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A naturalistic comparison study of the efficacy and safety of intramuscular olanzapine, intramuscular haloperidol, and intramuscular levomepromazine in acute agitated patients with schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Suzuki Hidenobu,
Gen Keishi,
Takahashi Yuki
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2376
Subject(s) - levomepromazine , olanzapine , haloperidol , positive and negative syndrome scale , medicine , akathisia , extrapyramidal symptoms , anesthesia , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , antipsychotic , psychiatry , psychosis , dopamine
Objective This study was a comparative investigation of the clinical efficacy and safety of intramuscular (IM) olanzapine, IM haloperidol, and IM levomepromazine in acute agitated patients with schizophrenia. Methods The subjects were 122 inpatients. Their clinical symptoms were assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Excited Component (PANSS‐EC), PANSS, and Agitation–Calmness Evaluation Scale, and their safety were assessed using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS), and Drug‐induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS). Results The mean changes from baseline on the PANSS‐EC, Agitation–Calmness Evaluation Scale, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, BARS, and DIEPSS scores were significantly better in both IM olanzapine and IM levomepromazine than in IM haloperidol. Of these, the mean changes from baseline on the BARS and DIEPSS scores were significantly better in IM olanzapine than in IM levomepromazine. The mean change from baseline on the PANSS positive score was significantly better in both IM olanzapine and IM haloperidol than in IM levomepromazine. Conclusions The results of this study suggest the possibility that the anti‐agitation effects of IM olanzapine and IM levomepromazine are more rapid than those of IM haloperidol. No worsening of EPS was observed. Our results also suggest that compared with IM levomepromazine, IM olanzapine is safer and affords greater improvement in symptoms. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.