sarcosine + sodium benzoate

Sarcosine + sodium benzoate is an investigational combination therapy consisting of sarcosine (N-methylglycine), a glycine transporter I (GlyT-1) inhibitor, and sodium benzoate, a D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitor. This combination is designed to enhance N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated neurotransmission through two complementary upstream mechanisms: sarcosine increases synaptic glycine levels by inhibiting its reuptake, while sodium benzoate increases D-serine levels by preventing its degradation. Developed by researchers at Chang-Hua Hospital in Taiwan, the combination has been studied as an adjunctive treatment for chronic schizophrenia, specifically targeting cognitive and global functioning deficits that are often resistant to standard antipsychotic therapy. Clinical trial results have suggested that the combination may improve cognitive function and global functioning even when clinical symptoms remain unchanged.

Other names

sarcosine + BEN-methylglycine + sodium benzoatesarcosine and benzoate