What to do if a patient starts to experience psychotic symptoms before their next long-acting (injection) antipsychotic medication?

Management of Psychotic Symptoms Before Next Long-Acting Injection

When a patient experiences psychotic symptoms before their scheduled long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic, prompt intervention is necessary with oral supplementation or rescheduling the injection as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration and hospitalization. 1

Immediate Assessment and Intervention

• Contact healthcare provider immediately to report symptom emergence and arrange for clinical evaluation 1
• Assess severity of psychotic symptoms and potential risk factors:
  • Emergence or worsening of positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions)
  • Changes in social functioning
  • Recent substance use (strong predictor of non-adherence and relapse) 1

Treatment Algorithm

Step 1: For Mild to Moderate Symptoms

• Reschedule LAI injection as soon as possible rather than waiting for next scheduled date 2, 1
• Consider oral supplementation with the same antipsychotic as the LAI until the next injection can be administered 2
• Dosing of oral supplementation should be based on the pharmacokinetic properties of the specific LAI medication 3

Step 2: For Moderate to Severe Symptoms

• Immediate oral supplementation with the same antipsychotic as the LAI 2
• If patient is uncooperative or unable to take oral medication:
  • Consider short-acting intramuscular formulation of an antipsychotic for rapid symptom control 4, 3
  • High-potency antipsychotics can help stabilize patients quickly 4
• Increase frequency of monitoring (consider weekly visits during this period of instability) 1

Step 3: For Severe Symptoms or Safety Concerns

• Emergency psychiatric evaluation if symptoms pose safety risks to self or others 2
• Consider hospitalization if symptoms are severe or patient is unable to cooperate with outpatient management 2
• If hospitalization is required, continue LAI schedule while adding oral supplementation as needed 2

Monitoring and Follow-up

• Schedule more frequent follow-up visits (weekly) during this period of symptom exacerbation 1
• Assess medication adherence and potential reasons for breakthrough symptoms:
  • Was the LAI administered at the correct dose and interval?
  • Has the patient been using substances that might interact with the medication?
  • Are there stressors or environmental factors contributing to symptom emergence? 1

Prevention Strategies for Future Episodes

• Consider shortening the interval between LAI administrations if breakthrough symptoms occur regularly before scheduled injections 2
• Reassess whether the current LAI is the optimal choice for the patient 2
• Provide psychoeducation to patient and family about early warning signs requiring immediate attention 1
• Involve family in adherence strategies as they often face the initial burden associated with psychotic relapse 1

Important Considerations

• Both patients and clinicians tend to overestimate medication adherence, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring 1
• Medication non-adherence is the strongest predictor of relapse, with relapse rates five times higher among those who discontinue medication 1
• High expressed emotion in family environments is associated with higher relapse rates 1

Remember that prompt intervention before a crisis develops is crucial when a patient misses doses or experiences breakthrough symptoms. The goal is to maintain therapeutic antipsychotic levels to prevent full relapse, which can have significant negative impacts on the patient's long-term prognosis and quality of life.