Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil) is a long-acting injectable antipsychotic given once every month, every 6 weeks, or every 2 months, depending on the dose. It treats schizophrenia in adults and is always administered by a healthcare professional, never at home.
Dosing Schedules by Strength
Aristada comes in four strengths, and the one you’re prescribed determines how often you need an injection:
- 441 mg: once monthly
- 662 mg: once monthly
- 882 mg: once monthly or once every 6 weeks
- 1064 mg: once every 2 months
The 882 mg dose is the only one with two scheduling options. Your prescriber may choose the every-6-weeks option if a slightly longer interval works better for your routine. The 1064 mg dose offers the longest gap between appointments at 2 months, which can be a practical advantage for people who have difficulty getting to regular appointments.
Where the Injection Goes
Most Aristada doses are injected into the gluteal muscle (the upper outer area of the buttock). The 441 mg dose is the exception: it can also be given in the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. The higher-dose syringes contain a larger volume of medication, which is why they’re restricted to the larger gluteal muscle.
How Treatment Starts
Because Aristada is a long-acting formulation, it takes time for the medication to reach effective levels in your bloodstream. Peak concentrations don’t arrive until roughly 24 to 35 days after an injection, and the drug has a long elimination half-life of about 54 to 57 days. That slow ramp-up means you need coverage during the first few weeks.
There are two ways to bridge that gap. One option uses a separate one-time injection called Aristada Initio, given at the same visit as your first Aristada dose, along with a single oral aripiprazole tablet. The other option skips the Aristada Initio injection and instead has you take oral aripiprazole daily for about 21 days after your first Aristada shot. During this crossover period, any previous antipsychotic can be gradually tapered over roughly 4 weeks under your prescriber’s guidance.
What Happens if You Miss a Dose
Life happens, and Aristada’s prescribing guidelines account for that. How much catch-up you need depends on which dose you’re on and how long it’s been since your last injection.
For the 441 mg monthly dose, no extra steps are needed if you’re within 6 weeks of your last shot. If it’s been more than 6 weeks but less than 7, you’ll take oral aripiprazole for 7 days alongside your next injection. Beyond 7 weeks, you’ll need 21 days of oral supplementation.
For the 662 mg, 882 mg (monthly or every 6 weeks), and 1064 mg doses, the window is more forgiving. No oral supplementation is required if you’re within 8 weeks of your last injection. Between 8 and 12 weeks, 7 days of oral aripiprazole is recommended. Past 12 weeks, 21 days of oral coverage is needed. In every case, the next injection should be given as soon as possible rather than waiting for the originally scheduled date.
How the Schedule Compares to Daily Pills
The core advantage of Aristada over oral aripiprazole is the reduced burden of remembering medication. Instead of taking a pill every day (365 doses per year), you’re looking at 12 appointments per year on a monthly schedule, roughly 9 on a 6-week schedule, or just 6 on the 2-month schedule. For a condition like schizophrenia, where gaps in medication can lead to relapse, fewer opportunities to miss a dose can make a meaningful difference in staying stable.
The tradeoff is that each dose requires a visit to a clinic or provider’s office. You can’t self-administer Aristada. For some people this is a drawback; for others, especially those who struggle with daily adherence, the structured schedule is exactly the point.