title: Switching to risperidone after unsuccessful treatment of olanzapine in the first-episode schizophrenia: an open trial.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of switching to risperidone in the treatment of first-episode schizophrenia who had failed to respond to an initial-prescribed antipsychotic, olanzapine. Fifty-one patients with first-episode schizophrenia after unsuccessful treatment of olanzapine (the mean (S.D.) dosage: 16.4 (4.4) mg/day) were included in this switching study. Of the 51 patients, 43 (84.3%) completed the full 12-week trial and 8 (15.7%) dropped out. The mean dosage of risperidone at the endpoint (last observation) was 3.1 (2.0) mg/day. The total scores of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales (BPRS) were significantly reduced from baseline to endpoint, especially in the positive and excitement factors (p<0.001). Responder rate (at least 20% decrease in BPRS total score plus final Clinical Global Impression score of 3 or less) was 35.3%. These findings indicate that the switching to risperidone could be one of the useful treatment options in this population.
authors.affiliation: Yuri Kumiai General Hospital, 38 yago, Honjo-shi, Akita, 015-8511, Japan. takahashi_h1969@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ishigooka
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Higuchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D011388:Prolactin; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine