Fluphenazine decanoate, fluphenazine hydrochloride given orally, and placebo in remitted schizophrenics: I. Relapse rates after one year.

In a sample of 73 17-38 yr old remitted, nonpsychotic schizophrenics, the relapse rate within 1 yr was significantly higher for those patients taking placebo as opposed to those taking fluphenazine hydrochloride orally or fluphenazine decanoate. The ratio of fluphenazine decanoate to fluphenazine hydrochloride given orally was kept constant at 0.5 ml biweekly to 5 mg/day. There were no differences in relapse rates between the 2 active drugs, but there were significantly more terminations due to toxicity from fluphenazine decanoate than from fluphenazine given orally, entirely due to the fact that in 35% of patients receiving fluphenazine decanoate, severe akinesia developed. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)