CLOPIXOL

CLOPIXOL DEPOT acts as a combined absorption and conversion depot. Absorption depots retain the active substance, releasing it gradually. In conversion depots the active substance is made available as a derivative which is slowly converted to the active substance. By the esterification of zuclopenthixol with decanoic acid, zuclopenthixol has been converted into a highly lipophilic substance, zuclopenthixol decanoate. When dissolved in oil and injected intramuscularly this substance diffuses slowly into the surrounding aqueous tissue fluids, where it undergoes enzymatic breakdown into the active component zuclopenthixol and decanoic acid. Zuclopenthixol is a neuroleptic of the thioxanthene group. It is relatively short-acting whereas CLOPIXOL DEPOT - the decanoic acid ester of zuclopenthixol - has a considerably prolonged action. According to pharmacological and pharmacokinetic animal experiments the effect of CLOPIXOL DEPOT lasts for 10 days to 3 weeks after intramuscular injection, except for the cataleptogenic action which is rather weak and of appreciably shorter duration. Significant serum levels of zuclopenthixol are maintained throughout the dosage interval.