Long Term Efficacy of the Treatment with Olanzapine Pamoate, Risperidone and Aripiprazole Monohydrate

Abstract

The use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) is considered to be an important treatment option, especially in early stages of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and sustained remission in schizophrenia patients treated with three of the available LAIs substances: olanzapine pamoate, risperidone microspheres and aripiprazole monohydrate. A retrospective chart review study evaluating the efficacy of LAIs compared to oral antispychotics during a five years period was performed. Of the 102 patients included in the study, 52 (50.9%) continued LAIs: olanzapine pamoate (n = 20, 38.4%), risperidone microsphere (n = 22, 42.3%), aripiprazole monohydrate (n = 10, 19.3%). In the LAIs group the number of relapses was smaller than in the oral antipsychotics group (12 vs. 23, P [ 0.05) as well as the number of admissions (15 vs. 30, P [ 0.05). In conclusion, relapse in schizophrenia is strongly related to nonadherence. LAIs prescription overall was underutilized despite their efficacy. Future randomized studies are needed to evaluate the long term efficacy of LAIs compared to oral treatment.

Clozapine Efficacy, Type of Titration and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Using Chemical Methods for Serum Level Assessment

“…Underuse of clozapine and overuse of antipsychotic polypharmacy have been both associated with poor quality of care [12][13][14]. One of the reasons of clozapine underuse is the inconsistence of the reports concerning clozapine oral dose and serum level.…”