Abstract
Objective: Aripiprazole long acting injection (ALAI) is now available, and this paper aims to assist clinicians in deciding when to use ALAI. Conclusion: Aripiprazole is a partial dopamine agonist with low sedation, relatively favourable metabolic profile and a tendency to lower, rather than raise, prolactin. Available for over a decade, aripiprazole has been increasingly recognised by many clinicians as a useful option in the treatment of psychoses. ALAI is a suspension of crystalline aripiprazole in water which takes 5-7 days to reach steady state after an initial intramuscular injection. Monthly injections achieve steady state in four months. Studies have demonstrated that ALAI is effective in aripiprazoleresponsive patients. ALAI was generally well tolerated, but more prone to cause extrapyramidal side-effects than the oral form. ALAI has not been compared with other depots. Although the recommended starting dose is 400 mg, it is likely that there will be significant inter-individual dose variation. Dose optimisation in each patient will be necessary for best effectiveness and tolerability. ALAI is currently appropriate for aripiprazole-responsive patients who need a depot, but clinicians are likely to try ALAI in patients who have been on other depots, particularly in whom weight gain and hyperprolactinaemia have been problematic.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 368-370 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Australasian Psychiatry |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Feb 2016 |
Keywords
- Aripiprazole long-acting injection
- Depots
- Pharmacotherapy
- Schizophrenia
Cite this
}
Aripiprazole long-acting injection : Promising but more evidence needed. / Keks, Nicholas A; Hope, Judy; Culhane, Christine.
In: Australasian Psychiatry, Vol. 24, No. 4, 23.02.2016, p. 368-370.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Aripiprazole long-acting injection
T2 - Promising but more evidence needed
AU - Keks, Nicholas A
AU - Hope, Judy
AU - Culhane, Christine
PY - 2016/2/23
Y1 - 2016/2/23
N2 - Objective: Aripiprazole long acting injection (ALAI) is now available, and this paper aims to assist clinicians in deciding when to use ALAI. Conclusion: Aripiprazole is a partial dopamine agonist with low sedation, relatively favourable metabolic profile and a tendency to lower, rather than raise, prolactin. Available for over a decade, aripiprazole has been increasingly recognised by many clinicians as a useful option in the treatment of psychoses. ALAI is a suspension of crystalline aripiprazole in water which takes 5-7 days to reach steady state after an initial intramuscular injection. Monthly injections achieve steady state in four months. Studies have demonstrated that ALAI is effective in aripiprazoleresponsive patients. ALAI was generally well tolerated, but more prone to cause extrapyramidal side-effects than the oral form. ALAI has not been compared with other depots. Although the recommended starting dose is 400 mg, it is likely that there will be significant inter-individual dose variation. Dose optimisation in each patient will be necessary for best effectiveness and tolerability. ALAI is currently appropriate for aripiprazole-responsive patients who need a depot, but clinicians are likely to try ALAI in patients who have been on other depots, particularly in whom weight gain and hyperprolactinaemia have been problematic.
AB - Objective: Aripiprazole long acting injection (ALAI) is now available, and this paper aims to assist clinicians in deciding when to use ALAI. Conclusion: Aripiprazole is a partial dopamine agonist with low sedation, relatively favourable metabolic profile and a tendency to lower, rather than raise, prolactin. Available for over a decade, aripiprazole has been increasingly recognised by many clinicians as a useful option in the treatment of psychoses. ALAI is a suspension of crystalline aripiprazole in water which takes 5-7 days to reach steady state after an initial intramuscular injection. Monthly injections achieve steady state in four months. Studies have demonstrated that ALAI is effective in aripiprazoleresponsive patients. ALAI was generally well tolerated, but more prone to cause extrapyramidal side-effects than the oral form. ALAI has not been compared with other depots. Although the recommended starting dose is 400 mg, it is likely that there will be significant inter-individual dose variation. Dose optimisation in each patient will be necessary for best effectiveness and tolerability. ALAI is currently appropriate for aripiprazole-responsive patients who need a depot, but clinicians are likely to try ALAI in patients who have been on other depots, particularly in whom weight gain and hyperprolactinaemia have been problematic.
KW - Aripiprazole long-acting injection
KW - Depots
KW - Pharmacotherapy
KW - Schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84986557911&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1039856216632399
DO - 10.1177/1039856216632399
M3 - Article
VL - 24
SP - 368
EP - 370
JO - Australasian Psychiatry
JF - Australasian Psychiatry
SN - 1039-8562
IS - 4
ER -