Abstract
The importance of prophylactic neuroleptic treatment in remitted schizophrenic patients has been shown in numerous studies. However; the influence of side effects during prophylactic treatment on patients' compliance is underestimated. Even with the introduction of so-called atypical neuroleptics, this problem was not entirely resolved since these drugs are not available for patients requiring a depot-medication. In the MARS study three different dosages of flupenthixol decanoate were used (10 mg every 14 days, 20 mg every 14 days, 5-40 mg every 1-4 weeks as individually variable dosages) and patients in each group were screened for side-effects.
The patient group receiving individual doses between 5 and 40 mg of flupenthixol decanoate showed the lowest number of relapses, the lowest rate of side effects, and the highest retention rate of all three groups tested. Ls conclusion, an individual and patient-oriented dosing strategy is superior to a Jived dose regimen of flupenthixol decanoate.