What is it about?

Because most antipsychotic medications are eliminated from the body through the liver, the role of renal function is seldom discussed. In this paper, we show that properly estimating renal function is crucial in drug dosing, particularly for renally excreted long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications. These agents are notable in terms of their increased use clinically, as well as extended pharmacological activity.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The challenge lies in the fact that standard blood tests may not always provide a comprehensive assessment of renal function. To gain a complete picture, specific equations are required. Various equations are employed to evaluate renal impairment, particularly in the context of medication management. Understanding and selecting the appropriate equation is crucial in reducing the risk of adverse drug reactions. This case report highlights the importance of carefully choosing the correct creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation to accurately assess renal function, especially when dosing long-acting injectables (LAIs).

Perspectives

Given the extended pharmacological activity of LAIs, it is hoped that this case report will raise awareness about the importance of considering and selecting the right eGFR equation to estimate renal function in drug dosing.

Colette Raphaël
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Renal Impairment and Dose Adjustment of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics: Are We Getting It Right? A Case Report, FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, October 2024, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20240007.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page