Aristada dosing?

Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil) – Typical dosing schedule

| Stage | Weight ≤ 70 kg | Weight > 70 kg |
|-------|---------------|----------------|
| Initial loading | 400 mg IM (5 mL) at week 0 | 400 mg IM (5 mL) at week 0 |
| Second loading | 600 mg IM (5 mL) at week 3 | 800 mg IM (10 mL) at week 3 |
| Maintenance | 600 mg IM every 3 weeks | 800 mg IM every 3 weeks |
| Optional 6‑week interval | 800 mg IM at week 0 and week 6, then 800 mg every 6 weeks (only for ≥ 70 kg) | — |

How it’s administered

• Route: Intramuscular (IM) injection
  
• Typical sites: Gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, vastus lateralis, or deltoid
  
• Vial: 5 mL vial contains 80 mg/mL; 400 mg = 5 mL, 600 mg = 7.5 mL, 800 mg = 10 mL
  
  

Practical tips

| Issue | Recommendation |
|-------|----------------|
| Weight check | Confirm patient’s current weight; adjust loading/maintenance dose accordingly. |
| Loading schedule | A 2‑dose loading (week 0 and week 3) is needed to achieve therapeutic serum levels quickly. |
| Maintenance interval | Most patients stay on the 3‑week schedule. For some patients (≥ 70 kg) you may use the 6‑week interval if it matches their clinical needs. |
| Dose adjustments | If inadequate response, you can increase maintenance to 900 mg every 3 weeks (up to 12 mg/kg). Conversely, reduce if side‑effects are problematic. |
| Missed dose | If a dose is missed by < 7 days, give the dose as soon as possible and resume the regular interval. If > 7 days, treat as a new baseline dose and resume the schedule. |
| Side‑effects to watch | Injection‑site pain/erythema, akathisia, weight gain, metabolic changes, or extrapyramidal symptoms. |

Key points

- Aristada is the long‑acting injectable formulation of aripiprazole (the antipsychotic).
- The drug releases aripiprazole slowly, providing stable plasma concentrations for 3–6 weeks per injection.
- It is approved for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder (maintenance phase).
- The dosing above reflects the FDA‑approved regimen. Always refer to the prescribing information for the most current recommendations and for any patient‑specific contraindications or cautions.

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Bottom line: Start with a 400 mg loading dose, give a second higher loading dose at week 3 (600 mg if ≤ 70 kg; 800 mg if > 70 kg), then maintain at 600 mg every 3 weeks (or 800 mg if heavier). Adjust upward or downward based on response and tolerability.