Synergy between a non‐neuroleptic thioxanthene stereo‐isomer and penicillin in vivo

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Abstract
Some neuroleptic drugs of the phenothiazine and thioxanthene groups have an antimicrobial effect in vitro. This is also true for neuroleptically inactive stereo‐isomeric analogs of the thioxanthenes e.g. trans(E)‐clopenthixol (t‐CPT). In a murine pneumococcus peritonitis model t‐CPT demonstrated a slight, but non‐significant antibacterial effect in doses of 0.3‐0.9 mg per mouse, while higher doses seemed to enhance the bacterial virulence. If combined with subtherapeutic doses of penicillin, a significantly higher survival rate was obtained compared with either drug given alone. In vitro studies demonstrated a similar synergistic effect. These results indicate that at least one non‐neuroleptic thioxanthene stereo‐isomer has an antibiotic potential also in vivo. The mechanism of action is not known.

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