Re: propranolol for excessive water drinking - polydipsia

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another one:Psychogenic polydipsia

(PPD), which can lead to water intoxication (WI), is a problem with many psychiatric patients. The case history of one schizophrenic patient

presented here shows that propanolol therapy can reduce PPD and WI, possibly decrease thirst, and improve schizophrenic symptoms and behavior. When combined with regular weight evaluation and behavioral treatment to restrict water intake, the therapy can further reduce the risk of developing life-threatening WI complications.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1875874--- In Autism-Biomedical-Europe , "natasa778" wrote:>> OBJECTIVE:> Psychiatric patients presenting with polydipsia are often difficult to> treat with standard psychiatric interventions. Pharmacological> intervention was attempted in these patients based on the hypothesis> that angiotensin II, a potent dipsinogen, may be involved in the> drinking behavior of patients with polydipsia. Beta-blockers inhibit> renin release (and thus indirectly angiotensin II) by blocking beta> receptors in the kidney.> METHODS:> Three patients were identified as excessive water drinkers during their> hospital admissions. All three patients were eunatremic but polydipsic > at the time of study. Two of the three had histories of hyponatremia and> required emergency medical treatment on more than one occasion. No > patients had been controlled by strict fluid restriction. Trials of > propranolol were initiated to control their water drinking.> RESULTS:> After starting propranolol, two patients responded quickly. In one> patient, fluid intake decreased from 2650 +/- 647 to 1577 +/- 361, p <> .001. In the other, fluid intake decreased from over 7000 ml before> starting propranolol to around 3000 ml. The mean noon body weight of> the third patient, in whom it was not possible to document fluid intake> or urine volume before and after administering beta-blocker, was 72.6> +/- 2.6 Kg and 66.0 +/- 1.0 Kg, respectively (p < .0001).> CONCLUSIONS:> These results suggest that propranolol may be useful for the treatment> of polydipsia in patients with schizophrenia. Its efficacy could be> related to inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system. Additional> research using the controlled pharmacotherapeutic trials is required to> confirm these findings.> > > > > http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9844835>