Antipsychotic medications are the foundational treatment for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and they are also an important option for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, or depot antipsychotics, are concentrated formulations of antipsychotic medications that allow slow, sustained release of the medication after intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. Maintenance doses of the antipsychotic can then be delivered with injection intervals ranging from 2 weeks to up to several months. The overall benefits of LAI antipsychotics over oral administration are still uncertain; however, a growing body of evidence points to their effectiveness in preventing relapse and rehospitalization and in reducing the negative consequences of poor adherence during the early phases of schizophrenia. LAI antipsychotics also allow healthcare providers to quickly identify and follow-up in cases of nonadherence.
How familiar are you with LAI antipsychotic medications? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
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Cite this: Ravinder N. Bhalla. Fast Five Quiz: Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics - Medscape - Aug 19, 2021.
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