ZIPRASIDONE

Ziprasidone is a novel antipsychotic drug. It has high affinity for se rotonin 5-HT2 and dopamine D-2 receptors in vitro, with an Ii-fold hig her affinity for 5-HT2 than for D-2 receptors, suggestive of a low pot ential for inducing motor disturbance [including extrapyramidal sympto ms (EPS)]. The effects of ziprasidone in receptor binding studies refl ected its in vitro pharmacology, with more potent effects against 5-HT 2 receptor-than against D-2 receptor-mediated behaviour. Because zipra sidone inhibits serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and noradrenalin e (norepinephrine) reuptake, it may have anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Data from phase II and III clinical trials have shown zipras idone to be effective in reducing the positive and negative symptoms o f, and depression associated with, schizophrenia, and in reducing anxi ety in patients about to undergo dental surgery. Ziprasidone was gener ally well tolerated in phase II and III clinical trials, with somnolen ce and nausea being the most frequently reported adverse events in pla cebo-controlled studies. Motor disturbances, including EPS, were infre quently observed.