Mesoridazine | Serentil
Serentil® (mesoridazine besylate) is indicated for the management of schizophrenic patients who fail to respond adequately to treatment with other antipsychotic drugs. Due to the risk of significant, potentially life-threatening, proarrhythmic effects with Serentil treatment, Serentil should be used only in patients who have failed to respond adequately to treatment with appropriate courses of other antipsychotic drugs, either because of insufficient effectiveness or the inability to achieve an effective dose due to intolerable adverse effects from those drugs. Consequently, before initiating treatment with Serentil, it is strongly recommended that a patient be given at least two trials, each with a different antipsychotic drug product at an adequate dose, and for an adequate duration (see WARNINGS and CONTRAINDICATIONS).
However, the prescriber should be aware that Serentil has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials in treatment of refractory schizophrenic patients and its efficacy in such patients is unknown.
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Since Serentil® (mesoridazine besylate) is associated with a dose-related prolongation of the QTc interval, which is a potentially life-threatening event, its use should be reserved for schizophrenia patients who fail to respond adequately to treatment with other antipsychotic drugs (see INDICATIONS and WARNINGS).
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The dosage of Serentil, as with most medications, should be adjusted to the needs of the individual. The lowest effective dosage should always be used. When maximum response is achieved, dosage may be reduced gradually to a maintenance dose.
Tablets and Oral Solution
For most patients, regardless of severity, a starting dose of 50 mg three times a day is recommended. The usual optimum total daily dose range is 100-400 mg per day.
Injectable Form
In those situations in which an intramuscular form of medication is indicated, Serentil injectable is available. For most patients, a starting dose of 25 mg is recommended. The dose may be repeated in 30 to 60 minutes, if necessary. The usual optimum total daily dose range is 25-200 mg per day.