A depot neuroleptic withdrawal study. A controlled study of the clinical effects of the withdrawal of depot fluphenazine decanoate and depot flupenthixol decanoate in chronic schizophrenic patients.
A double-blind withdrawal trial in 41 chronic schizophrenic outpatients on neuroleptics was carried out during 6 months. Long-acting neuroleptics (fluphenazine decanoate or flupenthixol decanoate) were used in comparison with placebo to determine the value in maintenance therapy. Most patients had a rather low maintenance dose, about 12.5-25 mg fluphenazine decanoate or 20-40 mg flupenthixol decanoate every third week. Relapse was often characterized by a return of the dame symptoms as the patient had during his first schizophrenic attack. Drugs were significantly more effective than placebo in preventing relapse and readmission to hospital. 62% relapsed in the placebo groups as compared with 27% in the drug group. All patients on active substance and without relapse during the controlled study had their treatment discontinued for 24 months in an open follow-up investigation. This resulted in relapse of all patients but one, i.e. a final relapse frequency of 97%. A significant weight decrease was observed in the placebo group. The risk of withdrawal is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D013892:Thioxanthenes / Q000009:adverse effects*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D010919:Placebos; D013892:Thioxanthenes; D005475:Flupenthixol; D005476:Fluphenazine