A review of aripiprazole long-acting injection

OBJECTIVES: To review the published literature on aripiprazole once monthly, a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) recently developed as a long-acting injection (LAI), in the form of a suspension of lyophilized aripiprazole reconstituted with an aqueous diluent, for intramuscular administration. METHODS: An electronic database search was conducted using the key words; relevant articles were then hand searched and websites (FDA, EMA, Otsuka, Lundbeck, NIH) reviewed. RESULTS: Efficacy has been demonstrated in preventing relapse in a 52 week study versus placebo, and non-inferiority to oral aripiprazole in a 38 week study, as well as in the treatment of hospitalized adult patients with acutely relapsed schizophrenia. Aripiprazole LAI appears cost-effective versus other SGA-LAIs, with improved health-related quality of life and functioning in a head-to-head study with paliperidone LAI. A 6 month (pre and post), mirror-image switch study demonstrated a reduction in hospitalization and associated costs compared with previous antipsychotic treatment. Safety and tolerability are comparable to oral aripiprazole with no new safety signals. CONCLUSIONS: Experience with oral aripiprazole and the current availability of the long-acting formulation suggest a potential benefit in a variety of clinical scenarios and therefore consideration as a treatment option in the treatment of schizophrenia.