Low- and standard-dose depot haloperidol combined with targeted oral neuroleptics

Nine patients receiving a low dose (25 mg) and ten receiving a standard dose (150 mg) of depot haloperidol every four weeks were assessed every three months for two years. Patients also received targeted oral neuroleptics as needed. No significant between-group differences were found in clinical outcome as measured by number of hospital admissions, days hospitalized, scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment Scale, and level of extrapyramidal symptoms. Combining low-dose depot and targeted oral neuroleptics was at least as effective as using a standard depot dose and for many patients may provide the best way to reach the minimal effective dose for maintenance treatment.