Depot Neuroleptics in Canada

To the Editor: The Taking Issue column in the June 1998 issue was inaccurate in describing depot neuroleptics available in Canada (1). Dr. Shen correctly lists pipotiazine palmitate, fluphenazine decanoate and enanthate, haloperidol decanoate, and flupehthixol decanoate. However, flupenthixol enanthate is not available, and he failed to mention zuclopenthixol decanoate. The absence of an atypical depot medication is not because of lack of interest by manufacturers but because they have run into technical barriers to producing the appropriate compound.

Dr. Jeffries is staff psychiatrist in the schizophrenia division of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto.