Updated patient information on long-acting injectable (depot) antipsychotics

Online news
28 October 2024

The College has updated its patient information resource on long-acting injectable antipsychotics (also known as depot medication).

This resource is written for people who use or are thinking about using Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. It looks at what they are, how they work, the process involved in receiving one and how people can make the right decision for them about their medication. New information in this update includes:

  • what is in an LAI antipsychotic
  • the conditions that LAI antipsychotics are used to help treat
  • the difference between LAI antipsychotics and the same drug in tablets or liquid form
  • how long LAI antipsychotics take to start working
  • how to choose the right LAI antipsychotic.

➡️Access the long-acting injectable antipsychotics resource

More detail has been included in this update on:

  • the processes involved in receiving an LAI antipsychotic for the first time
  • consent
  • side-effects
  • physical health monitoring
  • what people should do if they are thinking about stopping their LAI antipsychotics.

This resource is a vital part of our information resource offering for patients and carers, and is our 6th most popular online resource, receiving around 3,000 views each month.

Special thanks to author Dr Konstantinos Ioannidis of the Psychopharmacology Committee, who lent his expertise to updating this important resource. Thank you also to expert by experience Nick Hunter who shared his lived experience of using LAI antipsychotics to ensure the resource reflected patient experience.

The long-acting injectable antipsychotic resource will also be available to order in the near future. If you are interested in ordering a copy please contact leaflets@rcpsych.ac.uk.

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The College has produced a wide-range of readable, user-friendly and evidence-based information on mental health problems, treatments and other topics, written by qualified psychiatrists with help from patients and carers.

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