Fluphenazine

General information

Fluphenazine is a phenothiazine neuroleptic drug.

In a double-blind comparison of a group of stabilized outpatients taking a low dosage of fluphenazine enanthate (1.25–5 mg every 2 weeks) with a group taking a standard dosage (12.5–50 mg every 2 weeks), relapse rates were higher in the low-dose group (56%) than in the standard-dose group (7%) [ ]. However, patients in the low-dose group had a better outcome in terms of some measures of psychosocial adjustment and family satisfaction. Patients in the low-dose group had fewer signs of tardive dyskinesia, and relapses led less often to re-admission to hospital; they also responded more readily to treatment with temporary increases in medication than patients treated with standard doses.

In a comparison of a low dose of fluphenazine decanoate (5 mg) with a standard dose (25 mg) every 2 weeks, there was no significant difference in relapse at 1 year [ ], nor was there a difference in survival at 1 year, but at 2 years, survival was significantly better with the 25 mg dose (64%) than with the 5 mg dose (31%) [ ].

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