The Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) Clinic

The Penn Psychiatry Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) clinic is a specialty clinic that focuses on administering psychiatric medications in the form of long-acting injectable formulations, rather than daily oral pills.

Purpose

• Medication adherence: Many people with serious mental illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder) struggle to take oral medications consistently. LAIs provide sustained delivery of medication over weeks to months, improving adherence.
• Relapse prevention: Regular injections lower the risk of relapse, hospitalization, and acute episodes.
• Monitoring: These clinics also provide regular monitoring for side effects, therapeutic response, and overall mental health status.

How it Works

• Patients receive injections (often every 2–12 weeks depending on the medication).
• Our Registered Nurse administers the injections, while psychiatrists or psychiatric nurse practitioners oversee prescribing and monitoring.
• The LAI Clinics may also coordinate with outpatient providers, case managers, and families.

Common Medications Used

• Antipsychotics such as risperidone, paliperidone, aripiprazole, haloperidol, fluphenazine, and olanzapine in long-acting injectable form.
• Some mood stabilizers and newer psychiatric medications are also being studied in LAI formats.

Benefits for Patients and Systems

• Reduces missed doses and improves stability.
• Decreases ER visits and hospital readmissions.
• Provides predictable follow-up and engagement with care teams.