Abstract

Thioridazine (Melleril - Sandoz) is a phenothiazine tranquillizer of the pipe-ridine series promoted for “a wide range of mental and emotional disturbances characterised by anxiety, tension and agitation”, and for behaviour disorders in children. It is claimed to produce therapeutic effects with “fewer side effects” than other phenothiazines. Several years of experience with thioridazine in the treatment of psychotic patients show that it is in fact as effective as other pheno-thiazines and is less liable to cause certain major side effects, especially extra-pyramidal effects. Its usefulness in non-psychotic patients is not established; and while serious side effects with thioridazine have been rarely reported, it is not so safe as to justify its use for minor disturbances.