Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Medications: Why Aren't They Used as Often as Oral Formulations?

Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications have been around since the 1960s as alternatives to oral formulations to improve medication adherence. LAIs are similar enough to their corresponding oral formulations to be used interchangeably and have convincing evidence of improving consistency in pharmacotherapy that reduces the rates of relapse and frequency of hospitalization for individuals with psychosis. So why are they not used as often? The current article presents an argument to initiate LAIs early in treatment as a way of establishing consistency in treatment, thereby, potentially improving client outcomes. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(3), 7-10.]. Copyright 2019, SLACK Incorporated.