Abstract

Psychosis Induced by the Interaction of Memantine and Amantadine: Lending Evidence to the Glutamatergic Theory of Schizophrenia

Author(s): David R. Spiegel, Michael R. Leader

The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia is an enduring theory purporting that overactivity of the dopamine system is part of the pathogenesis of this illness. This theory is supported, in part, by the fact that amphetamines, via their enhancement of dopaminergic neurotransmission, can induce psychosis. More recently, aided by the psychoticomimetic effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists, it seems that glutamate, as well, has a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (1). We present a case of psychosis possibly precipitated by the pharmacodynamic interaction of two NMDA antagonists.

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