Persistence of Extra-pyramidal Disorders and Psychiatric Relapse after Withdrawal of Long-Term Phenothiazine Therapy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
It has been said that any drug which is active and produces an effect which is beneficial must also, under similar or different circumstances, have side-effects which are neither beneficial nor desired (Hamilton, 1965). It is the balance between desired and undesired actions which determines the usefulness of any drug. Such a balance varies according to the individual patient's needs. Thus a life-saving drug will be given even if it has serious side effects, while this would not be justifiable for a drug with only a marginally therapeutic effect. Scrutiny of past results may enable clinicians to make finer predictions as to which patient will benefit from a certain drug and which will suffer unacceptable side-effects. Phenothiazines are one group of drugs whose efficacies and dangers have been discussed in this way.