Risperidone long-acting injection, a promising treatment for patients with bipolar disorder

Abstract

Objective: Drug therapy for bipolar disorder is not always effective and full recovery between episodes can be elusive, resulting in great morbidity. Treatment approaches for the acute and long-term management of this disease are constantly being revised as new drugs become available. We wished to examine a new treatment option – the long acting formulation of the atypical antipsychotic, risperidone.

Case history: This paper describes a man with severe bipolar disorder who has been unsuccessfully treated for many years with mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics, and who has shown significant and prolonged amelioration of his symptoms following treatment using risperidone long-acting injection 25 mg given intramuscularly every two weeks.

Discussion: The factors underlying the potential effectiveness of this medication in patients with bipolar disorder are discussed.

Conclusion: This case illustrates the suitability of long-acting risperidone in patients with bipolar disorder requiring long-term pharmacotherapy and raises the prospect of using it in the prophylaxis of patients who are at risk of relapse.

Declaration of interest: Dr Susan Libretto formerly worked as a Medical Writer & Publications Manager for Janssen-Cilag Ltd. There is no conflict of interest. The patient gave permission for the writing of this article.

Keywords:

• Bipolar disorder
• antipsychotics
• risperidone
• long-acting
• intramuscular injection