The first antipsychotic is historically recognized as which drug?

The first antipsychotic is historically recognized as which drug?

• A. Thorazine
• B. Haldol
• C. Loxapine
• D. Clozapine

Answer: (A)

Chlorpromazine, sold as Thorazine, is the first antipsychotic drug historically recognized. In the 1950s it dramatically showed how a medication could treat schizophrenia’s positive symptoms, enabling many patients to be treated successfully outside custodial care. This breakthrough inaugurated the era of pharmacologic management for psychosis and established the dopamine D2 receptor blockade as the basis for antipsychotic therapy. The other drugs came later or belong to different generations, so chlorpromazine stands out as the very first antipsychotic to revolutionize psychiatric treatment.

Chlorpromazine, sold as Thorazine, is the first antipsychotic drug historically recognized. In the 1950s it dramatically showed how a medication could treat schizophrenia’s positive symptoms, enabling many patients to be treated successfully outside custodial care. This breakthrough inaugurated the era of pharmacologic management for psychosis and established the dopamine D2 receptor blockade as the basis for antipsychotic therapy. The other drugs came later or belong to different generations, so chlorpromazine stands out as the very first antipsychotic to revolutionize psychiatric treatment.