Clinical advantages of amisulpride in the treatment of acute schizophrenia

Five studies have been conducted with the atypical anti-psychotic amisulpride (100 - 1200 mg/day) involving 1358 patients with acute exacerbations of schizophrenia; four studies were short-term (4 - 8 weeks), double-blind studies and one was a 12-month, open, randomized comparison. Amisulpride improved positive symptoms consistently, and changes were more pronounced than with haloperidol, flupenthixol and risperidone; amisulpride showed a more rapid onset of action compared to haloperidol, and improvement in negative symptoms was more effective than with any comparator. An optimum response was obtained with amisulpride doses 400 - 800 mg/day. The long-term study confirmed the usefulness of amisulpride for maintenance treatment in schizophrenia, with a clear advantage over haloperidol, leading to better functioning and quality of life. Amisulpride caused fewer neurological side-effects than conventional anti-psychotics and less weight gain than risperidone, both of which are crucial factors for long-term compliance.