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aripiprazole (Asimtufii)

Long-acting injectable antipsychoticLAI available

Brands: ABILIFY ASIMTUFII

Last reviewed 2025-12-30

Reviewed by PsychMed Editorial Team.

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Quick answers

  • What is aripiprazole (Asimtufii)?

    Abilify Asimtufii is a long-acting injectable aripiprazole formulation designed for dosing every 2 months. It is used for schizophrenia and for maintenance monotherapy treatment of bipolar I disorder when a scheduled injection cadence supports adherence and relapse prevention.

  • What is ABILIFY ASIMTUFII?

    ABILIFY ASIMTUFII is a brand name for aripiprazole (Asimtufii).

  • What is ABILIFY ASIMTUFII (aripiprazole (Asimtufii)) used for?

    Label indications include: Schizophrenia; maintenance monotherapy treatment of bipolar I disorder.

  • What drug class is ABILIFY ASIMTUFII (aripiprazole (Asimtufii))?

    Long-acting injectable antipsychotic.

  • What is the mechanism of action of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII (aripiprazole (Asimtufii))?

    Long-acting injectable aripiprazole formulation (D2/D3 partial agonist with 5-HT1A partial agonism and 5-HT2A antagonism) designed for every-2-month dosing for schizophrenia and bipolar I maintenance when scheduled injections support adherence.

  • What strengths does ABILIFY ASIMTUFII (aripiprazole (Asimtufii)) come in?

    Intramuscular injection administered every 2 months (q8wk); label-based injection site requirements apply.

  • Is ABILIFY ASIMTUFII (aripiprazole (Asimtufii)) a controlled substance?

    No — it is not scheduled as a controlled substance under U.S. federal law.

  • How is aripiprazole (Asimtufii) started as a long-acting injectable (LAI)?

    Oral tolerability is established before depot initiation. Initiation options include a 14-day oral overlap regimen after the first Asimtufii injection or a 1-day initiation regimen that uses Abilify Maintena plus a single oral dose (label-based).

Snapshot

  • Class: Long-acting injectable antipsychotic
  • Common US brands: ABILIFY ASIMTUFII
  • Long-acting injectable formulation available.
  • Therapeutic drug monitoring not routinely recommended; reference range 120–270 ng/mL.
  • Last reviewed: 2025-12-30

Label indications

Schizophrenia; maintenance monotherapy treatment of bipolar I disorder.

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Clinical Highlights

Abilify Asimtufii is a long-acting injectable aripiprazole formulation designed for dosing every 2 months. It is used for schizophrenia and for maintenance monotherapy treatment of bipolar I disorder when a scheduled injection cadence supports adherence and relapse prevention. This page focuses on Asimtufii. For the oral parent medication (with broader indications) see the aripiprazole overview. For other aripiprazole LAIs (monthly or variable-interval options), see the LAI Navigator.

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  • Aripiprazole-class partial agonists often have lower sedation and prolactin burden than many SGAs, but activation symptoms (insomnia, anxiety) and Akathisia can be limiting. Because depot washout is slow, tolerability planning usually emphasizes early identification of adverse effects.
  • Label describes sustained plasma concentrations over 2 months with a broad Tmax range (days to weeks) and a mean apparent terminal half-life after a single dose of ~21 days. Steady state exposures are reached after multiple doses.
  • The compare view can help compare aripiprazole depot options; the evidence feed tracks curated reading for this formulation.
  • Schizophrenia (adults): long-acting maintenance formulation.
  • Bipolar I disorder: maintenance monotherapy (long-acting formulation).

Dosing & Formulations

Intramuscular injection administered every 2 months (q8wk). Label describes gluteal administration; confirm injection site guidance in product labeling and local protocols. Oral tolerability is established before depot initiation. Initiation options include a 14-day oral overlap regimen after the first Asimtufii injection or a 1-day initiation regimen that uses Abilify Maintena plus a single oral dose (label-based).

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  • Missed-dose management is time-sensitive and label-specific. Many clinics standardize a “missed injection” checklist to determine whether oral supplementation or schedule adjustments are needed.
  • Switching from oral aripiprazole generally uses the established effective oral dose to guide LAI selection. Switching from another antipsychotic is individualized to relapse risk, prior response, and tolerability.

Monitoring & Risks

Boxed warning: increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (antipsychotic class warning). Common tolerability limits include Akathisia/restlessness, insomnia or anxiety, nausea, and injection-site discomfort. Because depot concentrations change slowly, improvement or worsening after dose changes can be delayed.

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  • Metabolic monitoring remains standard even when weight gain risk is lower than with high-metabolic SGAs; follow routine monitoring of weight/BMI, lipids, and glucose/HbA1c.
  • Class risks still apply: NMS, tardive dyskinesia, orthostatic hypotension, leukopenia/neutropenia, and seizures are uncommon but clinically important in high-risk patients.
  • Impulse-control problems are uncommon but are a distinctive counseling point for aripiprazole-class partial agonists.

Drug Interactions

Aripiprazole exposure is sensitive to CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers. Dose or interval modifications may be needed with strong inhibitors; strong inducers can substantially reduce exposure and are generally avoided with long-acting formulations. Additive sedation or psychomotor impairment can occur with alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, or sedative hypnotics; clinical monitoring focuses on falls, daytime somnolence, and functional status.

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  • Concomitant dopamine-blocking agents can increase EPS risk, while antihypertensives can compound orthostasis; these combinations are common in practice and usually managed with careful titration rather than strict avoidance.

Practice Notes

Longer intervals can reduce visit burden, but they also extend the time to fully adjust if adverse effects or underdosing emerge; teams often weigh interval convenience against clinical “steerability.”. Depot success depends on system design: reliable reminders, same-day injection capability, and clear documentation of last injection date and site reduce missed doses and dosing errors.

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Long-acting injectable (LAI) options

  • Aripiprazole (Asimtufii)
    Interval
    Every 2 months (q8wk)
    Oral overlap
    Yes — 14-day oral overlap or 1-day init regimen (see label)
    Injection site
    Gluteal
    Notes
    • Confirm CYP2D6/CYP3A4 dose adjustments before starting

References

  1. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII prescribing information (DailyMed, 2025). — DailyMed (2025)
  2. Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole) Extended Release Injectable Suspension — Prescribing Information — DailyMed (2025)
  3. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia — American Psychiatric Association (2020)
  4. The CANMAT and ISBD Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Bipolar Disorder: 2021 Update — Bipolar Disorders (2021)Guidelinebipolarclinical
  5. Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2017 — Pharmacopsychiatry (2018)
Aripiprazole (Asimtufii) (ABILIFY ASIMTUFII) — Summary — PsychMed