Response of Hemiballismus to Haloperidol: Reply

The document from 1976 discusses several medical topics, including the slow approval process for cardiovascular drugs like propranolol, the effectiveness of haloperidol in treating hemiballismus, differing opinions on the prognosis of Raynaud phenomenon, and the association of hair loss with crash dieting. It notes that propranolol's approval for angina was delayed by over five years, indicating a reluctance to approve new cardiovascular medications. A case of hemiballismus showed significant improvement within 48 hours of haloperidol treatment, but the possibility of spontaneous improvement was not ruled out as the drug was not discontinued for a test. The document also highlights a debate on whether Raynaud phenomenon typically leads to systemic disease, with some doctors observing that many patients do not develop serious conditions. Lastly, it reports that rapid weight loss from starvation diets can cause telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss, but the prognosis for hair regrowth is generally excellent.