A preliminary evaluation of pipothiazine palmitate in schizophrenia.

A preliminary evaluation of pipothiazine palmitate by injection was carried out in 25 schizophrenic patients to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug, probable dosage schedules and intervals between doses, and to observ any undesirable side-effects. A good overall response was obtained in 64% of the patients. The authors suggest that the optimum maintenance dosage is between 50 and 100 mg. given at 4-weekly intervals. Although extra-pyramidal side-effects were high, only 1 patient had to be withdrawn on this account; the symptoms being well-controlled in mostly by procyclidine. Other adverse side-effects were negligible and there was no evidence of adverse biological effects. It is concluded that pipthiazine palmitate has considerable potential in the treatment of schizophrenia and a longer-term study is being conducted.