New patients should also benefit from more effective and better tolerated drugs. This may, in turn, result in economic advantages. Indeed, a US study revealed a significant reduction in the number of days spent in hospital by patients receiving sertindole compared with patients receiving 'usual care' including available antipsychotics. This reduction was not reflected by an increased use of outpatient resources. Mild prolongation of the QT interval is seen in a very small number of patients.
Postural hypotension can occur if treatment is initiated too quickly.
Tolerance to this effect develops rapidly and can be avoided by following the initial dose titration schedule while checking blood pressure during this titration phase and during early follow-up on maintenance doses. This can be accomplished with the patient in hospital or in the community. Percentage Preference in Psychiatry On-Line Prescribers' Antipsychotic Survey c. 1997. Initially sertindole was picking up well, but this accelerating trend was halted by concern expressed about its effects on ECG findings. The product appears not to have recovered, although a long-term growth in popularity may gradually occur.