Before Treatment
Before each injection, the team confirms the exact product, dose, due date, relevant health changes, preparation requirements, and medication-specific monitoring.
Side effects and warning signs vary by medication. Review the Medication Guide for your specific product and tell the team promptly about concerning symptoms or changes in your health or medications.
Medication availability, eligibility, scheduling, and insurance coverage vary. A clinical evaluation is required.
Questions?
Our team can review whether an LAI may fit, coordinate with your existing prescriber, and explain medication-specific side effects, scheduling, insurance, and next steps.
If you are doing well on an LAI, we will review your current plan and determine whether we can safely continue it or coordinate support with your existing prescriber.
Compassionate care. Science-backed results.
In-person medication support and monitoring
Taking medication every day can be difficult. Depending on the medication, long-acting injections may be given weekly, monthly, or every several months. The choice depends on diagnosis, treatment history, insurance coverage, and personal goals.
Even when psychiatric care is provided virtually, injections require reliable in-person services. With more than 20 years of psychiatric and addiction experience, BioMental can provide evaluation, medication management, injections, and monitoring or collaborate with your current prescriber.
Long-acting injectables, or LAIs, release medication gradually and are administered on a schedule instead of requiring a daily pill. Depending on the medication, injections may be given weekly, monthly, or every several months.
Some LAIs treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar I disorder. Others are used for alcohol or opioid use disorder. The approved diagnosis and schedule depend on the specific medication.
An LAI may be considered when fewer doses or scheduled care would better support treatment. For some patients and families, a scheduled injection can make it clearer when medication was received and reduce the need to track a daily dose.
Choosing an LAI is a personal decision that should be voluntary and based on informed consent. You remain central to the decision.
The treatment team reviews diagnosis and treatment history, previous benefits and side effects, preferred schedule and injection route, monitoring and oral-medication requirements, medication availability, insurance coverage, and cost.
LAI formulations are not interchangeable. Initiation, oral overlap, observation, and missed-dose instructions vary by product.
Availability, eligibility, and insurance requirements vary. Your clinician will confirm the exact medication and schedule.
Aripiprazole Monthly
Aripiprazole Every 2 months
Aripiprazole lauroxil Monthly, every 6 weeks, or every 2 months
Aripiprazole lauroxil One-time initiation dose
Paliperidone palmitate Monthly
Paliperidone palmitate Monthly
Paliperidone palmitate Every 3 months
Paliperidone palmitate Every 6 months
Risperidone Every 2 weeks
Risperidone Every 2 weeks
Risperidone Monthly or every 2 months
Olanzapine pamoate Every 2 or 4 weeks
Haloperidol decanoate Usually every 4 weeks
Fluphenazine decanoate Individualized; often every 3–4 weeks
Extended-release naltrexone Every 4 weeks or monthly
Extended-release buprenorphine Monthly
Extended-release buprenorphine Weekly or monthly
IM: intramuscular · SQ: subcutaneous
Intervals vary by dose, diagnosis, previous treatment, and individual response. Follow instructions for the exact product and formulation.
† Initiation dose only; not a maintenance injection.
‡ Restricted program; at least three hours of observation after every injection.