Guidelines for the Use of Long-Acting Injectable Atypical Antipsychotics

Article AbstractClick to enlarge pageJohn M. Kane, M.D., opened the meeting by addressing the need for guidelines on the use of long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotics. For about 40 years, some of the conventional antipsychotics, which include chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, and haloperidol, have been available in long-acting injectable formulations for the long-term treatment of schizophrenia. In 1989, clozapine became the first atypical antipsychotic to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, until recently, none of the atypical antipsychotics which also include aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, andziprasidonehave been available in injectable formulations.