Clinical pharmacology and the prescription of psychotropic medication

There are many reasons why once a day oral dosage may be advantageous in administration of psychotropic drugs to mental patients, such as convenience for the patient, avoided side effects, ease of remembering, all of which contribute to reliable dosage as well as cost savings. This paper illustrates cost data, pharmacokinetics of psychotropic drugs, and suggests a basis for determining adequate pill size for unit dosage. On a cost per milligram basis, there is economic savings if medication is prescribed in the largest size the patient can conveniently take. Pharmacological data support a rationale for higher unit dosage. They indicate a dose response relationship between dose and therapeutic effectiveness and probably a blood level relationship. The long half-life indicates that once-a-day medication is a reasonable dosage schedule. The most important evidence for once-a-day medication, however, is the empirical evidence that it works, and is safe. Dosage information from double blind investigations provides a basis for determining adequacy of pill size for antipsychotic therapy.