A double-blind comparison of loxapine succinate and trifluoperazine in newly admitted schizophrenic patients.

A study was conducted evaluating the efficacy of loxapine succinate in newly admitted schizophrenic patients through a four-week double-blind comparison with trifluoperazine. Twenty-four patients received between 40 and 80 mg loxapine succinate daily and 19 patients received between 20 and 50 mg trifluoperazine daily. The two groups showed comparable significant improvement on the BPRS and CGI. The discharge and termination rates of the two groups were not significantly different and the incidence and severity of side effects, most frequently extrapyramidal signs, were similar in both groups. Loxapine succinate was judged to be an effective treatment for newly admitted schizophrenic patients.