risperidone + haloperidol (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich)

This entry refers to a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted by the **Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich** as part of the German Research Network on Schizophrenia. The study compared the efficacy and tolerability of **risperidone** (an atypical antipsychotic) and **haloperidol** (a conventional antipsychotic) in patients experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia. Risperidone acts as a potent antagonist at both **dopamine D2** and **serotonin 5-HT2A** receptors, whereas haloperidol primarily targets the dopamine D2 receptor. The trial utilized relatively low doses of both medications (averaging 3.7–3.8 mg/day) over an 8-week period to evaluate whether the safety advantages of atypical antipsychotics, such as reduced extrapyramidal side effects and improved treatment retention, were evident even at lower dosages of conventional agents.

Brand names

RisperdalHaldol

Other names

risperidone, haloperidol-Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich-schizophrenia (first episode)