Hi! My name is David Montgomery. I'm an independent artist and show organizer. I currently live with a mental illness, and I enjoy making art, spending time with my partner, and meeting new people.

I’m here today to talk to you about long-acting injectables for the treatment of Bipolar-I disorder and Schizophrenia.

Welcome to Know Your Options. In this two-part video series, you will learn about long-acting injectables, a treatment option for Bipolar-I disorder and Schizophrenia. Long-acting injectables are just one treatment option. Others include oral medications, as well as therapeutic interventions like psychotherapy or talk therapy, or vocational rehabilitation.

The goal of this video series is to introduce you to and help you better understand long-acting injectables, or LAIs. When you know your options, you– or someone you care for– can work with a doctor to make decisions that may help to achieve treatment goals.

There are two videos in the series.  In this first video, we will explore how long-acting injectables can be used to treat Bipolar-I disorder and Schizophrenia. We will also discuss how your treatment goals can help you and your doctor make decisions about your treatment options.

Some people living with Bipolar-I disorder or Schizophrenia may prefer long-acting injectables. There are a few different reasons that you and your doctor may choose LAIs.

One reason could be that with LAIs you may be able to take one less pill a day after initial dosing. Instead, you either receive an LAI every few weeks or months, depending on the medication. LAIs stay in your body over time, and they provide a steady level of medicine.

While some people with Bipolar-I or Schizophrenia prefer taking a daily oral medication, others may not.

There are potential downsides to all medications, including LAIs. One downside for all medicines are adverse events – or side effects.   With LAIs, if you experience an adverse event or side effect, it could take longer for the medication to leave your body. You can take an oral medication by yourself. But you cannot give LAIs to yourself. You will need to see a healthcare provider to receive an LAI because it is given to you as an injection. Some people may experience pain at the injection site after receiving an LAI.

These are some important considerations as you think about LAIs. They’re not right for everybody. But they could be an option for you.

Your treatment options should help you to achieve both you and your doctor’s treatment goals.

As you think about these options, talk to your healthcare provider, your care team, and your family about your treatment goals.

• What are your goals for treatment?
• What treatment goals do you have for someone you provide care for?
• Is a treatment goal to help with symptoms?

There are no right or wrong answers. But it’s important to think about your goals – and consider what matters to you. It is important to discuss your goals with your doctor or team of healthcare providers.

Many people with Bipolar-I or Schizophrenia may not share their treatment goals with their doctors. This can make it difficult to work together on a treatment plan, but this could be changed! By talking about what is important to you, you can help ensure that everyone is working together to help you achieve your treatment goals. 

As you think about your treatment goals, you may also want to talk to your family members or the people who provide you with care. If they know your treatment goals, they can help you think about how different treatment options may contribute to those treatment goals.

This includes thinking about specific treatment options. It can also include your preferences with talk therapy, and things like diet, exercise, and daily activities.

Now that we have discussed ways to help you reach your treatment goals, the next video will explore what questions you may have about treatment options.

This video was made possible by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc. and Lundbeck in collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.