for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors rather than D-2 receptors. A case for α2-adrenoreceptor antagonism has recently been argued. We have confirmed that at least one atypical property of risperidone (a rapid decrement in its ability to depress self-stimulation) can be partly prevented by an α2-adrenoreceptor agonist (clonidine) but not by a 5-HT 2 receptor agonist (DOI). This result supports the suggested role of α 2-adrenoreceptor antagonism in counteracting extrapyramidal effects during treatment with risperidone.
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