The extra pyramidal effects related to the use of neuroleptics are a limiting factor in schizophrenia treatment.

The aim of this study was to identify the neuroleptics prescribed for schizophrenic patients in a public health service, the extra pyramidal symptoms (EPS) incidence and its treatment.

Our restrospective study included 40 patients with mean age of 39.13 ± 2.19 in a treatment period of of 134.17 ± 16.83 days. The data were randomly collected from medical records of these patients.

The patients under study received typical neuroleptics (31.03%),atypical agents (37.93%) or association of both (31.03%). EPS was observed in 65.52% patients of which, 44.83% even though receiving biperiden 2mg, still have EPS. 20.69% were not receiving anticolinergic drug treatment for EPS, but promethazine or anticonvulsants. From the 34.48% who did not showed EPS, 20.69% had biperiden prescription and 13.79 % had been treated with olanzapine, clozapine or risperidone associated or not to clonazepam 2mg. Weigth gain of 5.20 ± 1.14 kg was observed in our total sample.

We suggest the use of EPS evaluation scale (Sympson - Angus or Barnes). 65.52 % of the patients under study had EPS and 20.69% of them had no prescription of central acting anticholinergic drug. 44.83% even though receiving biperiden 2mg, still have EPS.