Minimum effective doses of haloperidol for the treatment of first psychotic episode: a comparative study with risperidone and olanzapine

Abstract

Minimum doses of haloperidol might show similar efficacy and side-effects compared to atypical antipsychotics. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficacy of minimum doses of haloperidol with standard doses of risperidone and olanzapine on a 6-month open trial in first psychotic episode patients and to examine the effect of compliance on their outcome. Forty-two patients were recruited and started on flexible doses of these drugs. Olanzapine was given with no cost to the patients. Efficacy and side-effects were monitored every 3 months using standardized assessments. Thirty patients completed the study. All treatment groups showed improvement in positive, negative and depressive symptoms. There were no differences in side-effects among them. The haloperidol group required higher doses of anticholinergics. The rate of treatment discontinuation was higher in the risperidone group due to the direct cost. Minimum doses of haloperidol might prove to be a good choice of treatment for patients with a first episode of psychosis.

Treatment costs and clinical outcome for first episode schizophrenia patients: a 3‐year follow‐up of the Swedish ‘Parachute Project’ and Two Comparison Groups

“…The median dose of medication at year 3 was 2 mg haloperidol equivalents. This is far below international recommendations (43) but in good accordance with other FEP studies (7, 44) and PET‐studies, indicating a ‘therapeutic window’ of 2–4 haloperidol equivalent. (29).…”

Dose–response relationship of sertindole and haloperidol using the pharmacopsychometric triangle

“…In the primary study publication (5), which focussed on the change in SAS score rather than on effect size, dose–response relations were less clear. The presence of extrapyramidal side‐effects even at very low doses of haloperidol has been demonstrated in a recent study (27). Likewise, Beasley et al.…”

Survey on schizophrenia treatment in Mexico: perception and antipsychotic prescription patterns

“…In our country some studies support the use of minimum dosages of these medications as a first choice for the treatment of acute and chronic schizophrenia [42-44]. Not controlled, open trials comparing the efficacy of minimum effective doses of haloperidol with SGAs reported similar response rates [45-48]. …”