Treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia with buspirone

J Neurol Sci. 2007 Sep 15;260(1-2):143-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2007.04.019. Epub 2007 May 23.

Abstract

Preliminary data suggest potential benefit of 5-HT receptor agonists in the treatment of ataxias. We studied the effects of buspirone in a cohort of twenty patients with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Twenty patients were treated in this double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over trial with either buspirone HCl 30 mg twice daily or placebo for 3 months. Buspirone was not shown to be superior to placebo in the treatment of patients with SCA.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Buspirone / administration & dosage*
  • Buspirone / adverse effects
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Dizziness / chemically induced
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Placebo Effect
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage*
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Sleep Stages / drug effects
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / drug therapy*
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / genetics
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Serotonin
  • Buspirone