Short-term double-blind trial of pipothiazine palmitate and haloperidol in the acute phase of schizophrenia.

A 22-day double-blind study of 53 acutely ill, recently admitted schizophrenic patients aged 18-45 years is described. Twenty-seven patients received 20 mg of haloperidol i.m. on the first day and 200 drops of haloperidol (20 mg) p.o. in a single dose in a glass of milk with grenadine, daily at 8:00 A.M. from the 2nd to the 21st day. Twenty-six other patients received 100 mg of pipothiazine palmitate i.m. on the first day and a glass of milk with grenadine daily at 8:00 A.M. from the 2nd to the 21st day. The two groups responded similarly to the drugs as indicated by both BPRS scores and CGI ratings. Extrapyramidal side effects were not significantly different for the two groups. Although a single injection of pipothiazine palmitate was as effective as the daily administration of haloperidol in a 22-day study of recently admitted schizophrenic patients, in the acute phase, a general recommendation for the use of long-acting neuroleptics cannot be made because more information on side effects is needed and a larger number of patients must be studied. However, long-lasting neuroleptics can be recommended for special situations such as when the patient is severely disturbed and/or refuses treatment.