The authors studied neuroleptic concentration-therapeutic response
curves for butaperazine (BPZ), a piperazine phenothiazine, in 10
schizophrenic patients during the first 12 days of treatment. BPZ bound to
red blood cells (RBC) was more strongly correlated with therapeutic
response than was plasma BPZ. RBC BPZ concentrations could be used to
define a "therapeutic window", an optimun concentration for therapeutic
response, above and below which favorable response diminishes. The authors
emphasize the preliminary nature of the data but suggest that levels of
RBC-bound neuroleptic may provide an important guide for dosage regulation
in schizophrenic patients.Abstract Teaser