Treatment with the new antipsychotic sertindole for late-occurring undesirable movement effects.

Abstract

Conventional antipsychotics are often associated with late-occurring undesirable movement effects. To gain more experience with newer antipsychotic agents, 151 patients in an acute admissions department were switched from treatment with conventional antipsychotics to sertindole between late 1996 and early 1998. Four of these patients had tardive dyskinesia, tardive dystonia and/or tardive akathisia. The effect of changing to sertindole was measured using specific rating scales for undesirable movement effects. Three of the four patients apparently recovered from the movement disorders after switching to sertindole. In one patient, sertindole monotherapy was not sufficient to reduce the movement effects, but combination treatment with tetrabenazine resulted in a greater reduction in extrapyrimidal symptoms. Because these are case reports, no direct conclusions can be drawn. However, the beneficial effect of sertindole on severe, late-occurring movement disorders, as observed in four difficult-to-treat patients, appears to be promising.

• Authors: Lowijs N M Perquin
• Journal: International clinical psychopharmacology (Int Clin Psychopharmacol) Vol. 20 Issue 6 Pg. 335-8 (Nov 2005) ISSN: 0268-1315 [Print] England
• PMID: 16192844 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Imidazoles
• Indoles
• Clopenthixol
• sertindole
• Haloperidol
• bromperidol

Topics

• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Basal Ganglia Diseases (etiology)
• Clopenthixol (adverse effects)
• Female
• Haloperidol (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Humans
• Imidazoles (therapeutic use)
• Indoles (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy)
• Time Factors