Following on the success of
Aripiprazole with its high clinical efficacy and minimal side effects, further
antipsychotic drugs (such as
Bifeprunox) have been developed based on the same
dopamine D2 partial agonist pharmacological profile as
Aripiprazole. However clinical trials of
Bifeprunox have found differing results to that of its predecessor, without the same significant clinical efficacy. This study has therefore investigated the different effects of 10 week treatment with
Aripiprazole (0.75 mg/kg, 3 times per day),
Bifeprunox (0.8 mg/kg, 3 times per day) and
Haloperidol (0.1mg/kg, 3 times per day) on
body weight gain, food and water intake, white fat mass, and 8 week treatment on locomotor activity. Treatment with
Bifeprunox was found to significantly reduce all of the measured parameters except white fat mass compared to the control group. However,
Aripiprazole and
Haloperidol treatment reduced water intake compared to the control, without any significant effects on the other measured parameters. These findings further demonstrate the potential pharmacological differences between
Aripiprazole and
Bifeprunox, and identify potential
weight loss side effects and increased anxiety behaviour with
Bifeprunox treatment.