Aristada and Aristada Initio Dosage Information: Formats, Potencies, and Additional Details
Aristada and Aristada Initio are brands of injection medications primarily used for managing schizophrenia in adults. The frequency of these injections can vary based on your specific prescription. Aristada Initio is often administered once at the beginning of treatment or to restart it if a dose is missed.
These medications come in pre-filled, single-dose syringes. Medical professionals will use these syringes to inject the drug directly into your muscle.
Your doctor may prescribe Aristada Initio as a one-time dose to kickstart your Aristada treatment or to resume it if a dose is skipped. You won't typically receive Aristada Initio on a regular basis.
Both Aristada and Aristada Initio belong to the category of atypical antipsychotics. They both contain the primary component aripiprazole lauroxil, but they have different potencies, so they're not interchangeable.
Currently, these medications aren't available in generic alternatives.
Loading dose option 1: Aristada with Aristada Initio
For detailed information about the dosages for Aristada and Aristada Initio, including their varying strengths and application methods, you can continue reading. For a more in-depth look at Aristada, you can refer to this article.
This article provides typical dosage information for Aristada and Aristada Initio injections provided by the manufacturer. However, the specific dosage your doctor prescribes depends on your unique requirements.
• Aristada Initio injection: 675-milligram (mg) one-time dose• oral aripiprazole: 30-mg one-time dose• first Aristada injection: 441 mg, 662 mg, 882 mg, or 1,064 mg*
Extended release refers to the gradual discharge of the active drug into your system over an extended period.† If you miss a dosage, you can refer to the "Missed dose" section for guidance.
Aristada and Aristada Initio dosage
Loading dose option 2: Aristada without Aristada Initio
This section provides details about typical dosages for Aristada and Aristada Initio.
Form of Aristada and Aristada Initio
• first Aristada injection: 441 mg, 662 mg, 882 mg, or 1,064 mg*• oral aripiprazole: 30 mg taken for 21 days in a row
Aristada and Aristada Initio are provided as extended-release liquid suspensions. This means that the active drug is slowly released into your system over time. These medications are available in single-dose, pre-filled syringes that healthcare professionals use to inject the drug directly into your muscle. To receive your dosage, you'll usually visit a doctor's office or clinic.
Strengths of Aristada and Aristada Initio
Aristada comes in four strengths:
- 441 milligrams (mg)
- 662 mg
- 882 mg
- 1,064 mg
Aristada Initio is only available in one strength: 675 mg.
441 milligrams (mg)
Typical dosing for Aristada and Aristada Initio
every month
Typically, your doctor will initiate treatment with a low dosage and gradually increase it to find the optimal dosage for you. The ultimate goal is to provide the desired effect using the smallest possible dosage.
The following information details common dosages. Your doctor will determine the best dosage for you.
662 mg
Prior to Aristada treatment
every month
Before starting Aristada, your doctor will assess whether you have a history of using Abilify (aripiprazole). The active drug in Aristada and Aristada Initio, aripiprazole lauroxil, is a prodrug of aripiprazole. If you've never used aripiprazole, your doctor may prescribe an oral aripiprazole treatment to ensure your body can tolerate the drug before initiating Aristada treatment. This process can take up to 2 weeks to establish the optimal oral aripiprazole dosage.
If your body has previously tolerated aripiprazole, your doctor will prescribe a loading dose for Aristada.
882 mg
Loading doses
every month or every 6 weeks
After your doctor has determined that your body can tolerate aripiprazole, you'll begin Arkista treatment with a loading dose. A loading dose helps quickly elevate your aripiprazole levels to an effective range. This can expedite the medication's effectiveness.
Initiating Aristada treatment may involve your doctor prescribing Aristada Initio as a one-time loading dose, which can be administered on the same day or within 10 days of your first Aristada injection. Oral aripiprazole may also be prescribed as part of your loading dose regimen.
1,064 mg
Below is a table of the typical loading doses recommended when starting Aristada treatment. Your doctor will determine which dosing option is suitable for you.
every 2 months
Alternative Loading Dose Options:
Option 1: Aristada with Aristada Initio- Aristada Initio injection: 675mg single dose- Oral aripiprazole: 30mg single dose- Initial Aristada injection: 441mg, 662mg, 882mg, or 1,064mg*
Option 2: Aristada without Aristada Initio- Initial Aristada injection: 441mg, 662mg, 882mg, or 1,064mg*- Oral aripiprazole: 30mg daily for 21 consecutive days
*The specific Aristada loading dose you'll receive depends on various factors. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you. To learn more, refer to the "Factors influencing your dosage" section below.
Maintenance Doses
• 10 milligrams (mg) per day
Following your first Aristada injection, your Aristada treatment continues with maintenance doses. Your doctor will determine the maintenance dose suitable for you. Below is a typical Aristada dosing schedule for maintenance treatment:
• 441 mg per month
| Aristada Maintenance Dose | Frequency || --- | --- || 441mg | Monthly || 662mg | Monthly || 882mg | Monthly or every 6 weeks || 1,064mg | Every 2 months |
If you've been taking Oral Abilify (aripiprazole), your doctor will prescribe a maintenance dose based on your previous oral aripiprazole dosage.
• 15 mg per day
Please note that the Aristada maintenance dose your doctor prescribes is not the oral aripiprazole equivalent. The amount of drug you'll receive with Aristada will be different from the amount you previously took with oral aripiprazole. Below is a table showcasing the recommended Aristada dosages based on previous oral aripiprazole dosages:
• 662 mg per month• 882 mg every 6 weeks• 1,064 mg every 2 months
| Previous Dosage of Oral aripiprazole | Aristada Dosage || --- | --- || 10mg daily | 441mg per month || 15mg daily | 662mg per month or 882mg every 6 weeks or 1,064mg every 2 months || More than 20mg daily | 882mg per month |
Long-term Treatment
• 20 mg or more per day
Aristada is designed for long-term use. If you and your doctor decide that Aristada is safe and effective for you, it's likely you'll continue receiving it in the long term.
• 882 mg per month
Aristada Initio isn't typically prescribed for long-term use. It may be prescribed as a single dose to start Aristada treatment or to resume Aristada treatment if you miss a dose. (Learn more in the "Missed Dose" section below.)
Frequently Asked Questions
This section addresses some common questions concerning Aristada.
What is the dosage for the generic version of Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil)?
Since there's currently no generic aripiprazole lauroxil, there isn't a specific dosage for this version of the drug. Talk to your doctor about the suitable oral aripiprazole dose for you if you have questions about alternative treatment options.
How does the dosing of Aristada and Abilify Maintena compare?
Both Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil) and Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole) have received FDA approval to treat schizophrenia. Both drugs are available as extended-release liquid suspensions intended for muscle injection. (Note that another version of extended-release aripiprazole for muscle injection, Abilify Asimtufii, is also available.)
The standard dosing for Abilify Maintena is 400mg once per month. The dosing options for Aristada are:
- 441mg per month
- 662mg per month
- 882mg per month or every 6 weeks
- 1,064mg every 2 months
Speak with your doctor to learn about the similarities and differences between Aristada and Abilify Maintena.
Missed Dose
If you miss your Aristada or Aristada Initio appointment, contact your doctor as soon as you remember to reschedule.
Your doctor may give you the missed Aristada dose as soon as possible. Alternatively, they might provide a one-time dose of Aristada Initio along with oral aripiprazole for a specific duration. This depends on your Aristada maintenance dosage and when you missed your appointment.
Consider using a medication reminder to ensure you don't miss future doses. You can also download a reminder app on your phone to help manage your appointments.
Factors Influencing Your Dosage
The dose of Aristada and Aristada Initio your doctor prescribes takes various factors into account, such as:
- Your health condition
- Other medications you're taking
- Your response to the drug
- Your body weight and height
- Your liver function and kidney function
Your doctor will consider all these factors to determine the most suitable Aristada and Aristada Initio dosage for you.
- the intensity of your schizophrenic symptoms
- if you've used oral aripiprazole (Abilify) in the past
- any other medications you're currently on
- other health issues you might have
Dosage modifications
In some cases, your doctor may need to alter your Aristada dose based on other drugs you're taking. The adjustment will depend on these other medications. Remember to share with your doctor any medications you're taking beyond Aristada or Aristada Initio.
Also, certain medications may necessitate dose adjustments, which might prevent you from receiving Aristada Initio. This is because Aristada Initio is a single-dose injection and comes in just one strength. Therefore, make sure you inform your doctor about any other medications before starting Aristada treatment.
Administration of Aristada and Aristada Initio
Aristada and Aristada Initio come in the form of extended-release liquid suspensions. These suspensions release the active drug in your body gradually over time. They are administered using single-dose, prefilled syringes, which your healthcare provider will use to inject the drug directly into a muscle. You'll receive your Aristada or Aristada Initio dose at your doctor's office or clinic.
All doses of Aristada can be administered into the muscle of your buttock. There's also the option to inject the 441-mg dose into a muscle in your shoulder. Aristada Initio doses can be administered into either the shoulder or buttock muscle.
If you need more information about how healthcare professionals administer Aristada and Aristada Initio, discuss it with your doctor.
Summary and useful resources
The dosages presented in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Aristada or Aristada Initio for you, they'll prescribe the dose that's right for you.
Should you have any questions about the appropriate dose of Aristada and Aristada Initio for you, consult your doctor.
Besides learning about dosages, you may be interested in other information about Aristada and Aristada Initio. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- Additional information about Aristada and Aristada Initio. For more details about other aspects of Aristada and Aristada Initio, see this article.
- Insights into your condition. For more information about mental health issues, check out our mental health resources. To learn more about schizophrenia, you can refer to our list of schizophrenia-related articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has taken every precaution to ensure that all information is accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be considered a substitute for the expertise and knowledge of a licensed healthcare professional. Always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information provided here is subject to change and does not cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of such information for a particular drug does not imply that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or suitable for all patients or all particular uses.
Your doctor may suggest using Aristada Initio as a one-time dose to initiate your Aristada treatment for managing schizophrenia or to resume it if you miss a dosage. It's important to note that you won't typically receive Aristada Initio on a regular basis due to its unique purpose. Additionally, Aristada Initio is only provided as a single-strength medicine, containing 675 milligrams (mg).
