A research method to assess a new tranquilizing drug

A number of new tranquillizing drugs have recently become available. We report a method of assessment for one of these—“Pacatal”. In this experiment the new drug was compared with (i) no treatment at all, (ii) treatment using dummy tablets of the same size and appearance as the Pacatal tablets, and (iii) Largactil. A group of patients suffering from schizophrenia were selected, all being deteriorated. These patients can be found in considerable numbers with a reasonably similar clinical picture which is relatively stationary without treatment.

Use of tranquilizers in diseases of the skin; a preliminary report

Tranquilizing agents such as chlorpromazine and reserpine were used in various diseases of the skin in which the psychogenic factors were considered important etiologic agents. While a tranquilizing effect was obtained in the majority of instances, the side reactions and variation in response were so great as to render these agents unsatisfactory for routine use as tranquilizers. Meprobamate (marketed under the trade names Miltown and Equanil) was then used on a group of dermatologic patients with more consistent tranquilizing effect and comparatively little unpleasant side reactions. It is felt that further study of the use of meprobamate as a tranquilizing agent in dermatology is worth while.