[Flupenthixol versus haloperidol in acute psychotic episodes].

The aim of this study is to evaluate the activity of flupentixol oral high concentration and to define the profile of the drug according to the administered dose. The trial includes 40 acute patients (21 schizophrenics, 13 manic patients and 6 other psychotics). The study was open, but the patients were treated at random either by haloperidol or by flupentixol. Both substances showed a strong antipsychotic and antimanic effect. The differences according to the administered doses were: a quicker onset of action for flupentixol in schizophrenic patients; a more pronounced activity of flupentixol in the same patients, as far as anxiety, depressive tendencies and defect symptoms are concerned. Extrapyramidal side effects are the most common ones amongst the two drugs.