HALOPERIDOL, CLOPENTHIXOL, AND CHLORPROMAZINE IN CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

In a double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial in chronic schizophrenic patients, haloperidol and clopenthixol were found to be effective antipsychotic agents, favorably altering behavior as observed by the psychiatrist, the nurse, and ward attendants. In this respect they appeared to compare adequately to the standard drug, chlorpromazine. In this experiment, neither the standard drug nor the investigational drugs affected psychological test performance. The expected side effects such as extrapyramidal signs and sedation did occur and in some instances required dose reduction for alleviation. One case of possible hepatoxicity in the CX group occurred at the end of the study and was considered of serious import requiring cessation of medication. It was concluded that these chemically unrelated antipsychotics could be used in practice as therapeutic alternatives, the particular choice depending on side effects and possibly symptomatology.