title: Fluphenazine plasma levels and clinical response.
abstract: We monitored fluphenazine plasma levels in 39 schizophrenic patients who participated in a 2-year double-blind comparison of 5 mg and 25 mg of fluphenazine decanoate (FD) administered every 14 days. We investigated the relationship between log-transformed plasma levels at 3, 6, and 9 months and subsequent psychotic exacerbations with logistic regression and survival analysis. Using logistic regression, the relationship was nonsignificant at 3 months (chi-square = .21, df = 1, p = .65), but significant at 6 months (chi-square = 4.38, df = 1, p = .04) and 9 months (chi-square = 8.98, df = 1, p = .003). Using survival analysis with fluphenazine levels as a covariate (Cox models), we also found significant relationships between the fluphenazine plasma level and the risk of exacerbations at 6 months (chi-square = 3.77, df = 1, p = .052) and 9 months (chi-square = 12.21, df = 1, p = .0005), but not at three months (chi-square = 0.87, df = 1, p = .65). These findings suggest that the measurement of fluphenazine plasma levels may be helpful in decision-making about the dosage of FD.
authors.affiliation: West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center, Brentwood Division, CA 90073.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Marder
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Putten
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aravagiri
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hawes
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Midha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005476:Fluphenazine