The Psychotropic guidelines have been updated in response to the following drug approvals by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. Here are the key changes:
A 6-month formulation of paliperidone palmitate is approved for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adults who have been adequately treated with a 1-monthly or 3-monthly formulation. New guidance on its use for recovery and relapse prevention in psychoses is included.
Intranasal esketamine is approved for treatment-resistant major depression (in conjunction with a newly initiated antidepressant), but its use and prescription should only be considered by specialists. Advice on its role in treatment-resistant major depression has been updated.
