In mental health care, knowledge alone is not enough. Pharmacists are expected to bring precision, clinical judgment, and empathy to every patient interaction. This is especially true when managing long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, where dosing schedules, administration requirements, and patient engagement all directly affect outcomes.
As psychiatric pharmacotherapy continues to expand, keeping up with evolving evidence, product-specific nuances, and real-world best practices can feel overwhelming. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics are a prime example: they offer meaningful benefits for adherence and relapse prevention, yet they remain underutilized due to knowledge gaps and logistical complexity.
Dr. Tammie Lee Demler’s Long-Acting Injectable Specialty Pharmacist CE series was developed to close those gaps. This three-part, ACPE-accredited program equips pharmacists with the clinical understanding and practical skills needed to confidently initiate, manage, and administer LAI antipsychotics while keeping the patient at the center of care.
Meet the Expert: Dr. Tammie Lee Demler, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, BCPP
High-quality continuing education should be both rigorous and usable. Dr. Tammie Lee Demler brings that balance to every module.
Dr. Demler is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo and Director of Pharmacy Residency Training at the State University of New York. She is board-certified in psychiatric and geriatric pharmacy and has spent decades working at the intersection of academia, clinical practice, and education.
Her teaching style emphasizes clinical relevance. Rather than overwhelming learners with abstract theory, she focuses on how psychopharmacology shows up in daily pharmacy practice. Learners consistently describe her approach as clear, engaging, and practical, with real-world examples that make complex concepts easier to apply.
Building Confidence with Module 1: Antipsychotics
For many pharmacists, LAIs can be intimidating. Product-specific initiation protocols, oral overlap requirements, reconstitution steps, and injection schedules vary widely. Mistakes can have significant consequences for patient safety and treatment continuity.
Module 1 provides a strong foundation in antipsychotic pharmacology and LAI utilization. Dr. Demler reviews the neurobiology underlying antipsychotic therapy, then connects that science directly to clinical decision-making.
In this module, you will learn how to:
- Identify appropriate candidates for LAI therapy and recognize situations where LAIs may not be suitable
- Transition patients from oral antipsychotics to injectables safely and effectively
- Understand which LAIs require oral overlap and which do not
- Navigate key differences among commonly used agents such as paliperidone, risperidone, and aripiprazole
Real-world scenarios are woven throughout the module, including missed doses, patient hesitancy, and administration challenges. By the end, learners gain a practical framework for managing LAIs with confidence rather than uncertainty.
Exploring The Bigger Picture in Module 2: Addressing the New Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
Effective psychiatric care extends beyond medications. Module 2 explores a critical, but often overlooked, driver of mental health outcomes: loneliness and social isolation.
This module is grounded in the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory, which identifies loneliness as a public health crisis associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, substance use, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality.
Dr. Demler helps pharmacists understand how social disconnection affects medication adherence and therapeutic success. She also highlights the unique position pharmacists hold in identifying early warning signs, such as early refill requests, medication discontinuation, or patients who linger at the counter seeking connection.
Key learning objectives include:
- Understanding how loneliness influences mental health outcomes and adherence
- Reviewing current antidepressant treatment strategies, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and augmentation options
- Identifying nonpharmacologic interventions and community resources appropriate for patient referral
- Incorporating empathy into patient counseling in a way that is meaningful and workflow-conscious
This module reinforces a central truth of psychiatric pharmacy: medications matter, but people matter more.
Mastering “The Art of The Jab” in Module 3: Administration Considerations
Module 3 focuses on the technical and interpersonal aspects of LAI administration. This is where preparation and confidence make a measurable difference for both pharmacists and patients.
Dr. Demler walks learners through:
- Injection site selection, including deltoid, gluteal, and subcutaneous options
- Reconstitution requirements and product-specific handling considerations
- Storage and stability guidelines
- Oral overlap timelines and follow-up planning
- Patient counseling before, during, and after injection administration
By the end of this module, pharmacists can confidently differentiate between products such as Abilify Maintena, Aristada, Invega Sustenna, Uzedy, and others, while also understanding how to support patients through the experience with clarity and reassurance.
LAI administration is not only a technical skill but also a trust-building interaction that can shape a patient’s willingness to remain engaged in care.
Why This Series Matters (And Why You’ll Appreciate It)
Psychiatric pharmacy is complex, but it does not have to be inaccessible. This CE series was designed to make high-level psychiatric care practical and achievable for pharmacists across practice settings.
After completing the full 2.5-hour ACPE-accredited program, learners can expect to:
- Confidently initiate, manage, and monitor long-acting injectable antipsychotics
- Recognize and address the impact of loneliness and isolation on mental health outcomes
- Administer LAIs safely and counsel patients effectively
- Serve as a knowledgeable and trusted resource for both patients and prescribers
Dr. Demler’s strength lies in her ability to translate evidence into action. She connects pharmacology to patient stories and guidelines to everyday decisions, making the learning experience both clinically valuable and engaging.
Final Dose
Pharmacy practice continues to evolve, and pharmacists who are confident in mental health care are positioned to lead meaningful change.
If you are ready to replace uncertainty with clarity and strengthen your role in psychiatric care, this CE series offers the tools to do exactly that.
