Aripiprazole lauroxil nanocrystal suspension

Clinical considerations

ALncd is not a substitute for AL due to the very different kinetic properties of the 2 preparations. ALncd is approved only to be used for initiating treatment with AL, or in those instances where the revised missed dose guidelines for AL permit use of ALncd to obviate the need for oral coverage.⁹ Table 3⁹ presents these revised AL missed dose guidelines focusing on those time periods when some form of supplementation is required in addition to the established maintenance AL dose. Clinicians should be reminded that ALncd must be paired with a dose of AL, although the latter can be given up to 10 days later when commencing therapy.

Unique properties. When combined with a single 30 mg oral dose, ALncd was engineered to mimic the kinetic profile seen when patients were adherent with 21 days of oral aripiprazole needed when starting AL treatment.

Why Rx? The reasons to prescribe ALncd for adult patients with schizophrenia include:

• it obviates the need for 21 days of oral coverage previously required at the initiation of AL treatment
• clinically relevant plasma levels are seen within the first week when ALncd is combined with a single 30 mg oral aripiprazole dose
• per the revised missed dose guidelines for AL, it can be used in those situations that previously demanded 7 days of oral coverage, and, when combined with a single 30 mg oral dose, can be used for resumption of therapy after prolonged absences that required 21 days of oral coverage. In all instances, the patient will also receive their usual maintenance dose of AL.

Dosing. There is only one dose available for ALncd, 675 mg IM. As the dose cannot be modified, the package insert contains cautionary language regarding situations with less-than-expected drug exposure (use of cytochrome P450 [CYP] 3A4 inducers), greater-than-expected drug exposure (strong CYP3A4 or 2D6 inhibitors or known 2D6 poor metabolizers), or increased pharmacodynamic effects (concurrent use of antihypertensives or benzodiazepines).

Contraindications. The only contraindication is a known hypersensitivity to aripiprazole.

Bottom Line

Aripiprazole lauroxil nanocrystal suspension (Aristada Initio) was specifically developed to obviate the need for 21 days of oral aripiprazole coverage when commencing treatment with aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada). The plasma levels achieved when an injection of aripiprazole lauroxil nanocrystal suspension is combined with a single 30 mg oral dose are comparable to those achieved with 21 days of oral coverage. This initiation regimen, including a aripiprazole lauroxil nanocrystal injection and a 30 mg oral dose, should be administered on the same day as the maintenance aripiprazole lauroxil injection, although the latter can be administered on any of the next 10 days.

Related Resource

• Khan AY, Ovais DM. Long-acting injectable aripiprazole lauroxil for schizophrenia. Current Psychiatry. 2016;15(7):50-52,58.

Drug Brand Names
Aripiprazole lauroxil • Aristada
Aripiprazole lauroxil nanocrystal • Aristada Initio
Risperidone microspheres • Risperdal Consta