Miscellaneous Typical Antipsychotics (Wiki)

Also referred to as a Standard Antipsychotics
Also referred to as a Conventional Antipsychotics
Also referred to as a Conventional Neuroleptics
Also referred to as a Major Tranquilisers

Please note: Dosage equivalents are provided for certain drugs below and are denoted as unit equivalents, i.e. one unit of drug x is roughly the equivalent as one unit of drug y, where the dosage equal to one unit varies.

Typical antipsychotics that do not appear to fit into the two main groups.



Chlorprothixene (Wiki)

Brand names: Taractan®, Truxal®
Formula: C18H18ClNS
Half life: ~ 8 to 12 hours (vague figure)
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 45mg per day [Not Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 90mg per day [Not Verified]

Introduced in 1959, chlorprothixene is considered a first generation typical antipsychotic; it is chemically similar to the drug chlorpromazine of the same class. It is extremely sedative and has anxiolytic effects in addition to the obvious antipsychotic effects; it also has a mild antidepressant effect, although some argue that this perceived effect is in fact a by product of the tranquillising effect that it exerts. Said tranquilising effect makes this drug useful in the treatment of general agitation.

Typical side effects include a dry mouth, fatigue, major hypotension and marked weight gain. As such, it is often difficult to achieve full therapeutic doses and as such is mostly used in conjunction with another antipsychotic treatment. As a result of this plethora of unwanted side effects, patients should be very carefully monitored, with blood pressure readings being taken at least every day and blood tests and/or EKG readings also being performed on a regular basis.

This difficulty in achieving effective doses is reflected in the differences between the maximum outpatient and inpatient doses; outpatients should only receive up to 90mg per day, whilst inpatients may receive up to 800mg per day, nearly ten times more than an outpatient.

Flupentixol (Flupenthixol) (Wiki)

Brand names: Depixol®, Fluanxol®
Formula: C23H25F3N2OS
Half life: ~ 35 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 9mg per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 18mg per day [Verified]

Flupentixol is a long lasting antipsychotic - following a single injection, the medication can remain in the body for as much as four weeks. It has decent antidepressant qualities and, I believe, stimulant qualities as well.

Loxapine (Wiki)

Brand names: Loxapac®, Loxitane®
Formula: C18H18ClN3O
Half life: ~ 4 hours
Single unit dose: 10mg per day
Recommended outpatient dose: 30mg per day [Not Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 250mg per day [Verified]

Although mostly classified as a typical antipsychotic, many researchers believe that loxapine might in fact be atypical in nature; it is structurally related to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine.

Molindone (Wiki)

Brand names: Moban®
Formula: C16H24N2O2
Half life: ~ 24 hours
Single unit dose: 10mg per day
Recommended outpatient dose: 30mg per day [Not Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 225mg per day [Verified]

This drug is sedative yet can cause unwanted restlessness and movement; it does not tend to promote seizures.

Promethazine (Wiki)

Brand names: Phenergan®, Promethegan®
Formula: C17H20N2S
Half life: 16 to 19 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 50mg per day [Not Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 100mg per day (for insomnia) [Not Verified]

Primarily an antihistamine.

Originally used as an antipsychotic, this drug exhibits notable sedative and hypnotic effects.

Sulforidazine (Wiki)

Brand names: Imagotan®, Inofal®, Psychoson®
Formula: C21H26N2O2S2
Half life: ~ 10.73 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 150mg per day [Highly Questionable]
Maximum outpatient dose: 300mg per day [Highly Questionable]

Sulforidazine is a metabolite of the drug thioridazine of the same class.

Thiothixene (Wiki)

Brand names: Navane®
Formula: C23H29N3O2S2
Half life: ~ 34 hours
Single unit dose: 5mg per day
Recommended outpatient dose: 15mg per day [Not Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 60mg per day [Verified]

Previously a popular treatment for schizophrenia, this medication has now fallen out of favour.

Zuclopenthixol (Wiki)

Brand names: Acuphase®, Cisordinol®, Clopixol®
Formula: C22H25ClN2OS
Half life: ~ 20 hours
Single unit dose: 20mg per day
Recommended outpatient dose: 20mg oral per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 600mg oral per day [Verified]

A typical atipsychotic of the thioxanthene group, Zuclopenthixol exhibits antihistamine activity. It is available in three forms; Zuclopenthixol Decanoate is a long acting intramuscular injection and may help control aggressive behaviour. It is administered every two or three weeks. Zuclopenthixol Acetate is a shorter acting intramuscular injection used in the acute sedation of psychotic inpatients. The effect peaks at 48–72 hours providing 2–3 days of sedation. Finally, we have Zuclopenthixol Dihydrochloride, an oral formulation most commonly used unless the patient is non compliant for whatever reason with tablets. Side effects are similar to most other typical antipsychotics. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome is a rare but fatal side effect.