Chlorpromazine introduction

With the introduction of chlorpromazine in 1952, there was a small revolution in psychiatry patients suffering from psychosis were able to be de-institutionalized. Chlorpromazine and other typical antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol) demonstrate high in vitro binding affinities for the dopamine D2 receptor (D2). Specifically, their... 

Serious side-effects have been associated with the important psychotherapeutic agent, chlorpromazine (358), almost since its introduction. High sensitivity to sunburn, pigmentation of the skin and ocular opacity are common phototoxic effects [ 196]. In a series of phenothiazines, the chloro-substituted compounds, particularly chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine and perphenazine, showed by far the greatest phototoxic activity [197, 198]. 

The introduction of the phenothiazinc neuroleptic drug chlorpromazine in the treatment of schizophrenia is regarded by many as the most important event in 20th century psychiatry (Table 5.1 Swazey, 1974). Prior to chlorpromazine most schizophrenics could look forward to a lifetime in a state mental hospital. Though chlorpromazine and its successor neuroleptic drugs do not cure the disease, they favorably influence the fundamental symptoms so much that most patients can function reasonably well. Together with the advent of the community mental health move-... 

It can be argued that the introduction of lithium salts into the practice of psychiatry in 1949 heralded the beginning of psychopharmacology, as it predated the discovery of chlorpromazine, imipramine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and resperine. Lithium came into clinical use serendipitously, the Australian psychiatrist Cade having by chance given it to a small group of manic patients and found that it had beneficial effects. 

Despite this evidence of the rapidity of the adoption of the new drugs and their influence on psychiatry, many of their advocates complained that there was resistance to using them. Pierre Deniker, one of the French psychiatrists who had first used chlorpromazine with psychiatric patients, complained in an interview in 1971 that this work had roused little interest (quoted in Swazey 1974, p. 138). Subsequently other prominent psychopharmacologists and historians of the period have reiterated this view (Healy 1996 Swazey 1974). Historian Judith Swazey s account of the introduction of chlorpromazine asserts that there was a general reluctance to... 

The introduction of chlorpromazine transformed the way that drug treatment was regarded. Even before the disease-centred theory of its action crystallised, chlorpromazine was received with great enthusiasm. It was viewed as being superior to previous drug treatments and it inspired extensive research and publicity (Moncrieff 1999). It immediately stimulated a search for similar compounds and for possible drug treatments for depression (Lehmann Kline 1983). 

The introduction of the phenothiazine derivative, chlorpromazine, has started a dramatic improvement in the clinical treatment of schizophrenia. During the past four decades, beside phenothiazines, various antipsychotics having different chemical structures have been identified and introduced into clinical practice (e.g., butyrophenones and benzamides). These drugs ( typical antipsychotics ) decreased the duration of hospitalizations and, with maintenance treatment, reduced the risk of relapse and re-hospitalization. However, they had significant adverse side effects such as tardive dyskinesia, orthostatic hypotension, prolactin increase, and QT prolongation. 

Word of the successful use of chlorpromazine spread rapidly, and it was adopted throughout Europe, then in the United States and the rest of the world. The effects following introduction of chlorpromazine in the United States were just as dramatic. Since 1955, the number of hospitalized psychiatric patients in the United States has decreased significantly. In 1955, the figure was 6()0,()00, and today there are approximately 150,000 hospitalized psychiatric patients, despite an increase in the general population. Of course, other factors have contributed to today s lower... 

The activity of a benzothiadiazine (XXXI) was gported as comparable to chlorpromazine in animal experiments. Initial clinical trials indicated promise that the imidazoline XXXII might be a worthwhile antidepressant, A review on the therapeutic use of lithium carbonate in the treatment of mania, excitement, epilepsy and premenstral tension has been given by Noyes. This compound has just been approved for introduction on the U.S, market (April, 1970). 

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