Past Issues
An Open Trial of Risperidone Shifting from Oral Form to Long-acting
Injection Form in Patients with Schizophrenia
Chi-Shin Wu, Chien-Tzu Wu, Shi-Kai Liu
Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of shifting from the
oral to the long-acting depot form of risperidone. Methods: We recruited 21
schizophrenic patients who were stable on oral risperidone for at least 9 weeks for
participation in this 12-week, non-randomized, single arm, open study. Clinical efficacy
and safety were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
(PANSS), the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) and the Extrapyramidal Syndrome
Rating Scale (ESRS) at the start of trial and at the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks.
Results: Switching from oral to depot risperidone did not result in significant
changes in PANSS total score, positive subscale, general psychopathology subscale
and CGI scores, while the PANSS negative subscale score showed significant
reduction. Significant clinical global improvement, as defined by a reduction in
PANSS total score of greater than 20%, was found in 14.3% of patients. None of
the patients showed significant deterioration in clinical condition defined by a worsening
of PANSS total score > 20% or a change in CGI of more than 2 points. The
severity of EPS decreased significantly, especially for parkinsonism symptoms.
Although various side effects were reported, most were nonspecific subjective
complaints carried over from the previous period of oral risperidone treatment. No
significant change in QTc ormean body weight was frombaseline to the study endpoint.
Conclusion: This study showed that depot risperidone was as effective as
oral Risperidone in maintenance therapy for schizophrenia, and had a comparable
side effect profile. A controlled prospective study with a larger sample size, however,
is needed to confirm these findings.
oral to the long-acting depot form of risperidone. Methods: We recruited 21
schizophrenic patients who were stable on oral risperidone for at least 9 weeks for
participation in this 12-week, non-randomized, single arm, open study. Clinical efficacy
and safety were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
(PANSS), the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) and the Extrapyramidal Syndrome
Rating Scale (ESRS) at the start of trial and at the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks.
Results: Switching from oral to depot risperidone did not result in significant
changes in PANSS total score, positive subscale, general psychopathology subscale
and CGI scores, while the PANSS negative subscale score showed significant
reduction. Significant clinical global improvement, as defined by a reduction in
PANSS total score of greater than 20%, was found in 14.3% of patients. None of
the patients showed significant deterioration in clinical condition defined by a worsening
of PANSS total score > 20% or a change in CGI of more than 2 points. The
severity of EPS decreased significantly, especially for parkinsonism symptoms.
Although various side effects were reported, most were nonspecific subjective
complaints carried over from the previous period of oral risperidone treatment. No
significant change in QTc ormean body weight was frombaseline to the study endpoint.
Conclusion: This study showed that depot risperidone was as effective as
oral Risperidone in maintenance therapy for schizophrenia, and had a comparable
side effect profile. A controlled prospective study with a larger sample size, however,
is needed to confirm these findings.
| Key Word | risperidone, depot risperidone, schizophrenia |
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