Biomaterial Database

L-tryptophan administration in L-dopa-induced hallucinations in elderly Parkinsonian patients. 1977

J M Rabey, and J Vardi, and J J Askenazi, and M Streifler

L-tryptophan (L-T) was added at a dose of 150-450 mg daily to eight Parkinsonian patients who developed visual hallucinations with paranoidal features under L-dopa (L-D) treatment (112.5-75 mg daily) in combination with alpha-methyldopa hydrazine (12.5-75 mg daily). In six patients L-T ameliorated the symptomatology by arresting the visual paranoidal hallucinations or diminishing their frequency and relieving the psychomotor agitation. As a 'side effect', L-T produced new 'pleasurable', 'LSD-like' visual images in three patients. In two patients, in whom L-T did not affect the mental disturbances, amelioration was obtained only by phenothiazines. Theoretical considerations on the role of dopamine in the genesis of visual hallucinations and mental disturbances emphasizes the benefit of L-T administration in this 'organomental' syndrome.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007980	Levodopa	The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system.	L-Dopa,3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine,Dopaflex,Dopar,L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine,Larodopa,Levopa,3 Hydroxy L tyrosine,L 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine,L Dopa
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010300	Parkinson Disease	A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a TREMOR that is maximal at rest, retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the brainstem. LEWY BODIES are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may also be found in a related condition (LEWY BODY DISEASE, DIFFUSE) characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1059, pp1067-75)	Idiopathic Parkinson Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson Disease,Paralysis Agitans,Primary Parkinsonism,Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body,Parkinsonism, Primary
D005260	Female		Females
D006212	Hallucinations	Subjectively experienced sensations in the absence of an appropriate stimulus, but which are regarded by the individual as real. They may be of organic origin or associated with MENTAL DISORDERS.	Hallucination of Body Sensation,Hallucinations, Auditory,Hallucinations, Dissociative,Hallucinations, Elementary,Hallucinations, Formed, of People,Hallucinations, Gustatory,Hallucinations, Hypnagogic,Hallucinations, Hypnapompic,Hallucinations, Internal Body Sensation,Hallucinations, Kinesthetic,Hallucinations, Mood Congruent,Hallucinations, Mood Incongruent,Hallucinations, Olfactory,Hallucinations, Organic,Hallucinations, Reflex,Hallucinations, Sensory,Hallucinations, Somatic,Hallucinations, Tactile,Hallucinations, Verbal Auditory,Hallucinations, Visual,Hallucinations, Visual, Formed,Hallucinations, Visual, Unformed,Auditory Hallucination,Auditory Hallucination, Verbal,Auditory Hallucinations,Auditory Hallucinations, Verbal,Body Sensation Hallucination,Body Sensation Hallucinations,Dissociative Hallucination,Dissociative Hallucinations,Elementary Hallucination,Elementary Hallucinations,Gustatory Hallucination,Gustatory Hallucinations,Hallucination,Hallucination, Auditory,Hallucination, Dissociative,Hallucination, Elementary,Hallucination, Gustatory,Hallucination, Hypnagogic,Hallucination, Hypnapompic,Hallucination, Kinesthetic,Hallucination, Mood Congruent,Hallucination, Mood Incongruent,Hallucination, Olfactory,Hallucination, Organic,Hallucination, Reflex,Hallucination, Sensory,Hallucination, Somatic,Hallucination, Tactile,Hallucination, Verbal Auditory,Hallucination, Visual,Hypnagogic Hallucination,Hypnagogic Hallucinations,Hypnapompic Hallucination,Hypnapompic Hallucinations,Kinesthetic Hallucination,Kinesthetic Hallucinations,Mood Congruent Hallucination,Mood Congruent Hallucinations,Mood Incongruent Hallucination,Mood Incongruent Hallucinations,Olfactory Hallucination,Olfactory Hallucinations,Organic Hallucination,Organic Hallucinations,Reflex Hallucination,Reflex Hallucinations,Sensory Hallucination,Sensory Hallucinations,Somatic Hallucination,Somatic Hallucinations,Tactile Hallucination,Tactile Hallucinations,Verbal Auditory Hallucination,Verbal Auditory Hallucinations,Visual Hallucination,Visual Hallucinations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D014364	Tryptophan	An essential amino acid that is necessary for normal growth in infants and for NITROGEN balance in adults. It is a precursor of INDOLE ALKALOIDS in plants. It is a precursor of SEROTONIN (hence its use as an antidepressant and sleep aid). It can be a precursor to NIACIN, albeit inefficiently, in mammals.	Ardeydorm,Ardeytropin,L-Tryptophan,L-Tryptophan-ratiopharm,Levotryptophan,Lyphan,Naturruhe,Optimax,PMS-Tryptophan,Trofan,Tryptacin,Tryptan,Tryptophan Metabolism Alterations,ratio-Tryptophan,L Tryptophan,L Tryptophan ratiopharm,PMS Tryptophan,ratio Tryptophan