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Psychiatry Pharmacy Resident, Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Brecksville, OH
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Psychiatry, Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical Instructor of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Reprints: Matthew A Fuller PharmD BCPS BCPP FASHP, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10000 Brecksville Rd., Pharmacy Service 119(B), Brecksville, OH 44141-3204, fax 440/546-2706, Matthew.Fuller{at}med.va.gov
OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of long-acting (LA) risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia.
DATA SOURCES: Information was selected from PubMed (1965July 2004). Applicable scientific posters were also used.
STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All published information on risperidone LA was considered. Material providing a comprehensive description was considered.
DATA SYNTHESIS: Risperidone LA is the first long-acting, injectable atypical antipsychotic. It is dosed at 2550 mg every 2 weeks. Adverse effects are similar to those seen with oral risperidone. A short-term study showed that risperidone LA is better than placebo in reducing the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, and a long-term trial showed that stable schizophrenic patients can be switched from either oral or other injectable antipsychotic medications to risperidone LA.
CONCLUSIONS: Risperidone LA is efficacious and safe in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Key Words: long-acting risperidone, schizophrenia
Published Online, November 2, 2004. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1E085