Two-Injection Start Regimen of Long-Acting Injectable Aripiprazole: Retrospective Data From a Tertiary Care Hospital...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

• Aripiprazole once-monthly (AOM) is an antipsychotic medication used for treating serious mental health conditions.
• Achieving therapeutic plasma concentrations with long-acting injectables can be delayed, potentially impacting treatment initiation and adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a novel two-injection start (TIS) regimen of AOM.
• To assess the clinical outcomes of the AOM-TIS regimen in patients with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 29 adult patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder.
• Patients initiated on AOM using the TIS regimen between January 2023 and October 2024.
• Data collected included diagnoses, demographics, concurrent medications, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• No serious adverse events were reported with the AOM-TIS regimen.
• Aripiprazole once-monthly was used as monotherapy in 48.2% of patients.
• The regimen was generally well-tolerated, with no significant safety concerns identified.

Conclusions:

• The AOM-TIS regimen allows for rapid achievement of therapeutic plasma concentrations, leading to quicker clinical response.
• This approach may reduce hospitalization duration and healthcare costs.
• The favorable tolerability profile supports enhanced patient adherence to treatment.