A long-acting depot injection form of the antipsychotic aripiprazole
Aripiprazole lauroxil
A long-acting depot injection of the antipsychotic aripiprazole, given every few weeks to treat schizophrenia.
What is Aripiprazole lauroxil?
Aripiprazole lauroxil is a long-acting, slow-release (depot) injection form of the antipsychotic aripiprazole, used to treat schizophrenia. It is given by a healthcare professional every few weeks, releasing the medicine slowly so the person does not have to take a daily tablet. Like other antipsychotics it can cause movement-related effects and restlessness, changes in weight and metabolism, and, less commonly, urges to do things compulsively such as gambling. There is a class warning that antipsychotics raise the risk of death when used for behaviour problems in older people with dementia. Because it is long-acting, its effects last for weeks.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Aripiprazole lauroxil — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Aripiprazole lauroxil is a depot form of aripiprazole, an antipsychotic medicine used to treat schizophrenia. A depot is a long-acting injection given into a muscle that releases the medicine slowly over time, so instead of taking a tablet every day a person has an injection every few weeks. This can help people who find it hard to take daily medicines or who prefer not to. The active medicine, aripiprazole, helps reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia such as hearing voices, unusual beliefs and disordered thinking. It is given and supervised by a mental-health team.
How it works
Aripiprazole works on the brain's dopamine and serotonin systems, which are involved in mood, thinking and perception. Rather than simply blocking dopamine, it helps balance dopamine activity, which can ease the symptoms of schizophrenia while tending to cause fewer of some side effects seen with older antipsychotics. In the lauroxil depot form, the medicine is held in the muscle and released slowly into the body over weeks, keeping a steady level without daily dosing. Because the injection lasts a long time, its effects, including any side effects, build up and wear off gradually rather than quickly.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturers.
A long-acting depot injection form of the antipsychotic aripiprazole, given every few weeks to treat schizophrenia.
What it treats
Conditions Aripiprazole lauroxil is used for
Practical use
How to take Aripiprazole lauroxil
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Have the injection given by a healthcare professional on the schedule your mental-health team arranges, usually every few weeks.
- Keep your appointments, as the depot needs to be given on time to keep working steadily.
- Tell your team about any restlessness, stiffness, tremor or unusual movements you notice.
- Report any new strong urges to gamble, shop, eat or have sex compulsively, as these can be linked to aripiprazole.
- Do not stop treatment suddenly without advice, and remember the effects last for weeks because it is long-acting.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Aripiprazole lauroxil
Advantages
- Treats schizophrenia with a long-acting injection given every few weeks instead of a daily tablet.
- Helps people who find it hard to take medicines every day to keep up their treatment.
- Aripiprazole tends to cause fewer of some side effects than some older antipsychotics.
Disadvantages
- Being long-acting, side effects cannot be quickly removed once the injection is given.
- Can cause movement effects such as restlessness or stiffness, and changes in weight and metabolism.
- Can occasionally cause compulsive urges such as gambling, and carries the antipsychotic class risk in older people with dementia.
Practical use
Good to know
The big advantage of aripiprazole lauroxil is convenience: one injection covers several weeks, which can make treatment for schizophrenia easier to keep up. The flip side is that, because it is long-acting, if a side effect occurs it cannot be quickly removed from the body, so it is usually only used once aripiprazole tablets have been shown to suit the person. Like other antipsychotics, it can cause movement-related effects such as stiffness, tremor or a distressing inner restlessness (akathisia), as well as weight gain and changes in blood sugar and fats. A particular point with aripiprazole is that some people develop strong urges to gamble, shop, eat or have sex compulsively, which usually settle if the medicine is reduced or stopped, so these should be reported. There is also an important class warning that antipsychotics increase the risk of death when used to manage behaviour in older people with dementia, so it is not used that way.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to aripiprazole should not use it.
- It is not recommended to manage behaviour problems in older people with dementia, because antipsychotics raise the risk of death in this group.
- It is usually only started after aripiprazole tablets have been shown to suit the person, and is used with care in pregnancy and certain heart conditions under specialist guidance.
Monitoring
- Checking for movement-related effects such as restlessness and stiffness.
- Monitoring weight, blood sugar and blood fats during treatment.
- Asking about mood, mental state and any compulsive urges at reviews.
Side effects
- Restlessness (akathisia), stiffness, tremor or other movement-related effects.
- Weight gain and changes in blood sugar and fats over time.
- Reactions, soreness or a lump where the injection is given.
- Less commonly, compulsive urges such as gambling, shopping, eating or sexual behaviour, which should be reported.
- Rarely, serious reactions such as a high fever with muscle stiffness, which need urgent medical attention.
Key interactions
- Medicines that change how the liver processes aripiprazole can raise or lower its level, so the dose may need adjusting.
- Other medicines that cause drowsiness, including alcohol, can add to sleepiness.
- Tell your team about all your medicines, as some can affect the heart rhythm or interact with aripiprazole.
Available as: A long-acting depot injection given into a muscle by a healthcare professional.
Answers
Aripiprazole lauroxil: frequently asked questions
What is aripiprazole lauroxil used for?
It is a long-acting depot injection form of the antipsychotic aripiprazole, used to treat schizophrenia without the need for a daily tablet.
How often is it given?
It is given by a healthcare professional every few weeks, releasing the medicine slowly so the level stays steady between injections.
Why might it cause restlessness?
Like other antipsychotics, it can cause an inner restlessness called akathisia, as well as stiffness or tremor; tell your team if you notice these.
Can it cause gambling or other urges?
Some people on aripiprazole develop strong urges to gamble, shop, eat or have sex compulsively; these usually settle if it is reduced or stopped, so report them.
Should it be used in older people with dementia?
No. Antipsychotics raise the risk of death when used to manage behaviour in older people with dementia, so it is not used that way.
The wider class
About Antipsychotic (long-acting depot injection)
Aripiprazole lauroxil belongs to the antipsychotic (long-acting depot injection) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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