Abstract |
In a Finnish general practice 120 patients with psychosomatic disorders, manifest as syndromes of tension headache, cardiac neurosis, dizziness or muscular tension, were randomly allocated to treatment over a 4-week period with either flupenthixol (1 to 2 mg per day) or diazepam (5 to 10 mg mg per day). The 4 syndromes and 12 associated symptoms (anxiety, fatigue, depression, pain, asthenia, muscle fatiguability, tension, dyspnoea, restlessness, palpitations, sleep disorders, and vertigo) were rated on a 4-point scale on entry, at 2 weeks and at 4 weeks. Both drugs reduced significantly the average total scores for syndromes and single symptoms after 2-weeks' treatment. Flupenthixol was the more effective in relieving fatigue and vertigo; diazepam in relieving headache, anxiety, tension, restlessness and sleep disturbance. Cardiac neurosis, palpitations and general muscular tension responded poorly to both drugs. After 4 weeks, relief of vertigo, pain and fatigue was more evident in the flupenthixol group, and of anxiety, tension and restlessness in the diazepam group. Side-effects were complained of at some stage by 17 patients in the flupenthixol group (9 of fatigue, 5 of sleep disturbance, 1 of constipation, 1 of extrapyramidal symptoms, and 1 of weight gain) and by 16 patients in the diazepam group (10 of fatigue, 4 of sleep problems and 2 of diarrhoea).
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Authors | K Jokinen, T Koskinen, R Selonen |
Journal | Pharmatherapeutica
(Pharmatherapeutica)
Vol. 3
Issue 9
Pg. 573-81
( 1984)
ISSN: 0308-051X [Print] England |
PMID | 6374678
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Thioxanthenes
- Flupenthixol
- Diazepam
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Diazepam
(administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Flupenthixol
(administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Psychophysiologic Disorders
(drug therapy)
- Random Allocation
- Thioxanthenes
(therapeutic use)
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