ONCE-DAILY CONTROLLED-RELEASE REMOXIPRIDE IS EQUIEFFECTIVE WITH TWICE-DAILY IMMEDIATE-RELEASE REMOXIPRIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

A controlled release (CR) formulation of remoxipride (Roxiam(R), Astra ) given once-daily was compared to immediate release (IR) remoxipride. given twice-daily, with respect to efficacy and tolerability, in a 4- week multicentre parallel-group dose titration (200-600 mg/day) study with acutely ill schizophrenic patients. Forty-three patients received remoxipride CR (mean dose 344 mg/day) and 49 patients received remoxi pride IR (mean dose 346 mg/day). Efficacy was assessed using the Kolak owska version of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS score of gre ater-than-or-equal-to 18 points at entry) and the Clinical Global Impr ession scale (CGI), while extrapyramidal symptoms were rated using the Simpson and Angus scale. Both formulations of remoxipride produced cl inical improvement, with the BPRS median total score falling from 35 a t baseline to 16 at last rating in the remoxipride CR group, and from 33 to 12.5 in the remoxipride IR group. More than 70% of the patients in both groups were assessed as 'much improved' or 'very much improved ' according to the CGI scale. Both formulations of remoxipride were we ll-tolerated, with a low incidence of treatment-emergent adverse sympt oms, including extrapyramidal side effects. No statistically significa nt differences were detected between the treatment groups with regard to efficacy, safety or tolerability.