Perospirone

Perospirone is an atypical antipsychotic agent for the treatment of schizop hrenia. Its primary mode of action is through antagonism of serotonin 5-HT2 A and dopamine D-2 receptors. An 8-week course of oral perospirone 8 to 48 mg/day displayed efficacy in u p to 75% of patients with schizophrenia participating in phase II and phase III trials. The onset of action of the drug was about 2 weeks. Perospirone was effective against positive, negative and general symptoms i n patients with schizophrenia, as assessed with standard rating scales (Bri ef Psychiatric Rating Scale, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale). Compared with haloperidol 2 to 12 mg/day, perospirone 8 to 48 mg/day was si gnificantly more effective against negative symptoms and tended to be more effective against general symptoms and most positive symptoms in a trial in 145 patients with schizophrenia. Perospirone had efficacy similar to that of mosapramine 50 to 300 mg/day in a comparative phase III trial in 159 pat ients. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) tended to occur less often and were generally milder with perospirone than with haloperidol or mosapramine.