Abstract
Difficulties in developing techniques to measure plasma levels of neuroleptic drugs have included the presence of metabolites, as well as cross-reactivity not only between these metabolites and the parent compound but between drugs (e.g., a phenothiazine and a tricyclic). Although newer techniques have minimized some of these problems, interpretation of published data must also recognize such design limitations as variable dose, small sample size, etc. The literature is reviewed on the relationship between therapeutic response and plasma levels of chlorpromazine, thioridazine, thiothixene, fluphenazine, butaperazine, and haloperidol. It is suggested that additional studies, carefully designed, on dosage and plasma levels could help in achieving the lowest possible therapeutic dosage and thus in minimizing side effects.
MeSH terms
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Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage
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Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects
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Antipsychotic Agents / blood*
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Basal Ganglia Diseases / chemically induced
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Chlorpromazine / administration & dosage
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Chlorpromazine / adverse effects
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Chlorpromazine / blood
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Fluphenazine / administration & dosage
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Fluphenazine / adverse effects
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Fluphenazine / analogs & derivatives
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Fluphenazine / blood
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Haloperidol / administration & dosage
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Haloperidol / adverse effects
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Haloperidol / blood
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Humans
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Mental Disorders / blood
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Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
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Mental Disorders / psychology
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Phenothiazines / administration & dosage
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Phenothiazines / adverse effects
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Phenothiazines / blood
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Research Design / standards
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Thioridazine / administration & dosage
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Thioridazine / adverse effects
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Thioridazine / blood
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Thiothixene / administration & dosage
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Thiothixene / adverse effects
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Thiothixene / blood
Substances
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Antipsychotic Agents
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Phenothiazines
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Thiothixene
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fluphenazine depot
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Haloperidol
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Thioridazine
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Fluphenazine
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Chlorpromazine