A double‐blind comparative trial of remoxipride and haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia

Abstract

A multicentre parallel group study was carried out to compare the efficacy and safety of remoxipride, a new antipsychotic drug, with haloperidol in the treatment of acute schizophrenia. Patients were randomly assigned to the two groups and assessments were made under double-blind conditions. Treatment was preceded by a washout period and lasted 6 weeks. Eighty-nine consecutively admitted men and women meeting the Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia in an acute phase of the illness were treated with remoxipride 75-300 mg b.d. or haloperidol 5-20 mg b.d. The main assessments were changes in scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Krawiecka Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression. Both neuroleptics produced clinical improvement but there were no significant differences in overall efficacy measurements between the two drugs. There were relatively few unwanted side-effects. There were significantly less extra-pyramidal symptoms and blurred vision with remoxipride, and less constipation with haloperidol. The results indicate that remoxipride is an effective antipsychotic drug with a low incidence of extrapyramidal side-effects.