Sarcosine (N-Methylglycine) Monotherapy for Schizophrenia
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2005-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The etiology of schizophrenia remains unclear. Schizophrenia patients reveal positive
symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairments. In addition to dopamine system
hyperactivity, hypofunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays a role in the
pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Consequently, enhancing NMDA receptor neurotransmission has
been considered as a novel treatment approach. To date, there have been several trials on
NMDA enhancers reported. For example, sarcosine (N-methylglycine, a glycine transporter I
inhibitor) showed therapeutic effects not only in chronically stable patients but also in
acutely exacerbated ones when added-on to antipsychotics. In addition, sarcosine yields
excellent safety profiles, in comparison to current antipsychotics.
It remains unclear whether NMDA enhancers, such as sarcosine, can serve as monotherapy for
schizophrenia. The aims of this project are to examine the efficacy and safety of sarcosine
monotherapy for acutely-ill schizophrenic patients, and to compare the effects of 2
grams/day, effective dose, with 1 gram/day, ineffective lower dose.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
China Medical University Hospital
Collaborators:
National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan National Science Council, Taiwan