A dose-finding study with remoxipride in the acute treatment of schizophrenic patients.
Two hundred and forty-two patients with acute schizophrenia were enrolled in a double-blind, comparative, dose-finding study of a novel antipsychotic, remoxipride. Remoxipride was evaluated in a low (30 to 90 mg), medium (120 to 240 mg) and a high (300 to 600 mg) dose range and compared with a haloperidol (15 to 45 mg), which was administered to a similar group of patients. The results support the antipsychotic effect of remoxipride, with maximum efficacy occurring at daily doses between 120 mg and 600 mg. Side-effects were more frequent at doses of remoxipride over 300 mg. In all groups, remoxipride caused consistently fewer extrapyramidal side-effects than haloperidol. The antipsychotic effect of remoxipride may be derived from specific blockade of dopamine D2 receptors in the mesolimbic tract. The findings also suggest that remoxipride may have a therapeutic effect on negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Lapierre
Y D
YD
Royal Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ontario.
Ancill
R
R
Awad
G
G
Bakish
D
D
Beaudry
P
P
Bloom
D
D
Chandrasena
R
R
Das
M
M
Durand
C
C
Elliott
D
D
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D017330:Remoxipride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D017330:Remoxipride; D006220:Haloperidol