megadose pharmacotherapy

a dosing strategy popular in the 1970s and 1980s in the United States and other countries, generally involving the rapid administration of very high doses of an antipsychotic drug in the hope that this would hasten an antipsychotic response. It was based on the presumption that rapid blockade of postsynaptic dopamine D2 receptors would lead to faster resolution of psychotic symptoms. This strategy was largely ineffective in producing a more rapid response and had numerous adverse effects, such as severe movement disorders and death due to neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Research published in the late 1980s showed that lower doses were as effective as higher doses and had fewer adverse consequences. Because of the lack of clinical benefit and the high incidence of adverse side effects associated with megadose pharmacotherapy, it has fallen into disuse. Also called rapid neuroleptization.

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Psychology term of the day

December 18th 2024

interrogatories

pl. n. formal written questions prepared for an official pretrial questioning of an individual who possesses information relevant to a case or used in the judicial examination of an individual or party.