Sodium Benzoate Helps Treat Schizophrenia When Added to Clozapine

September 24, 2018 · Posted in Potential Treatments 

schizophrenia

In a 2017 article in the journal Biological Psychiatry, Chieh-Hsin Lin and colleagues reported that sodium benzoate, a common food preservative, may augment the effects of clozapine in patients with schizophrenia.

Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic available, but as many as 40–70% of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia do not respond to it. For those with a poor response to clozapine, sodium benzoate may offer some hope.

In a randomized, double-blind trial, sixty inpatients taking clozapine for schizophrenia were divided into three groups. One group received an additional 1 g/day of sodium benzoate, another received 2 g/day, and the third received placebo in addition to clozapine. Both groups taking sodium benzoate and clozapine showed improvements in negative symptoms of schizophrenia (which can include apathy and inability to experience pleasure) compared to the group taking only clozapine. The larger 2g dose also improved positive symptoms of schizophrenia (such as hallucinations or delusions) and quality of life. Changes in levels of the antioxidant catalase were linked to the total improvement in symptoms and the improvement in positive symptoms. Sodium benzoate did not seem to cause any side effects.

Editor’s Note: Sodium benzoate is a D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor that activates NMDA receptors and increases levels of the amino acid D-serine in the brain by preventing it from breaking down. D-serine can reverse the effects of the illicit drug PCP, and very high doses of D-serine have improved the effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics in people with schizophrenia. By increasing levels of D-serine, sodium benzoate may offer new benefits to people with schizophrenia, especially those who have not responded to other treatments.

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