“The Efficacy and Safety of Aripiprazole and Paliperidone 1 and 3-Month
Long-Acting Preparations During The Maintenance of Schizophrenia in
Clinical Practice”
Abstract
Aim: To our knowledge; this is the first study that compared the
efficacy and safety of aripiprazole 1-month and paliperidone 1-month and
paliperidone 3-month long-acting forms preparations as well as plasma
drug levels during the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in the
real world. Method: In our study, subjects were evaluated every month
for four months with relevant psychiatric measures and plasma drug
levels. Follow-up days were determined as days 0, 30, 60, and 90. Plasma
drug levels of the treatments were analyzed by using LC/MS-MS. Results:
No superiority was observed between the groups regarding PANSS positive
and general psychopathology (p>0.05). It was observed that
PANSS negative and total scores were statistically lower in the
aripiprazole once-monthly group than in the paliperidone 3-month
preparations (p<0.05). We observed that Quality of Life Scale
interpersonal relations scores, the aripiprazole 1-month group exhibited
higher scores than both of the paliperidone groups. Aripiprazole 1-month
group scored higher than the paliperidone 1-month group in the
intrapsychic foundations subscale (p<0.05). No significant
difference was observed between extrapyramidal adverse effect,
akathisia, and insight levels among the three groups
(p>0.05). Aripiprazole 1- month group scored significantly
lower than both paliperidone groups in the Arizona Sexual Experiences
Scale (p<0.001). Aripiprazole metabolite was negatively
correlated with depressive symptoms in the Calgary Depression Assessment
Scale in Schizophrenia (p<0.05) and the Barnes Akathisia
Rating Scale (p<0.05). Conclusion: Aripiprazole once-monthly
showed superiority in efficacy aspects to PP3M but not PP1M and similar
safety with both paliperidone formulations.