Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T22:25:17.605Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

High Dosage Haloperidol in Chronic Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Robin G. McCreadie
Affiliation:
Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH
Ian M. MacDonald
Affiliation:
Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH

Abstract

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 in-patients 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.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 1977 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brandrup, E. & Kristjansen, P. (1961) A controlled clinical trial of a new psychotropic drug (haloperidol). Journal of Mental Science, 107, 778–82.Google Scholar
Cooper, J. E., Kendell, R. E., Gurland, B. J., Sharpe, L., Copeland, J. R. M. & Simon, R. (1972) Psychiatric Diagnosis in Mew York and London. Maudsley Monograph No. 20. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Forsman, A. & Ohman, R. (1974) On the pharmacokinetics of haloperidol. Nordisk-Psychiatrisk Tiddskrift, 28, 441–8.Google Scholar
Gerlach, J., Koppelhus, P., Helweg, E. & Monrad, A. (1974) Clozapine and haloperidol in a single-blind crossover trial: therapeutic and biochemical aspects in the treatment of schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 50, 410–24.Google Scholar
Goner, T., Schiele, B. C. & Vestre, N. D. (1970) A comparison of haloperidol and thioridazine HCl in chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenics. Behavioural Neuropsychiatry, 2(3–4), 47–9.Google Scholar
Hall, W. B., Norris, D. V., Schiele, B. C. & Zimmermann, R. (1968) A controlled comparison of haloperidol and fluphenazine in chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenics. Diseases of the Nervous System, 29, 405–8.Google Scholar
Hamilton, M., Smith, A. L. G., Lapidus, H. E. & Cadogan, E. P. (1960) A controlled trial of thiopropazate dihydrochloride (Dartalan), chlorpromazine, and occupational therapy in chronic schizophrenics. Journal of Mental Science, 106, 4055.Google Scholar
Hershon, H. I., Kennedy, P. F. & McGuire, R. J. (1972) Persistence of extrapyramidal disorders and psychiatric relapse after withdrawal of long-term phenothiazine therapy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 120, 4150.Google Scholar
Honigfeld, G. & Klett, C. J. (1965) The Nurses Observation Scale for In-Patient Evaluation. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21, 6571.3.0.CO;2-I>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howard, J. S. (1974) Haloperidol for chronically hospitalized psychotics: a double blind comparison with thiothixene and placebo: a follow-up open evaluation. Diseases of the Nervous System, 35, 458–63.Google Scholar
Mellor, C. S. (1970) First rank symptoms of schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 117, 1523.Google Scholar
Okasha, A. & Tewfik, G. I. (1964) Haloperidol: a controlled clinical trial in chronic disturbed psychotic patients. British Journal of Psychiatry, 110, 5660.Google Scholar
Ota, K. Y. & Kurland, A. A. (1973) A double-blind comparison of haloperidol oral concentrate, haloperidol solutabs, and placebo in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 13, 99110.Google Scholar
Prasad, L. & Townley, M. C. (1966) Haloperidol and thioridazine in treatment of chronic schizophrenics. Diseases of the Nervous System, 27, 722–6.Google Scholar
Prien, R. F. & Cole, J. O. (1968) High dose chlorpromazine therapy in chronic schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry, 18, 482–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sangiovanni, F., Taylor, M. A., Abrams, R. & Gaztanaga, P. (1973) Rapid control of psychotic excitement states with intramuscular haloperidol. American Journal of Psychiatry, 130, 1155–6.Google Scholar
Serafetinides, E. A., Collins, S. & Clark, M. L. (1972) Haloperidol, clopenthixol, and chlorpromazine in chronic schizophrenia. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 154, 3142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siegel, S. (1956) Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Stewart, A., Lafave, H. G. & Segovia, G. (1969) Haloperidol—new addition to the drug treatment of schizophrenia. Behavioural Neuropsychiatry, 1(7), 23–8.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.