Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat schizophrenia. Aristada is given by a healthcare professional as an injection into a muscle.

Aristada is used as a long-term treatment for schizophrenia in adults. To learn more about Aristada’s uses, see the “What is Aristada used for?” section below.

Aristada basics

Aristada contains the active drug aripiprazole lauroxil and belongs to a group of medications called atypical antipsychotics.

Aristada is a brand-name medication. It currently isn’t available in a generic version.

Aristada vs. Aristada Initio

Before you start treatment with Aristada, your doctor might give you a one-time injection of a medication called Aristada Initio. (See “How is Aristada administered?” below for details.) Both drugs contain the same active ingredient. But only Aristada is used as an ongoing treatment.

In this article, we’ll focus on Aristada. If you have questions about Aristada Initio, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Below are commonly used dosages of Aristada, but your doctor will determine the dosage you receive. They’ll recommend the dosage of Aristada that’s right for you.

Forms and strengths

Aristada comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled syringe. It’s available in several strengths:

  • 441 milligrams (mg) per 1.6 milliliter (mL)
  • 662 mg/2.4 mL
  • 882 mg/3.2 mL
  • 1,064 mg/3.9 mL

Aristada is an extended-release medication. “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time.

A healthcare professional will administer the drug as an injection into a muscle.

Recommended dosages

You’ll receive doses of Aristada according to one of the following dosing schedules:

  • once monthly
  • once every 6 weeks
  • once every 2 months

The dosing frequency depends on the strength that your doctor prescribes. Higher doses of Aristada require less frequent injections.

Note: If you haven’t taken aripiprazole before, your doctor may have you take oral aripiprazole (Abilify) for up to 2 weeks before you receive an injection of Aristada. This helps make sure you can tolerate the medication. Depending on how well you tolerate oral aripiprazole, your doctor may also start you on a lower dose of Aristada.

For more details, you can refer to this in-depth dosing guide. You can also talk with your doctor or see the drug’s prescribing information.

Questions about Aristada’s dosage

Below are questions and answers about Aristada’s dosage.

  • What if I miss a dose of Aristada? It’s important not to miss any doses of Aristada. But if you do, contact your doctor’s office right away. They’ll tell you when you should come in to receive your next dose. Depending on how long it’s been since your last dose, your doctor may need to make temporary changes to your treatment plan. For example, you might be given a one-time injection of Aristada Initio, to restart your treatment.
  • Will I need to use Aristada long term? Yes. Aristada is used to treat schizophrenia, a chronic (long-term) condition. If you and your doctor feel that this medication is safe and effective for you, it’s likely that you’ll continue receiving it long term.
  • How long does Aristada take to work? Aristada should start working right away. Before you start Aristada, your doctor will give you a very similar medication. You may receive either a one-time injection called Aristada Initio, aripiprazole (Abilify) that you take by mouth, or both. This helps build up the drug in your system so that your first dose of Aristada can start working right away.

Like most drugs, Aristada may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Aristada may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Aristada. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Aristada can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Aristada’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Aristada that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Aristada can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Aristada, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Some people may develop serious side effects during Aristada treatment. These can include:

Certain serious side effects have been reported with the use of antipsychotic drugs that are very similar to Aristada. The following side effects weren’t seen in studies of Aristada, but they may still occur:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects Aristada may cause.

Note: In addition to the information above and below, you can refer to this in-depth article about Aristada’s side effects.

Boxed warning

Aristada has a boxed warning. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Increased risk of death in older adults who have dementia-related psychosis. Antipsychotic drugs such as Aristada may increase the risk of death in certain adults ages 65 years and older. Specifically, this risk applies to people who have psychosis (loss of touch with reality) due to dementia (declining memory).

What might help

Due to the risk of death, doctors typically will not prescribe Aristada to older people who have psychosis due to dementia. Talk with your doctor about other treatment options.

Akathisia

Aristada can cause akathisia, which makes you feel like you can’t stay still. This was one of the more common side effects in studies of the drug.

With akathisia, you have an intense feeling of restlessness that mainly affects your legs. Symptoms may include:

  • fidgeting or rocking
  • pacing back and forth
  • repeatedly swinging your legs or tapping your feet
  • shifting your weight from one foot to the other

Akathisia symptoms can be stressful and uncomfortable and may lead to agitation, anxiety, and depression in some people.

What might help

If you have any symptoms of akathisia during your treatment with Aristada, talk with your doctor. They may adjust your dosage or recommend changes to your treatment plan.

Weight gain

Like other medications for schizophrenia, Aristada may cause weight gain. This was a common side effect in people who took the drug in studies.

What might help

Your doctor will monitor your weight while you’re taking Aristada. They may suggest ways to manage your weight, such as making changes to your diet.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Aristada.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Aristada. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Aristada, Abilify, and Abilify Maintena all belong to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. They are all used to treat schizophrenia. But Abilify and Abilify Maintena are also used to treat other mental health conditions.

Abilify’s and Abilify Maintena’s active ingredient is aripiprazole. Aristada’s active ingredient is aripiprazole lauroxil. When your body breaks down aripiprazole lauroxil, it becomes aripiprazole.

If you’d like to know how Aristada compares with Abilify and Abilify Maintena, talk with your doctor. You can also check out the “Aristada vs. Abilify Maintena” section of this article.

Aristada is prescribed to treat schizophrenia in adults.

Schizophrenia is a chronic (long-term) psychiatric disorder. This condition affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Symptoms of schizophrenia often include:

  • hallucinations (seeing, sensing, or hearing things that aren’t really there)
  • delusions (strongly believing in something that’s false)
  • paranoia (feeling like others are out to get you)
  • unusual emotions or behaviors

It isn’t known for sure how Aristada works to treat schizophrenia. It’s thought that the drug affects certain chemicals in the brain.

Your doctor will explain how you’ll receive Aristada. They’ll also explain how much you’ll receive and how often.

Receiving Aristada

A healthcare professional will administer Aristada as an injection into a muscle.

This drug should be kept at room temperature. But it’s likely you won’t have to store it at home. You’ll receive your injection from a healthcare professional at a doctor’s office or clinic.

Aristada injection sites

Your Aristada dose will usually be injected into a muscle in your upper arm or buttock.

Before Aristada treatment

If you haven’t taken aripiprazole before, your doctor may want to make sure you can tolerate the medication. To do this, your doctor may have you take oral aripiprazole (Abilify) for up to 2 weeks before you receive an injection of Aristada. Aripiprazole is very similar to Aristada.

When it’s time for you to receive your first Aristada injection, your doctor might:

  • have you continue taking oral aripiprazole for another 21 days after your first injection, or
  • give you one last dose of oral aripiprazole and a one-time injection of Aristada Initio before your first Aristada injection

This process also helps build up aripiprazole in your system, so that your first dose of Aristada can start working right away.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Aristada and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Aristada affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable.
  • If you don’t understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.

Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Aristada. What you’ll pay for Aristada may depend on your treatment plan and the cost of visits to your healthcare professional to receive injections.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Aristada when using coupons from the site. See the coupon options below. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have insurance, the Aristada copay savings program may be an option.

You can refer to this in-depth article for details about the cost of Aristada treatment. You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

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Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Aristada.

How does Aristada work?

Aristada belongs to a group of medications called atypical antipsychotics. Its mechanism of action isn’t known for sure. (A drug’s mechanism of action is the way it works in the body.)

It’s thought that Aristada treats schizophrenia by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. These include dopamine and serotonin, both of which can influence a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Is Aristada similar to Invega Sustenna?

Yes. Aristada and Invega Sustenna are similar in several ways. Both drugs are long-acting injectable medications for schizophrenia. Both belong to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. And both are only administered by healthcare professionals.

However, they have some differences, such as their active ingredients, dosing schedules, and uses. Aristada’s active ingredient is aripiprazole lauroxil, and Invega Sustenna’s is paliperidone palmitate. Aristada is given every 4, 6, or 8 weeks, while Invega Sustenna is given every 4 weeks.

If you have questions about how Aristada compares to Invega Sustenna, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Will I have withdrawal symptoms if I stop taking Aristada?

It’s unlikely. Aristada is a long-acting drug. It’s designed to slowly release in your body over time, and its effects take a couple of months to completely wear off.

But there have been reports of worsening symptoms of schizophrenia after people stopped taking other antipsychotic drugs similar to Aristada. For example, people have experienced episodes of psychosis (loss of touch with reality).

Withdrawal symptoms have also been reported in some infants of people who took drugs similar to Aristada during the third trimester of pregnancy. Symptoms have ranged from mild to severe and have included agitation, tremor, excessive sleepiness, and trouble breathing.

If you’re interested in stopping treatment with Aristada, talk with your doctor. If you decide together that you’ll stop Aristada, your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment.

Does Aristada treat bipolar disorder?

Currently, Aristada isn’t used to treat bipolar disorder. It’s only used to treat schizophrenia.

Abilify Maintena contains aripiprazole, which is very similar to the active ingredient in Aristada, aripiprazole lauroxil. Abilify Maintena is used to treat both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

For more information about treatment options for bipolar disorder, talk with your doctor.

Before you start taking Aristada, talk with your doctor about your treatment plan. Be sure to discuss:

  • your overall health and medical history
  • any other medical conditions you have
  • any other medications you take

These considerations and others are described below.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Aristada, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Aristada.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Based on known drug interactions with aripiprazole, several types of medications may interact with Aristada. These include:

Aripiprazole is the active ingredient in Abilify. It’s very similar to the active ingredient in Aristada, aripiprazole lauroxil.

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Aristada. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with the use of Aristada.

Other interactions

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the risk of side effects during Aristada treatment. If you have questions about consuming grapefruit while receiving Aristada, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Boxed warning

Aristada has a boxed warning. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Antipsychotic drugs such as Aristada may increase the risk of death in older adults who have psychosis due to dementia. To learn more, see the “What are Aristada’s side effects?” section above.

Other warnings

Aristada may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Aristada. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aristada, any of its ingredients, or aripiprazole (Abilify), your doctor isn’t likely to prescribe Aristada. They’ll recommend other treatment options for you.

Altered drug metabolism. Aristada gets broken down in your body by an enzyme called CYP2D6. In some people, this enzyme works slower than usual. This leads to increased effects and side effects of certain drugs, including aripiprazole lauroxil (the active drug in Aristada). If you have a genetic condition that affects CYP2D6, be sure to tell your doctor. They’ll likely give you a lower dose of the drug.

Diabetes, lipid disorders, or obesity. Taking Aristada may cause high blood sugar, cholesterol problems, and weight gain. If you already have diabetes, a lipid disorder such as high cholesterol, or obesity, these side effects may worsen your condition. Talk with a doctor about a plan to monitor and manage these side effects during your Aristada treatment.

Low blood pressure or heart and blood vessel problems. Aristada may cause a drop in blood pressure when standing up, which may lead to dizziness. If you’ve had heart or blood vessel problems, such as a stroke, tell your doctor. They’ll likely start you with a low dose of the drug and monitor you closely during treatment.

Low white blood cell levels. Aristada use may cause low levels of white blood cells. If you already have a low white blood cell count, tell your doctor before you start receiving the drug. They’ll likely have you get blood tests to monitor your white blood cell levels before and during your treatment.

Age. Studies of Aristada didn’t include adults ages 65 years or older. It isn’t known if the drug is safe or effective for this age group.

Additionally, antipsychotic drugs that are similar to Aristada have been known to increase the risk of stroke in older adults who have psychosis (loss of touch with reality) due to dementia (declining memory). Older adults may also be at higher risk of certain side effects, such as a drop in blood pressure on standing up (which can lead to falls and injuries).

If you’re 65 years or older, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of the treatment options for your condition.

Seizures. Aristada may increase the risk of seizures. If you have a seizure disorder, be sure to talk with your doctor about it before taking Aristada. They’ll determine whether it’s safe for you to receive this medication.

Swallowing problems. Aristada use may increase the risk of trouble swallowing. This could increase the risk of breathing in fluids, which may lead to pneumonia. If you already have swallowing problems, talk with your doctor about it. They’ll let you know if it’s safe for you to receive Aristada.

Aristada and alcohol

Aristada doesn’t interact with alcohol. But the drug can worsen some of the effects of alcohol, including drowsiness, dizziness, and low blood pressure.

Doctors usually recommend that people with schizophrenia avoid drinking alcohol. (Aristada is used to treat schizophrenia.) This is because alcohol may worsen symptoms of this condition.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol during your treatment with Aristada, talk with your doctor. They can tell you how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to drink.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It isn’t known for sure whether Aristada use is safe during pregnancy.

Withdrawal symptoms have been reported in some infants of people who took drugs similar to Aristada during the third trimester of pregnancy. Symptoms have ranged from mild to severe and have included agitation, tremor, excessive sleepiness, and trouble breathing.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. They can give you more information about the risks and benefits of receiving Aristada during pregnancy.

It isn’t known if Aristada is safe to use while breastfeeding.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor. They can tell you more about the risks and benefits of taking Aristada while breastfeeding.

If you have schizophrenia, your doctor may recommend Aristada. It’s an injection that you’ll receive once monthly, once every 6 weeks, or once every 2 months.

If you have questions about Aristada or other treatments for schizophrenia, talk with your doctor.

Here are some questions to ask your doctor about Aristada:

  • How can I prevent or manage the side effects of Aristada?
  • During Aristada treatment, should I stop taking any of my daily medications?
  • Which dosing schedule is right for me?
  • Can a healthcare professional come to my home to give me my dose of Aristada?

Q:

Is it safe for me to drive after my Aristada injection?

Anonymous

A:

It may not be safe to do so. Aristada may affect your judgment, alertness, and motor skills. Do not drive after an Aristada injection until you know how this drug affects you. You also should not operate machinery or do any other tasks that require you to be alert.

To be safe, plan on having someone else drive you home after your first injection appointment.

If you have any questions about any other activities you might want to avoid at the start of Aristada treatment, ask your doctor.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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