NYMC Faculty Publications
Examining the Safety, Efficacy, and Patient Acceptability of Inhaled Loxapine for the Acute Treatment of Agitation Associated with Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder in Adults
DOI
10.2147/NDT.S173567
Journal Title
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
First Page
2273
Last Page
2283
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
August 2019
Department
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
Agitation is a common and serious symptom of bipolar mania and schizophrenia, and can be defined as excessive motor and verbal activity. If left unrecognized and untreated, agitation can evolve into aggression, resulting in potential patient and staff injury. An ideal treatment for agitation would have a rapid onset, cause calmness without sedation, and be tolerable, efficacious, and non-coercive, while managing the underlying condition. A novel approach for the treatment of agitation is inhaled loxapine. Inhaled loxapine is rapidly absorbed into the systemic circulation through the alveoli, resulting in a near immediate onset of action. The efficacy of inhaled loxapine was established in an extensive clinical development program that included persons with schizophrenia and bipolar mania. Additionally, inhaled loxapine has comparable efficacy to intramuscular ziprasidone, olanzapine, haloperidol, aripiprazole, and lorazepam, with the added benefit of being non-painful and non-traumatizing. Inhaled loxapine carries a bolded black box warning for bronchospasm, and as a result, in the US, requires enrollment in a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program, and is contraindicated in those with pulmonary disease. Additionally, the use of inhaled loxapine can be associated with dysgeusia and throat irritation. Inhaled loxapine requires some degree of patient cooperation, and therefore may not be appropriate for all agitated patients.
Recommended Citation
Faden, J., & Citrome, L. (2019). Examining the Safety, Efficacy, and Patient Acceptability of Inhaled Loxapine for the Acute Treatment of Agitation Associated with Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder in Adults. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 15, 2273-2283. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S173567