Drug-refractory chronic schizophrenics: doses and plasma concentrations of thiothixene.

Some treatment-resistant schizophrenics will respond to rather large doses of thiothixene, such as 120 to 400 mg/day. These patients also show higher plasma concentrations (24 to 57 ng/ml) of the drug than those who respond less well. Patients tolerated this intensive treatment equally well as more conservative programs. Chronic refractory schizophrenics may benefit from such intensive treatment in the short term, but one cannot yet be certain about long-term effects.