Extended-release intramuscular aripiprazole for maintenance pharmacotherapy in schizophrenia and related disorders. (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tourian, Leon; Margolese, Howard C
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychiatry. Volume 3:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 345
• Page End: 354
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Psychology, Pathological -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental illness; Neuropsychiatry; Psychology, Pathological; 616.8
• DOI: 10.2217/npy.13.7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-2008

Abstract

SUMMARY Aripiprazole is a third-generation antipsychotic. It is prepared in many different formulations including oral, intravenous and intramuscular. The intramuscular option is currently available in a fast-acting form while the long-acting (extended-release, depot) formulation was recently approved by the US FDA. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature regarding the long-acting formulation of aripiprazole. Medical literature published in English on 'aripiprazole' or 'Abilify ® ' (Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., MD, USA) was found using Pubmed, Medline and EMBASE. Publications containing the words 'depot', 'long-acting' or 'intramuscular' in their title or abstract were utilized. In total, two publications were reviewed for the purposes of this article. There is a scarcity of publications on the effectiveness of long-acting aripiprazole in the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. However, the available literature suggests that aripiprazole depot is a well-tolerated maintenance treatment option for schizophrenia. Original submitted 6 November 2012; Revised submitted 11 January 2013; Published online 2 April 2013