A controlled evaluation of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and sodium amobarbital: intramuscular short-term use in acute psychotic patients. Parenteral haloperidol for rapid control of severe, disruptive symptoms of acute schizophrenia. Haloperidol, clopenthixol, and chlorpromazine in chronic schizophrenia. Chemically unrelated antipsychotics as therapeutic alternatives. A comparison of the relative efficacy of Serenace and chlorpromazine in the treatment of chronic schizophrenics. Rapid tranquilization of acutely psychotic patients with intramuscular haloperidol and chlorpromazine. Tranquilizers or anti-depressants for chronic schizophrenics: a long term study. Effects of two butyrophenone compounds on acute schizophrenic patients: speculation on the neurophysiologic sites of action. High dosage haloperidol in chronic schizophrenia. Comparison of injectable haloperidol and chlorpromazine.
nan Intramuscular haloperidol, at three dose levels, (5 mg, 2 mg, and 1 mg) chlorpromazine (25 mg), and placebo were compared for efficacy, rapidity of therapeutic onset, and safety in 50 acute psychotic patients requiring rapid control. The drugs were administered parenterally under double-blind conditions at half-hour intervals until successful control of moderate to very severe symptomatology was achieved or a maximum of four injections had been given. Global evaluation, BPRS, and target symptom ratings were performed. The overall results indicated that the 5 mg and 2 mg haloperidol doses were significantly superior to the 1 mg haloperidol and 25 mg chlorpromazine doses and to placebo. Transfer of patients to oral haloperidol was satisfactorily accomplished. Side effects for all medications were minimal and included slight to moderate EPS and drowsiness. The use of antiparkinson drugs completely controlled the extrapyramidal symptoms. nan A study designed to assess the relative efficacy of chlorpromazine and Serenace in the control of chronic schizophrenics is described. Twenty-five cases were selected for the study and were randomly allocated to treatment. The condition of the patients was assessed at fortnightly intervals over the eight-week duration of trial period. No significant differences in side-effects emerged in patients on chlorpromazine and Serenace in the dosages administered. The statistically significant trends all showed a superiority of Serenace above chlorpromazine which was in accord with the clinical picture. nan The relative efficacy of 4 tranquilizers was investigated in 66 chronic schizophrenics who had been hospitalized for 10.01 years (mean). The role of adding an anti-depressant was also studied. Following a 4 week placebo period, high dosage tranquilizers were given for 16 weeks and amitriptyline was added for the following 16 weeks. Statistical analyses of the various change measures revealed that patients worsened significantly on placebo, all 4 tranquilizers were significantly better than placebo for symptom reduction and maximum improvement was attained within 16 weeks of tranquilizer administration. No significant differences in efficacy were observed among the 4 tranquilizers and addition of amitriptyline did not confer any additional therapeutic advantage. nan In a double blind chlorpromazine-controlled trial, high dosage haloperidol (100 mg daily) given for three months, appreciably improved the mental state of male chronic 'drug resistant' schizophrenic inpatients in the rehabilitation/long-stay unit of one psychiatric hospital. The results of a three-month follow-up suggested that the improvement could be maintained in some patients on lower doses of the drug. Serious extrapyramidal side effects were not seen at high doses. However, the majority of patients on haloperidol showed a deterioration in ward behaviour, possibly related to drowsiness, and developed raised serum alkaline phosphatase levels. These side effects disappeared in the follow-up period when either the drug was discontinued or the dose of haloperidol reduced. nan
Given that haloperidol and chlorpromazine are global standard antipsychotic treatments for schizophrenia, it is surprising that less than 800 people have been randomised to a comparison and that incomplete reporting still makes it difficult for anyone to draw clear conclusions on the comparative effects of these drugs. However, it seems that haloperidol causes more movement disorders than chlorpromazine, while chlorpromazine is significantly more likely to lead to hypotonia. We are surprised to have to say that we feel further, large, well designed, conducted and reported studies are required.