Dopamine and mania. The effects of trans- and cis-clopenthixol in a double-blind pilot study.
Sordinol is composed of the mixture of cis-clopenthixol and trans-clopenthixol. The two isomers do not differ in several pharmacological properties, for instance anti-noradrenergic effect. However, cis-clopenthixol possesses anti-dopaminergic effects, while trans-clopenthixol does not. Sordinol-depot contains the almost pure cis-clopenthixol and appears to be less sedating than the oral and short-lasting intramuscular administration forms. In a double-blind pilot study with 10 manic patients, trans-clopenthixol was compared with cis-clopenthixol. Although not reaching statistical significance, cis-clopenthixol showed anti-manic effects, while trans-clopenthixol remained ineffective. It is concluded that the anti-dopaminergic effect of cis-clopenthixol is essential for its anti-manic effect, which is in agreement with the hypothesis of involvement of the dopaminergic system in the pathogenesis of mania.
D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003006:Clopenthixol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013892:Thioxanthenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D013892:Thioxanthenes; D003006:Clopenthixol