Akathisia with haloperidol and thiothixene.

Abstract

We studied the incidence of akathisia in two populations of newly admitted schizophrenic patients: one group was treated with haloperidol and the other group was treated with thiothixene hydrochloride. Within six hours after taking a 5-mg test dose of haloperidol, 40% of the patients experienced akathisia; during maintenance treatment with 10 mg of haloperidol taken at bedtime, 75% of the patients experienced akathisia by the seventh day. With thiothixene hydrochloride (0.22-mg/kg test dose; 0.44-mg/kg maintenance dose), the respective percentages were 20% and 46%. The akathisia experienced after administration of the test of haloperidol dose was not mild or inconsequential; 28% of the patients experienced moderate, 17% of the patients experienced severe, and 22% of the patients experienced very severe akathisia. Akathisia with haloperidol could not be suppressed completely in half of the patients. Treatment-resistant akathisia was experienced as anxiety and depression. We believe these tallies to be important because akathisia causes much misery and often goes undiagnosed.

• Authors: T Van Putten, P R May, S R Marder
• Journal: Archives of general psychiatry (Arch Gen Psychiatry) Vol. 41 Issue 11 Pg. 1036-9 (Nov 1984) ISSN: 0003-990X [Print] United States
• PMID: 6497564 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Thiothixene
• Haloperidol

Topics

• Adult
• Akathisia, Drug-Induced
• Anxiety Disorders (chemically induced, psychology)
• Depressive Disorder (chemically induced, psychology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Haloperidol (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Psychomotor Agitation (psychology)
• Psychotic Disorders (drug therapy)
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy)
• Thiothixene (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Time Factors