Abstract
Plasma and red blood cell levels of haloperidol, thioridazine, and thioridazine’s main metabolite mesoridazine were measured in schizophrenic out-patients during treatment with fixed doses of halo-peridol or thioridazine for several months. These drug levels were compared to those in schizo-phrenic inpatients treated with fixed doses of the same neuroleptics. There were large interpatient variations in plasma and red blood cell levels at a given dose for schizophrenic outpatients as well as for inpatients. The intrapatient day-to-day fluc-tuation was much greater in the outpatients. The mean coefficient of variation of thioridazine or mesoridazine levels was about two-fold higher in schizophrenic outpatients than in inpatients. Dif-ferences in blood sampling time or compliance in medication ingestion do not fully explain the issue. The factors accounting for the increased intrapa-tient variability of plasma levels of thioridazine, mesoridazine, and haloperidol in schizophrenic outpatients remain unclear.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 194-198 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1984 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)