The effects of a 50% reduction of cis(z)-flupenthixol decanoate in chronic schizophrenic patients maintained on a high dose regime.
Eighteen chronic schizophrenic patients who had shown improvement from increased maintenance dosages of cis(z)-flupenthixol decanoate were entered into a double-blind study in which half of the patients were randomly allocated to be maintained on 50% of their pre-trial dosage. During the 44 week study the reduced dosage group showed increased morbidity and one-third of these patients had a schizophrenic relapse. The greatest deterioration occurred in patients reduced from above to below 200 mg cis(z)-flupenthixol decanoate biweekly. A review of all the patients entered into the study showed a relationship between deterioration of schizophrenic and depressive features and cis(z)-flupenthixol plasma levels which reflected the administered dosage. Prolactin levels in general did not reflect control of schizophrenic symptoms. Side-effects were few, and there was no emergence of tardive dyskinesia. A multicentre trial is needed for further evaluation.
Cookson
I B
IB
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013892:Thioxanthenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013892:Thioxanthenes; C007761:flupenthixol decanoate; D005475:Flupenthixol