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Aripiprazole (Abilify)

 

Aripiprazole (generic Abilify) Review

brand name: Abilify
generic name: Aripiprazole

What is aripiprazole?

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain.

Aripiprazole is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression).

Aripiprazole may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is it used for?

• Schizophrenia .
  
  

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees C (59 and 77 degrees F). Protect the tablets from exposure to bright light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Special warnings about Abilify

The risk of tardive dyskinesia (see "Most important fact about this drug") increases with the total amount of Abilify that you've taken. To reduce the risk, the doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dose and resort to long-term therapy only if necessary. If you develop symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, see your doctor immediately. Therapy with Abilify may have to be discontinued.

In rare cases, Abilify has been known to cause a potentially fatal condition called Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). Symptoms include high fever, altered mental status, excessive perspiration, rapid heartbeat, irregular pulse or blood pressure, rigid muscles, and changes in heart rhythm. If you develop these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Abilify should be discontinued.

What is the most important information I should know about Aripiprazole (Abilify)?

Aripiprazole is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Aripiprazole (Abilify) has caused fatal heart attack and stroke in older adults with dementia-related conditions. Stop using Aripiprazole and call your doctor at once if you have the following symptoms: fever with stiff muscles and rapid heart rate; uncontrolled muscle movements; symptoms that come on suddenly such as severe headache, and problems with vision, speech, numbness or weakness, or balance. Aripiprazole (Abilify) can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Aripiprazole.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, muscle relaxers, pain medication, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Aripiprazole (Abilify).

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking Aripiprazole (Abilify).

How does it work?

Abilify tablets, orodispersible tablets and oral solution all contain the active ingredient Aripiprazole (Abilify), which is a type of medicine known as an atypical antipsychotic. It is used to treat schizophrenia.

The way in which Aripiprazole works is not fully understood, however, it does work in a slightly different way to other antipsychotic medicines.

Aripiprazole works by acting on various receptors in the brain, particularly dopamine receptors and serotonin (5HT) receptors. Dopamine and serotonin are natural compounds called neurotransmitters, and are involved in transmitting messages between brain cells. Psychotic illness is considered to be caused by disturbances in the activity of neurotransmitters (mainly dopamine) in the brain. Aripiprazole is thought to work mainly by stabilising the dopamine activity in the brain.

People with schizophrenia may experience 'positive symptoms' (such as hallucinations, delusions and hostility) and/or 'negative symptoms' (such as lack of emotion and social isolation).

The positive symptoms are thought to be due to overactivity of dopamine in certain areas of the brain. Aripiprazole (Abilify) blocks the dopamine receptors in these areas and so prevents the overactivity. This helps control the positive symptoms of the disease.

The negative symptoms, as well as cognitive symptoms such as memory loss and poor attention, are considered to be due to underactivity of dopamine in other areas of the brain. In these areas, Aripiprazole stimulates the dopamine receptors. This mimics the activity of dopamine in these areas of the brain and so improves their activity. This helps improve the negative and cognitive symptoms of this illness.

Abilify orodispersible tablets and oral solution can be used as an alternative to the standard tablets for people who have difficulty swallowing. The orodispersible tablets are designed to dissolve on the tongue in the saliva without the need for a drink of water. These tablets are fragile and should be taken as soon as they are removed from the blister packet. Alternatively, these tablets can be dispersed in a glass of water.