clopenthixol-decanoate and Mental-Disorders

A double-blind study was carried out in 48 hospitalized, elderly demented patients with key symptoms of aggressiveness and agitation to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of zuclopenthixol compared with that of haloperidol/levomepromazine. Patients were allocated at random to receive initial doses of either 4 mg zuclopenthixol daily or 1 mg haloperidol in the morning and 5 mg levomepromazine in the evening over a period of 4 weeks. In Week 4, the mean daily dose was 4.8 mg zuclopenthixol and 1.6/7.6 mg haloperidol/levomepromazine, respectively. After 1 week, the severity of illness was already significantly reduced, and was further reduced after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment in both groups: the reduction, however, was most pronounced in the zuclopenthixol group and after 2 weeks this difference was significant. Side-effects were few. The results of the study indicate that, whilst both zuclopenthixol and haloperidol/levomepromazine were effective and well tolerated in these elderly patients with aggressiveness and agitation, onset of therapeutic effect appeared more rapidly with zuclopenthixol, which furthermore provides the practical advantage that it may be administered once a day.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aggression; Antipsychotic Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clopenthixol; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Haloperidol; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Methotrimeprazine; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Random Allocation; Thioxanthenes

A double-blind study was carried out in 53 elderly patients in 6 geriatric nursing homes to assess the effectiveness of the neuroleptics, zuclopenthixol and melperon (flubuperone), in the relief of restlessness, aggressiveness and other such symptoms. The initial daily dose was 4 mg zuclopenthixol or 75 mg melperon, increased if necessary over the treatment period of 4 weeks. Assessments were made on entry and after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment of the overall severity of illness and of individual symptoms. The results showed that there was significant improvement in the condition of patients in both treatment groups and a significant reduction in mean total as well as in the main single symptom scores. These changes were already apparent after 1 week of treatment. Although there was a tendency for faster improvement in the zuclopenthixol group, there were no significant differences between the groups in any of the parameters assessed. Side-effects were few and generally mild and transient.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aggression; Antipsychotic Agents; Butyrophenones; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clopenthixol; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hostility; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Psychomotor Agitation; Random Allocation; Thioxanthenes

One hundred and sixteen mentally handicapped patients with behavioural disorders were studied in a double-blind clinical comparison of zuclopenthixol decanoate injection (mean dosage 123 mg/week) and placebo. The study consisted of a 4-week open phase, in which all patients were treated with zuclopenthixol decanoate, followed by a 12-week double-blind phase where approximately half of the patients were changed to placebo. Patients were assessed every 2 weeks using the Clinical Global Impression, the Nurse's Observation Scale for In-patient Evaluation, a specific behaviour rating scale designed for this study and a side-effects check-list. Fourteen patients in the placebo group were withdrawn because of an increase in the frequency and severity of their behavioural disorders compared to only 4 in the zuclopenthixol decanoate group. Analyses of the rating scales of the patients remaining in the study also showed zuclopenthixol decanoate to be superior to placebo in the treatment of mentally handicapped patients with behavioural disorders. Side-effects in general were not a problem and did not affect treatment.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aggression; Antipsychotic Agents; Clopenthixol; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Thioxanthenes

70 psychiatric patients were treated with a depot preparation of cis (Z) clopenthixol decanoate, a new sedative and anti-psychotic neuroleptic. The mean dosage interval was two weeks, an amount of drug from 50 to 1000 mg for each I.M. injection. Significant improvements were obtained on thinking disturbance, hostile-suspiciousness and anxious-depression symptoms groups. Thus, paranoid schizophrenia seems the best indication of cis (Z) clopenthixol decanoate. Side effects (parkinsonism, weight increase) were of low intensity, and no depression was observed. This new long-acting depot neuroleptic may be used not only in hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients, but also in outpatients as maintenance treatment: excellent results were obtained in such patients with a very low (less than 200 mg) fortnightly dosage. Advantages and indications of cis (Z) clopenthixol decanoate are discussed.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clopenthixol; Delayed-Action Preparations; Female; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Male; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Thioxanthenes