Tranquillisers major

Robertson MM, Trimble MR Major tranquillisers used as antidepressants a review. J Affect Disord 4 173-193, 1982... 

With the use of major tranquillisers, for example, thioridazine, chlorpromazine, or perphenazine, it is possible to withdraw opiate dependents who are highly motivated. The dosages can be titrated to the degree of clinical symptoms and this can be monitored with key carers through an out-patient clinic. The use of hypnotics should be restricted to short-term use due to their own dependency problems, but they can be a useful addition, particularly in the early phases of the treatment programme. 

Psychotropic drugs Major tranquillisers, anxiolytics and hypnotics, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ... 

The neuroleptic drugs are psychiatry s most notorious drug treatment. They are the principle treatment for the most severe and symbolic of psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia or psychosis, but they are intensely disliked by many patients who therefore often have to be forced or pressurised to take them. They are also a focus of controversy due to claims about their brain damaging effects. They have been known under many names including major tranquillisers and phenoth-iazines, but are now mostly referred to as antipsychotics a term that originated in North America. However to avoid the implications of disease specificity that this name implies I will mainly refer to them here as neuroleptics, a term that, as I explain below, better describes their characteristic actions. 

WITHDRAW Teaching Pack currently being prepared for publication. Throughout, the client is referred to as she as the majority of tranquilliser clients are women. The worker is referred to as he for balance it may be understood that in both cases men and women are included. 

Since then, more active synthetic tranquillisers have replaced reserpine, but it does still have some uses. The sales of reserpine in its finished form are probably higher than those of any other genuine alkaloid. The purpose of this review, which is strictly post-reserpine , is to demonstrate that interesting work is being done in this field, although no major new alkaloid has been discovered during the last 8—10 years. 

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