title: Switching long acting antipsychotic medications to aripiprazole long acting once-a-month: expert consensus by a panel of Italian and Spanish psychiatrists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aripiprazole long acting once-monthly (AOM) is a long acting atypical antipsychotic with proven efficacy in schizophrenia and with a pharmacological and a side effect profile that is different from other antipsychotics. These and other characteristics make AOM a possible alternative in patients requiring a change in long acting antipsychotic treatment due to issues such as lack of efficacy or persistent side effects. Both clinical and pharmacological factors should be considered when switching antipsychotics, and specific guidelines for long acting antipsychotic switching that address all these factors are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A panel of Italian and Spanish experts in psychiatry met to discuss the strategies for the switch to AOM in patients with schizophrenia. Real life clinical experiences were shared and the clinical strategies to improve the likelihood of success were discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to its specific pharmacological and tolerability profile, AOM represents a suitable alternative for patients with schizophrenia requiring a switch to a new LAI treatment because of lack of efficacy or persistent side effects from another LAI. Possible strategies for the switch to AOM are presented in this expert consensus paper in an attempt to provide guidance throughout the entire switching process.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Mental Health and Deparment of Molecular Medicine , University of Siena Medical Center , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagiolini
authors.affiliation: b Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alfonsi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Mental Health and Deparment of Molecular Medicine , University of Siena Medical Center , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amodeo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Mental Health , Fabriano , Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cenci
authors.affiliation: d Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Alessandria , Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Lella
authors.affiliation: e Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Catania , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farinella
authors.affiliation: f Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Caserta , Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferraiuolo
authors.affiliation: g Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, CIBERSAM, IiSGM , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fraguas
authors.affiliation: h Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Taranto , Italy.
authors.forename: Natale
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Loparco
authors.affiliation: i Departamento de Psiquiatría , Hospital Clínico, Granada - Complejo Hospitalario Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Rojas
authors.affiliation: j Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Salerno , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mignone
authors.affiliation: k Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Recanati-Macerata , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pataracchia
authors.affiliation: l Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Oristano , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: m Servizio Psichiatrico di Diagnosi e Cura, Ospedale F. Fallacara , Triggiano and Department of Mental Health, National Health Service , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: n Early Intervention Psychosis Service , Hospital Universitari Insitut Pere Mata, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, CIBERSAM , Reus , Spain.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Gistau
authors.affiliation: o Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Cremona , Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spinogatti
authors.affiliation: p Department of Mental Health , ASST Rhodense , Garbagnate M.se , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.affiliation: q Department of Mental Health , National Health Service , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villari
authors.affiliation: r Casa di Cura Neuropsichiatrica e Comunità Terapeutica-Genzano , University of Rome and Villa Von Siebenthal , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Filippis
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068180:Aripiprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D032921:Consensus; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D011570:Psychiatry; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D000068180:Aripiprazole
keywords: Aripiprazole; LAI; antipsychotics; depot; injectable; long acting; maintena; switch; switching