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Outpatient -
Community mental health -
Correctional facilities -
Emergency departments
Guidelines support long-acting injectable (LAI) use at any stage of schizophrenia care
LAI antipsychotics aren’t just for more severe cases of schizophrenia. Experts recommend considering LAIs as early as possible for all appropriate patients in a wide range of treatment settings including1:
Poor adherence can lead to inadequate symptom control and relapse2
Even one or two missed doses of medication can be problematic.2 A long-acting injectable antipsychotic can deliver consistent treatment over the entire dosing interval and adherence issues can be identified if a patient misses an appointment.3
of patients taking oral medications for schizophrenia were nonadherent or
stopped taking them altogether.2*
*Based on an analysis of 3 US insurance claims databases from 2007-2013.
LAIs support continuity of care from inpatient to outpatient settings4
The transition from inpatient to outpatient care represents a vulnerable period for patients with schizophrenia. LAIs help bridge this gap by ensuring consistent medication delivery throughout the dosing interval, which may reduce the readmission rate during this critical window.4
Benefits and features to consider with long-acting injectables for schizophrenia
The challenges of daily medication adherence and risk of relapse continue to impact outcomes in schizophrenia care.3
LAIs offer dosing that can help support consistency and visibility in treatment.3
LAIs can help patients maintain consistent medication levels.3 Consistent treatment with antipsychotics is an important part of helping patients reduce their risk of relapse.5,6
Relapse is associated with schizophrenia disease progression.7 LAIs support consistent treatment exposure, helping to preserve overall function.3,7
Reducing relapse risk and minimizing daily treatment burden may help improve patient quality of life.3
Some LAIs can be initiated without oral supplementation or loading doses, reducing complexity and streamlining treatment start.1
Dosing intervals and injection site (eg, subcutaneous vs intramuscular) vary among LAIs, providing a range of options to consider for individual patient needs or preferences.1
Reinitiation protocols vary across LAIs and may involve additional doses or oral supplementation, influencing how easily treatment can be resumed after interruptions.8
References: 1. Kane JM, Agid O, Castle, DJ, et al. The use of long-acting injectables for people with schizophrenia: consensus panel recommendations for overcoming barriers and implementing treatment. Neurol Ther. 2025;14:2551-2581. 2. MacEwan JP, Forma FM, Shafrin J, Hatch A, Lakdawalla DN, Lindenmayer J-P. Patterns of adherence to oral atypical antipsychotics among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2016;22(11):1349-1361. 3. American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia. 3rd ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2021. 4. Kim HO, Seo GH, Lee BC. Real-world effectiveness of long-acting injections for reducing recurrent hospitalizations in patients with schizophrenia. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2020;19:1. 5. Leucht S, Tardy M, Komossa K, et al. Antipsychotic drugs versus placebo for relapse prevention in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2012;379(9831):2063-2071. 6. Ostuzzi G, Bertolini F, Tedeschi F, et al. Oral and long-acting antipsychotics for relapse prevention in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a network meta-analysis of 92 randomized trials including 22,645 participants. World Psychiatry. 2022;21(2):295-307. 7. Andreasen NC, Liu D, Ziebell S, Vora A, Ho B-C. Relapse duration, treatment intensity, and brain tissue loss in schizophrenia: a prospective longitudinal MRI study. Am J Psychiatry. 2013;170(6):609-615. 8. Saklad SR. Solutions to common issues in the use of LAIs. CNS Spectr. 2025;30(suppl 1):S45-S50.
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