Depot medication
Depot medications are long acting preparations of anti-psychotic drugs, which are given by injection. They act by releasing the drug slowly into the body over several weeks. Medication is given in this way to people who may be unable to take oral medication on daily basis.
| Drugs/Dosages | Range of dosage | |
| Flupentixol decanoate (Depixol) | 50mg every 4 weeks | 300mg every 2 weeks |
| Fluphenazine decanoate (modecate) | 25mg every 4 weeks | 50-100mg every 2 weeks |
| Haloperidol decanoate | 50mg every 4 weeks | 50-100mg every 2 weeks |
| Risperidone (Riperdal Consta) | 25mg every 2 weeks | 50mg every 2 weeks |
| Zuclopenthixol decanoate (Clopixol) | 200 – 500mg every 4 weeks | 200 – 400mg every 2 weeks |
| Name in brackets are the propriety (brand) names of the drugs | ||
Indications of increasing severity of disease are:
- Increasing strength of injection given
- Injections given at more frequent intervals, i.e., 4 weekly reducing to 3 weekly to fortnightly. A depot injection given every week would indicate very severe disease.
Note: Whilst the level of medication may be helpful, it should not be used on its own to determine the level of functional restriction.
If a drug is given by injection, this indicates that the medication is supervised by a health care professional. This is regardless of whether any additional daily oral tablets are given by a carer, or if the person administers the tablets themselves.
Prescription of depot medication may indicate problems with compliance and therefore possible more severe disease.
Amended December 2010
