title: Aripiprazole once-monthly long-acting injectable for the treatment of schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient non-adherence increases the risk for relapse and the long-term care of schizophrenia. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics can decrease this risk by ensuring adherence. An extended formulation, aripiprazole 400 mg once-monthly (AOM 400) LAI (AOM LAI), received regulatory approval in the year 2013 for the treatment of schizophrenia. AOM LAI is the first dopamine D2 partial agonist available in a long-acting formulation for the treatment of schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review covers data on the efficacy and tolerability/safety of AOM LAI. AOM LAI is a lyophilized powder of aripiprazole, with an elimination half-life of 29.9 - 46.5 days, allowing for a 4-week injection interval. Antipsychotic efficacy was documented in a 12-week double-blind trial (n = 340) and in two maintenance-of-effect trials: a 38-week trial (n = 662) and a 52-week trial (n = 403). The side effect profile is similar to that of oral aripiprazole. Adverse events (≥5% and at least twice that for placebo) were typically mild or moderate and did not lead to discontinuation: increased weight, akathisia, injection site pain and sedation. The 400 mg dose is tolerated by >90% of patients. Injection does not require additional training of health personnel or post-injection observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AOM LAI is an efficacious and well-tolerated antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia.
authors: a Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Robert R. Sprague Chair in Brain Imaging , UC Irvine , Irvine , CA 92617 , USA.
authors: Steven G
authors: SG
authors: Potkin
authors: b Heath Sciences Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , UC Irvine School of Medicine , Orange , CA 92868 , USA.
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Preda
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D054333:Drug Partial Agonism; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000819:agonists*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D000068180:Aripiprazole
keywords: LAI; aripiprazole; atypical antipsychotic; long-acting injectable; quality of life; schizophrenia