Remoxipride versus haloperidol in healthy volunteers: psychometric performance and subjective tolerance profiles

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric effects of equivalent clinical doses of remoxipride and haloperidol in comparison with placebo in healthy volunteers. In a double-blind design, either 3 mg haloperidol, 150 mg remoxipride, or placebo were administered to 36 healthy male volunteers ranging in age from 19 to 39 years. Performance was assessed using time estimation, critical flicker fusion, and choice reaction time tasks. In addition, self-ratings on subjective well-being were obtained. In healthy subjects, an acute dose of 3 mg haloperidol caused more severe alteration in cognitive functioning, cortical arousal, and psychomotor performance than a clinically equipotent dose of 150 mg remoxipride. Also, self-rating scales showed that subjective tolerance of remoxipride was partly superior to haloperidol. In general, the results of this study strongly suggest a difference between the psychometric profiles of remoxipride and haloperidol. This difference may be essential for maintaining a high level of compliance, especially in the long-term treatment of psychotic patients.