Long-Acting Injectable Center of Excellence

Education, resources, and tools to help you understand and optimize the use of LAIs

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Welcome to the Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) Center of Excellence (COE)

The LAI CoE helps clinicians and providers understand the safe and effective use of LAIs. It offers high-quality education, clinical consultations, interactive tools, vetted resources, and more.

Live and on-demand webinars
On-demand consultations
Intensive consultation to clinics, practices, and health systems
Clinical tips and resources

For individual and family resources on LAIs, visit Resources for Individuals & Families.

LAI Injection Videos

SMI CalAdviser is proud to present this five-part video series on the proper preparation and
administration of LAI medications.

Video: Intramuscular (IM) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Deltoid Site

This video demonstrates how to administer (a long-acting injectable) medication…

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Video: Intramuscular (IM) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Ventral Gluteal (or Ventrogluteal) Site

This video demonstrates how to administer (a long-acting injectable) medication…

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Video: Intramuscular (IM) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Dorsal Gluteal (or Dorsogluteal) Site

This video demonstrates how to administer (a long-acting injectable) medication…

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Video: Subcutaneous (SC) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Abdominal Site

This video demonstrates how to administer (a long-acting injectable) medication…

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Video: Subcutaneous (SC) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Lateral Aspect of Upper Arm

This video demonstrates how to administer (a long-acting injectable) medication…

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Resources
Education
Consultation

Resources on Long-Acting Injectables

Browse resources and find answers from SMI CalAdviser Resources

LAI Medication Fact Sheets

Tips on Starting or Switching LAIs

Tips on Administration and Monitoring

Tips on Managing Side Effects

Tips on Challenges

Information and Handouts for Individuals and Families

Maximizing Treatment Success for Patients with SMI: Promoting Adherence and Treatment Engagement

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The American Psychiatric Association Guideline for Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia

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Using Motivational Interviewing with Serious Mental illness to Address Medication Non-Adherence, Create Change and Enhance Stability

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Get Expert Guidance on Questions Around LAIs

Submit any questions you have on managing side effects, assessment and monitoring, medical comorbidities, and any other topic. Receive a response within one business day from one of our national experts.

How should long-acting injectables be initiated?

How much oral overlap is recommended with the first-generation antipsychotic decanoates?

What are the main differences between the aripiprazole long-acting injectables (LAIs)?

Submit Your Own Question

Trending Topics

Use our Resources Page to find evidence-based answers and resources on LAIs.
Here are some new and popular topics — all vetted by our Clinical Expert Team.

What do APA’s Schizophrenia Treatment Guidelines say about long-acting injectable antipsychotics?

On September 1, 2020, the American Psychiatric Association released a…

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What long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications are available in the U.S.?

See clinical tips available (linked below) on individual LAIs for…

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What should clinicians know about Perseris (risperidone subcutaneous LAI)?

Perseris is a long-acting injectable (LAI) formulation of risperidone. It…

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What mistakes should providers be aware of when prescribing and administering long-acting injectables (LAIs)?

Mistakes in preparation:

Not all injections are given the…

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What can be done if a LAI medication becomes less effective part way through the inter-injection interval?

There are several reasons why a LAI medication might have…

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I am going to start a new long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) medication soon. I’m worried about how much injections hurt when I get them in my arm, so are there other options about where to get the shot?

There are many different options of LAIs available. See this…

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What is shared decision making and how does it apply to using long-acting injectables (LAIs)?

Shared Decision Making (SDM) is a collaborative process between a…

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View More LAI Resources

LAI Medication Fact Sheets
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What should clinicians know about Abilify Asimtufii (aripiprazole LAI)?
What should clinicians know about Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole monohydrate LAI)?
What should clinicians know about Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil LAI)?
What should clinicians know about Aristada Initio (aripiprazole lauroxil LAI)?
What should clinicians know about fluphenazine decanoate (“Prolixin Dec”)?
What should clinicians know about haloperidol decanoate (“Haldol Dec”)?
What should clinicians know about Invega Hafyera (paliperidone palmitate 6-month LAI)?
What should clinicians know about Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate LAI)?
What should clinicians know about Invega Trinza (paliperidone palmitate 12-week LAI)?
What should clinicians know about Perseris (risperidone subcutaneous LAI)?
Risperdal Consta/Risperidone for Extended-Release Injectable Suspension
What should clinicians know about Uzedy (risperidone subcutaneous LAI)?
What should clinicians know about Zyprexa Relprevv (olanzapine for extended release injectable suspension)?
What should clinicians know about Brixadi (Subutex)?
What should clinicians know about Sublocade (Suboxone)?
What should clinicians know about Vivitrol (Naltrexone)?

Tips on Starting or Switching LAIs
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What long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications are available in the U.S.?
Atypical Injectable Antipsychotics for Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness
What are dose conversions from oral to injectable for the long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications available in the U.S.?
Guidelines for the use and management of long-acting injectable antipsychotics in serious mental illness
When prescribing, what should I consider regarding doses of antipsychotic medications, oral or long-acting injectable medications?
What are clinical indications for the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics?
What do APA’s Schizophrenia Treatment Guidelines say about long-acting injectable antipsychotics?
Are paliperidone (Invega) and risperidone (Risperdal) similar or different?
Long-acting injection antipsychotic medications in the management of schizophrenia (excerpt from APA Clinical Practice Guideline)
When should you offer a long-acting injectable (LAI) for first-episode patients?
What is shared decision making and how does it apply to using long-acting injectables (LAIs)?
How do I establish tolerability before starting a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication (LAI), and how do I ensure the patient will not have side effects?
How do I switch a patient treated with LAI to Risperdal Consta (risperidone microspheres)?
How do I transition a patient from risperidone oral to paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna) long-acting injectable (LAI)?
What should I consider and how do I change or switch a patient from a different long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medication to Aristada?
What should I consider and how do I change or switch a patient from a different long-acting injectable medication (LAI) to Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate)?
What should I consider and how do I change or switch a patient from a different long acting injectable medication (LAI) to Abilify Maintena?
Antipsychotic Receptor Binding Properties
Talking to Individuals and Families About Long-Acting Injectables

Tips on Administration and Monitoring
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What should a provider consider when administering long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics?
What mistakes should providers be aware of when prescribing and administering long-acting injectables (LAIs)?
What is known about therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for antipsychotic medications?
Guidance for Missed Maintenance Doses for Long Acting Injectable Antipsychotics
Video: Intramuscular (IM) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Deltoid Site
Video: Intramuscular (IM) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Ventral Gluteal (or Ventrogluteal) Site
Video: Intramuscular (IM) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Dorsal Gluteal (or Dorsogluteal) Site
Video: Subcutaneous (SC) Injection of Long-acting Injectables into Abdominal Site
Talking to Individuals and Families About Long-Acting Injectables

Tips on Managing Side Effects
Close

Is there anything that can be done if a patient experiences sedation as a side effect after a long-acting injectable (LAI) deltoid injection?
How do you treat akathisia from treatment with long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs)?
How do VMAT2 Inhibitors treat tardive dyskinesia (TD)?
What is tardive dyskinesia (TD)?

Tips on Challenges
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What are clinical situations where the use of an oral antipsychotic together with a long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics may make sense?
What can be done if a LAI medication becomes less effective part way through the inter-injection interval?
What are important considerations for the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications in first-episode psychosis patients?
What should I do if a patient misses a scheduled dose of, or experiences a gap in their long-acting injectable (LAI) treatment?
Aspiration in injections: Should we continue or abandon the practice?
Guide to Long-Acting Medications for Providers and Organizations – Reserved for Treatment-Resistant cases?
Long-Acting Injectables: Pharmacological Information – LAI Table of Considerations
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) use for older adults
What is recommended for handling waste associated with administration of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs)?
Long Acting Injectable (LAI) Antipsychotic Use During Pregnancy

Information and Handouts for Individuals and Families
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Antipsychotics and heat-related illnesses
First-Generation (typical) Antipsychotics – Medication Fact Sheets
First-Generation (typical) Antipsychotics – Medication Fact Sheets (Spanish Version)
I heard about this new long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) medication that doesn’t have to be injected as deeply as the others. Can you tell me about that?
I am going to start a new long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) medication soon. I’m worried about how much injections hurt when I get them in my arm, so are there other options about where to get the shot?
I am considering trying a long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) medication. How often would I need to get injections?
What is shared decision making and how does it apply to using long-acting injectables (LAIs)?
How can akathisia be treated?
How do VMAT2 Inhibitors treat tardive dyskinesia (TD)?
What is Acute Dystonia?
What is Drug-Induced Parkinsonism?

Funding for SMI CalAdviser was made possible by Agreements 24-73017-000 and 24-IT-O0014 from the State of California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) (the Department), but does not necessarily represent the views of the Department or any of its employees except to the extent, if any, that it has formally been approved by the Department.

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