Comparison of Efficacy and Safety between Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Monotherapy and Combination of Long-Acting Injectable and Oral Antipsychotics in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are used as a monotherapy in patients with schizophrenia. However, the combination of LAI and oral antipsychotics is commonly used in clinical practice, despite there being very limited studies investigating the efficacy and safety of this combination compared with LAI antipsychotic monotherapy. Objective. To study the efficacy and safety of LAI antipsychotic monotherapy compared with the combination of LAI and oral antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. Methods. This study was a retrospective cohort study, which classified eligible patients into two groups: the LAI antipsychotic monotherapy group and the combination of LAI and oral antipsychotic group. The primary outcome was hospitalization between groups. The duration of the study was 2 years. Results. In total, 86 patients completed the study and were analysed (LAI antipsychotic monotherapy group: n = 25 ; combination of LAI and oral antipsychotic group: n = 61 ). There was no significant difference in hospitalization between the two groups ( P = 1.000 ). For other outcomes, there were also no significant differences in both all-cause discontinuation ( P = 0.667 ) and adverse drug reactions ( P = 0.732 ) between the two groups. Conclusion. The efficacy and safety of LAI antipsychotic monotherapy appeared similar to the combination of LAI and oral antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, the combination of LAI and oral antipsychotics, which is commonly used in clinical practice, may not be necessary.

Attitude and influencing factors of patients with schizophrenia toward long-acting injections: A community-based cross-sectional investigation in China

“…Understanding the attitudes and influencing factors of real-world community-dwelling patients toward LAIs and formulating targeted drug publicity plans may be an effective method for mental health control and prevention of schizophrenia in the future ( 37 ). Most previous studies were based on inpatients or outpatients with clinical schizophrenia.…”

Outcomes of long-acting injectable antipsychotics use in pregnancy: A literature review

“…Apart from a significantly lower potential for overdose, LAI antipsychotics appear to share an overall safety profile similar to that of their oral counterparts[ 23 , 24 ]. An exception is the depot formulation of olanzapine[ 25 ], which requires strict monitoring for delirium or excessive sedation for a few hours immediately after intramuscular injection[ 26 , 27 ].…”

Comparison of prolactin level, sexual function, body mass index, and liver function tests in patients using depot antipsychotics

“…İlaca bağlı ortaya çıkan yan etkiler hem tedavi uyumunu hem de işlevsellik düzeylerini etkilemektedir 8 . Antipsikotik ilaç kullanımının da tıpkı hastalığın kendisinin yol açtığı gibi hastaların yaşam kalitesini bozduğu çalışmalarda gösterilmiştir 9,10 . Literatürde uzun etkili antipsikotik ilaçların tedavi uyumunu artırma ve yineleme oranlarını düşürmenin yanında yaşam kalitesini de artırdığı bildirilmektedir.…”