Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Despite the increasing use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIA) in the elderly population, there is still a lack of studies. This study aims to assess the treatment safety and tolerability of LAIAs in elderly patients. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted with patients over 60 years of age who were treated in the psychiatry clinic of a university hospital between 2014 and 2024 and underwent LAIA. Sociodemographic data, diagnoses, LAIA medications and side effects were obtained by accessing hospital records. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients with a mean age of 70.20 (± 5.20) years were included in the study. The majority of patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia (53.2%), bipolar disorder (23.7%), and schizoaffective disorder (20.4%). The most commonly prescribed LAIA was paliperidone palmitate once-monthly 100 mg, with 19.9% of the patients. The most frequently used oral antipsychotic in combination with LAIA was olanzapine, used in 64 (34.2%) cases. No significant adverse effects related to the use of long-acting injectable drugs were observed. CONCLUSION: The utilisation of LAIAs in elderly patients appears to be both tolerable and safe. It can be considered for elderly patients suffering from chronic mental illness who are non-compliant with treatment.