References of all identified studies were searched for further trials. Knoll Pharmaceuticals and authors of trials were contacted. All randomised clinical trials that compared zotepine to other treatments for people with schizophrenia or other psychoses were included. Data were independently extracted. All data were inspected for heterogeneity.
Limited data suggest that zotepine is an antipsychotic, at least as effective as typical drugs.
About one third of people in both zotepine and control groups left the studies before trial completion. Zotepine may result in less movement disorder adverse effects than typical antipsychotic drugs. Trials have not highlighted clear differences between zotepine and other atypical drugs. More data from already existing studies is urgently needed to increase the confidence in the findings of this review. New data from well planned, conducted and reported long term pragmatic randomised trials are necessary.