title: Focus on levomepromazine.
abstract: This is a review of the uses of levomepromazine in psychiatry, based upon MEDLINE, PSYCLIT and EMBASE literature searches. The main indications for this drug in psychiatry are schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Levomepromazine's sedative properties particularly fit it to use in psychiatric intensive care. There is also some evidence to suggest it has efficacy in drug-resistant psychosis, although this property of the drug does require further research. In other areas of medicine levomepromazine has been used in: alleviating bronchoconstriction; as a preoperative sedative; in terminal pain control and postoperative analgesia; and in the control of nausea. Some antimycobacterial properties have been recorded. The drug should not be prescribed to patients at high risk of accidental or suicidal overdose.
authors.affiliation: Cheadle Royal Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool, UK. bgreen@affinityhealth.co.uk
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Tor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Faith
authors.forename: Kristof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seaton
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D000075202:Contraindications; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D008728:Methotrimeprazine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013405:Suicide; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008728:Methotrimeprazine