Influence of Vitamin-C on Phenothiazine Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms in Rats

Single dose and multiple dose influence of vitamin-C in chlorpromazine induced catatonia were studied in adult albino rats of either sex. The study intended to find the role of antioxidant vitamin-C in controlling extrapyramidal side effects. Phenothiazine derivatives produce catatonia as an unwanted side effect when used especially for prolonged periods of time in psychiatric disorders. The catatonia was induced in albino rats using chlorpromazine in the dose of 0.9mg/200gms p.o. and the degree of catatonia was recorded. Vitamin-C was administered first followed by chlorpromazine after 30 minutes (p.o.) in single dose studies. In multiple dose studies, vitamin-C was administered for 8 days followed by the combination of vitamin-C and chlorpromazine on 9^th day as described above and the degree of catatonia was scored. The study reveals that vitamin-C produced statistically significant reduction of extrapyramidal symptoms in both single and multiple dose studies. The vitamin-C has beneficial effect in controlling the toxicity symptoms of phenothiazines. Since, vitamin-C is used safely in the form of food supplement it can be recommended in patients who are using phenothiazine derivatives for prolonged periods of time.