Effects Of 2 Phenothiazines On Achilles-Tendon Reflex

According to our results in 117 subjects, recently taken medications, age and sex must be considered when duration of the Achilles-tendon reflex is used as a clinical test to assess thyroid status. Males have a shorter ATR than females. In older subjects the ATR lasts longer than in those below age 27. Fifty-two psychiatric patients before medication did not differ in ATR duration from 65 controls. However, after 28 patients took chlorpromazine and 24 received trifluoperazine, ATR was prolonged in the chlorpromazine group and shortened in the trifluoperazine group. Neither chlorpromazine concentrate, 1,800 mg, nor trifluoperazine concentrate, 180 mg, given during the first six days, affected ATR, but an additional 6,000 mg of chlorpromazine, or an additional 420 mg of trifluoperazine over the next six days, did significantly alter ATR-duration.