FLUPHENAZINE PLASMA-LEVELS AND CLINICAL-RESPONSE

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (9) , 370-373
Abstract
Plasma levels of fluphenazine and clinical response were examined in 19 inpatient schizophrenics (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III diagnoses) using a constant dose steady-state methodology. A significant curvilinear correlation was demonstrated between clinical response and steady-state plasma levels of fluphenazine (P < 0.05). A therapeutic range of plasma fluphenazine is suggested in the range of 0.13-0.70 ng/ml. The lowest plasma level detected (0.13 ng/ml) appeared to be well within the therapeutic range. The 9 patients with plasma fluphenazine levels in this range demonstrated a mean clinical improvement of 59% compared to 34% for patients with plasma levels above 0.70 ng/ml (P < 0.01).