Clinical advantages of amisulpride in the treatment of acute schizophrenia.
Five studies have been conducted with the atypical anti-psychotic amisulpride (100-1200 mg/day) involving 1358 patients with acute exacerbations of schizophrenia; four studies were short-term (4-8 weeks), double-blind studies and one was a 12-month, open, randomized comparison. Amisulpride improved positive symptoms consistently, and changes were more pronounced than with haloperidol, flupenthixol and risperidone; amisulpride showed a more rapid onset of action compared to haloperidol, and improvement in negative symptoms was more effective than with any comparator. An optimum response was obtained with amisulpride doses 400-800 mg/day. The long-term study confirmed the usefulness of amisulpride for maintenance treatment in schizophrenia, with a clear advantage over haloperidol, leading to better functioning and quality of life. Amisulpride caused fewer neurological side-effects than conventional anti-psychotics and less weight gain than risperidone, both of which are crucial factors for long-term compliance.
Burns
T
T
Department of Psychiatry, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. tburns@sghms.ac.uk
Bale
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride