Antipsychotic drug doses in a schizophrenia inpatient unit

Dose-effect studies have found that 600 mg/day of chlorpromazine (or its equivalent) is generally sufficient to treat acute psychosis. This paper reports on the doses of antipsychotic medication prescribed for inpatients in a Schizophrenia Unit at an Australian state hospital. Fifty five percent of patients received daily doses equivalent to more than 600 mg of chlorpromazine and 26% received daily doses equivalent to more than 1500 mg of chlorpromazine. Low potency drugs were prescribed in lower doses than high potency drugs. Patients prescribed depot medication tended to receive higher doses of medication than those prescribed oral medication only.