The effect of switching from oral low-dose aripiprazole to aripiprazole once-monthly 300 mg on the quality of life in three patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a chronic disease that requires long-term management with antipsychotics; however, an important barrier to the success of long-term treatment is drug noncompliance, which increases the risk of recurrence and hospitalization. Second-generation long-acting injectable antipsychotics have improved drug adherence, and the pharmacological effects of the drugs, and therefore, have become useful treatment options. METHODS We report on three schizophrenia patients who switched from oral low-dose aripiprazole to aripiprazole once-monthly 300 mg. We examined the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole once-monthly 300 mg, as well as its influence on quality of life, from baseline to 20 weeks after aripiprazole once-monthly 300 mg treatment. RESULTS Aripiprazole once-monthly 300 mg did not exacerbate the depressive and negative symptoms, and extrapyramidal symptoms were improved, which may have helped improve the quality of life. CONCLUSION The results suggest the efficacy of aripiprazole once-monthly 300 mg in maintenance treatment for schizophrenia when mental symptoms are stable.