Depots or long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics
Depots or long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics
Depots or long-acting injectable antipsychotics are administered by deep intramuscular injection and are slowly released from the injection site, giving relatively stable plasma drug levels over long periods, allowing the injections to be given every few weeks.
The advantages of LAIs include increased adherence and a reduced risk of hospitalisation. However, disadvantages include a lack of flexibility of administration, and pain, oedema, pruritus and injection site nodules.
The long time to steady state can lead to a delay in effective treatment. Consequently, when switching from an oral drug to a LAI form, it is good practice to continue with the oral antipsychotic for the length of time required to establish the effective, best tolerated dose before switching to the LAI form.