Penfluridol: an open phase III study in acute newly admitted hospitalized schizophrenic patients.

An open study was carried out in 17 acutely ill, newly admitted, floridly psychotic schizophrenic patients to a city hospital in New York. Penfluridol was given on a daily basis up to doses of 120 mg and patients were rated objectively by means of different psychometric evaluations; vital signs were monitored daily as were side effects. The drug was found to be a rapid acting, well-tolerated, and highly effective antipsychotic agent within the population of patients explored and within the dose range used. It was particularly effective in acutely agitated floridly paranoid schizophrenics; a statistically significant impact was achieved by 7 days and usually within 72 h after initiating treatment. The drug appears unique in that (1) its effects are realized without the untoward and usually troublesome effects of nonspecific sedation attendant upon the use of many other 'neuroleptic' medications, and (2) even within the relatively high doses used it produced no hypotensive effects. It is concluded that this appears to be a unique antipsychotic agent and a potentially important addition to the treatment armamentarium of both acute and chronic schizophrenic individuals.