REMOXIPRIDE IN ACUTE-PSYCHOSIS - INTRAMUSCULAR FOLLOWED BY ORAL TREATMENT COMPARED TO HALOPERIDOL, A DOUBLE-BLIND, MULTICENTER TRIAL

A double-blind, randomized, multicentre study comparing the efficacy a nd safety of intramuscular (i.m.) remoxipride to that of i.m. haloperi dol was undertaken in 119 psychotic patients (mean age: 37 +/- 13.4 ye ars). The study period was 1 week i.m., followed by 3 weeks of oral tr eatment. Dosage was 200-600 mg/day for remoxipride and 10-30 mg/day fo r haloperidol during i.m. and 150-600 mg/day for remoxipride and 10-40 mg/day for haloperidol during oral treatment. Both drugs produced mar ked clinical improvements during i.m. and oral treatment. During the i .m. week, the median Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total score decreased from 51 to 34 in the remoxipride group and from 53 to 38 in the haloperidol group. Over the 4-week treatment period, there was a significantly greater reduction in 'some factors' for remoxipride-trea ted patients when compared to haloperidol-treated patients. Somnolence was reported by 14% of haloperidol-treated patients during i.m. treat ment. Akathisia and tremor occurred significantly less in remoxipride- treated patients as compared to haloperidol-treated patients. Intramus cularly administered remoxipride is as effective as haloperidol in red ucing acute phase psychotic symptoms, and is associated with fewer ext rapyramidal symptoms.