Megan J Ehret | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Long-term use of atypical antipsychotics in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic disease that may require lifetime treatment. The maintenance therapy of bipolar disorder can be challenging for the treating clinician. Currently, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) guidelines, lithium, valproic acid, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, and the antipsychotics are recommended for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. The antipsychotics are recommended to be continued only if the clinician decides that they are necessary for the control of persistent psychosis or for prophylaxis against recurrence. Although the APA guidelines provide sufficient evidence for the use of these mood stabilizers, newer drugs such as the atypical antipsychotics are being investigated for use in the maintenance phase of treatment of bipolar disorder.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed2004

Long-acting injectable risperidone.

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 (1965-July 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 25-50 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.

Antipsychotic Agents↗