See clinical safety profile
This study was an investigator-initiated project funded by Lundbeck and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. The funders participated in the design of the study but had no influence on the conduct of the trial and were not involved in data collection or analysis, in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to submit it for publication.
The Prevention of Relapse in Schizophrenia (PRELAPSE) study was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, cluster-randomized clinical trial that randomized 41 sites in the US to receive either ABILIFY MAINTENA or clinician’s choice
Study site randomization

*LAIs included ABILIFY MAINTENA (15.4%) or another LAI (15.4%) at time of consent.
†1 site was withdrawn from each arm due to 0 recruited patients for a total of 39 sites analyzed.
‡LAIs included ABILIFY MAINTENA (3.9%) and another LAI (23.5%) at the time of consent.
LAI=long-acting injectable.
Study design
Inclusion criteria |
Schizophrenia diagnosis confirmed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, Research Version (SCID-5) |
<5 years of lifetime antipsychotic use |
Age of 18 to 35 years |
Ability to provide informed consent |
Exclusion criteria |
Primary DSM-5 diagnosis other than schizophrenia |
Pregnant or lactating women |
Unstable medical condition |
Prior clozapine use |
ABILIFY MAINTENA sites only: History of intolerance to aripiprazole |
DSM-5=Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
Study limitations
- Only 1 study medication (ABILIFY MAINTENA)
- Clinicians at ABILIFY MAINTENA sites offered ABILIFY MAINTENA without charge to patients in addition to other available services
- Clinician’s choice sites allowed the use of LAIs, and sites were required to have clinical support; therefore, clinician’s choice sites had higher use of LAIs at baseline and during the study than US statistics would suggest
- 51% of patients (n=130) at clinician’s choice sites received an LAI at some point during the study
Primary endpoint: Time to first psychiatric hospitalization with ABILIFY MAINTENA vs clinician’s choice over 2 years
Risk of first hospitalization was significantly reduced for patients taking ABILIFY MAINTENA in a 2-year study of adults with early-phase schizophrenia
Adapted from Kane JM, et al. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(12):1217-1224.
§22.2% of ABILIFY MAINTENA patients met criteria for first hospitalization vs 36.0% of clinician’s choice patients.
CI=confidence interval; HR=hazard ratio.
The hazard ratio was used to calculate the reduction in risk of first psychiatric hospitalization for patients on ABILIFY MAINTENA vs clinician’s choice.
Clinician’s choice
- Clinician’s choice was defined as treatment as usual, such as medication, including possible oral or LAI antipsychotics, and other available services
Important Warning and Precaution Regarding Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
Risk of TD, and the potential to become irreversible, are believed to increase with duration of treatment and total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs. TD can develop after a relatively brief treatment period, even at low doses, or after discontinuation of treatment. Prescribing should be consistent with the need to minimize TD. If antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn, TD may remit, partially or completely.
Review the schizophrenia brochure
See clinical data on ABILIFY MAINTENA for appropriate adult patients with schizophrenia.
Important Warning and Precaution Regarding Orthostatic Hypotension
ABILIFY MAINTENA may cause orthostatic hypotension and should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or conditions which would predispose them to hypotension.
Safety information from the PRELAPSE Study
PRELAPSE Study: Adverse events reported after baseline assessment in ≥5% of patients
Percentages of patients reporting reaction | ||
Adverse event | ABILIFY MAINTENA (n=222) | Clinician’s choiceII (n=241) |
Worsening of psychotic symptoms | 23.0 | 40.2 |
Weight gain | 14.4 | 19.5 |
Suicidal ideation without suicide attempt¶ | 8.6 | 9.5 |
Depression | 10.4 | 8.3 |
Anxiety | 12.2 | 6.2 |
Hyperprolactinemia | 4.1 | 12.9 |
Elevated cholesterol levels | 6.8 | 10.0 |
Hepatic enzyme abnormalities | 6.8 | 9.1 |
Insomnia | 8.6 | 7.1 |
Hypertension | 5.4 | 7.5 |
Somnolence | 7.2 | 4.6 |
Hostility/aggression | 7.2 | 2.9 |
Tachycardia | 3.2 | 5.0 |
Restlessness | 6.3 | 0.8 |
Clinician’s choice was defined as treatment as usual, such as medication, including possible oral or LAI antipsychotics, and other available services.
Does not include the 1 patient in the clinician’s choice group who died by suicide. Patients who made suicide attempts concurrent with recorded suicidal ideation are not included; patients who made suicide attempts but also had suicidal ideation not concurrent with an attempt are included.
PRELAPSE=Prevention of Relapse in Schizophrenia.
Important Warning and Precaution Regarding Metabolic Changes
Atypical antipsychotic drugs have caused metabolic changes including:
- Hyperglycemia/Diabetes Mellitus: Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma, or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics including aripiprazole. Patients with diabetes mellitus should be regularly monitored for worsening of glucose control; those with risk factors for diabetes (e.g., obesity, family history of diabetes), should undergo baseline and periodic fasting blood glucose testing. Any patient treated with atypical antipsychotics should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemia including polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weakness. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemia should also undergo fasting blood glucose testing. In some cases, hyperglycemia has resolved when the atypical antipsychotic was discontinued; however, some patients required continuation of anti-diabetic treatment despite discontinuation of the suspect drug.
- Dyslipidemia: Undesirable alterations in lipids have been observed in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics.
- Weight Gain: Weight gain has been observed with atypical antipsychotic use. Clinical monitoring of weight is recommended.
Considering ABILIFY MAINTENA for your patients?
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ABILIFY MAINTENA has been evaluated for safety in 2128 adult patients with schizophrenia and 804 adult patients with bipolar I disorder.
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See the pharmacokinetic data for ABILIFY MAINTENA in adult patients with schizophrenia.
Please see FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including BOXED WARNING.
Reference: 1. Kane JM, Schooler NR, Marcy P, et al. Effect of long-acting injectable antipsychotics vs usual care on time to first hospitalization in early-phase schizophrenia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(12):1217-1224.