THE EFFICACY OF SUSTAINED-RELEASE THIORIDAZINE IN THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIC INPATIENTS

A sustained-release form of thioridazine was recently developed as an aid to improving outpatient compliance with medication regimens and decreasing inpatient costs associated with medication distribution and administration. Fifteen patients with acute schizophrenia were entered into a placebo-controlled double-blind evaluation of thioridazine sustained-release, which was given once daily for four weeks. Tests of efficacy at endpoint revealed a significant medication effect (P < 0.05), which was already evident by the end of week 1 (P < 0.05).