Schizophrenia Treatment: Cariprazine Stands Out in Cases with Substance Use

Amidst silent journeys of psychological suffering, many patients face not only the challenges of disorders like schizophrenia but also stigma, loneliness, and substance use as a form of momentary relief. 

For these cases, where clinical complexity demands more than conventional approaches, cariprazine has emerged as a promising option. The medication, which acts more precisely on brain circuits, has been offering new treatment possibilities for those who have undergone multiple hospitalizations and relapses. It is this real hope, based on evidence, that experts recently discussed at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the European Psychiatric Association in Madrid, held from April 5 to 8.

The pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter Plc, in partnership with Recordati, presented new data on cariprazine, and the results drew attention for indicating the drug's efficacy in a population considered challenging: patients with schizophrenia, multiple psychotic episodes, and substance use disorder, particularly cannabis use.

In a six-month observational study, cariprazine demonstrated potential to significantly reduce symptoms in patients with dual schizophrenia, a psychiatric condition still little explored in treatment protocols and often involving the concurrent use of psychoactive substances, such as cannabis. The analysis was presented in one of the four scientific posters brought to the EPA by Gedeon Richter.

“These results expand the clinical relevance of cariprazine in complex scenarios, where traditional management often fails. We are talking about patients who live with an overlap of challenges, both in the field of mental disorders and in chemical dependence,” explained Professor Christoph U. Correll, one of the experts who participated in the scientific symposium organized by the pharmaceutical companies at the event.

Additionally, a second analysis indicated that the risk of relapse among patients treated with cariprazine is significantly lower compared to placebo, regardless of sex, reinforcing the therapeutic stability of the medication.

Another highlight discussed by experts during the meeting was the analysis focused on negative symptoms of schizophrenia in women during hospitalization. Cariprazine was identified as the first therapeutic choice, both in monotherapy and polytherapy, showing significant clinical improvement.

The fourth analysis addressed a potentiation strategy with cariprazine and clozapine, aimed at cases of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. According to the data presented, the combination appears promising, especially in controlling negative symptoms, with a favorable safety profile.

New transdiagnostic scale proposes more personalized care
Another important advancement revealed at the event was the presentation of a new transdiagnostic scale to quantify and visualize the severity of psychiatric symptoms, proposed by Professor Correll and specialists from Gedeon Richter. 

The tool could be a game changer in clinical follow-up, allowing for more precise and personalized decisions based on systematic measurements of mental health progress, a practice still underutilized in psychiatric settings on a daily basis.

Cariprazine on a Global Scale

Currently, cariprazine is approved in 67 countries and has been used by approximately 1.7 million patients for various indications.

Classified as a third-generation antipsychotic, the drug acts as a partial agonist of dopamine receptors, with an action profile that seeks to restore neurochemical balance without completely blocking dopaminergic circuits, a characteristic that may reduce classic side effects of conventional antipsychotics.

At the scientific symposium “Partial Activity, Total Impact: Innovations in Schizophrenia Treatment,” experts reinforced the need to understand the mechanism of action of partial dopamine agonists, such as cariprazine, to promote more assertive and individualized therapies.
 

With information from PR Newswire.