Abstract

Clozapine (Clozaril – Sandoz) and loxapine (Loxapac – Lederle) are oral antipsychotic (neuroleptic) drugs recently marketed in Britain. Uniquely clozapine is licensed for the treatment of schizophrenic patients resistant to other drugs. The drug is claimed to improve both positive symptoms such as delusions and negative symptoms such as social withdrawal. Loxapine is a standard antipsychotic but is claimed to be of particular benefit in patients with paranoid schizophrenia.