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.