Aripiprazole is sold under the brand name "Abilfy".
Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic that is not related structurally to any of the other atypical antipsychotics. It is FDA approved for the acute and maintenance treatment of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder in adults over 18 years old.
Each of the atypical antipsychotics has its own profile or personality. Aripiprazole seems to have less liability to weight gain than most of the other atypical antipsychotics. It can cause an initial agitation, however, that is limited by starting at a low dose and advancing the dose slowly. Its tolerability when used acutely in outpatients, therefore, can be unpredictable.
Aripiprazole has complex mechanisms of action that include blockade of dopamine and serotonin receptors for its therapeutic benefits. Aripiprazole in common with other atypical antipsychotics blocks serotonin 2A receptors which confers relative protection against many of the serious adverse effects (e.g. tardive dyskinesia, akathisia and dystonic reactions) of the first generation, or typical, antipsychotics (e.g. haloperidal (Haldol), perphenazine (Trilafon), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), and others). It is distinguished from the other atypical antipsychotics because it partially, rather than completely, blocks dopamine type 2 receptors.
Aripiprazole is processed for elimination from the body (“metabolized”) in the liver to an active compounds that is in turn also eliminated by the liver. The half life of aripiprazole is relatively long, 3 days, so that it requires about 2 weeks to completely “get into the system” and also 2 weeks if abruptly stopped (not recommended) to get out of body.
Possible adverse effects can include diabetes, weight gain, abnormal triglycerides and cholesterol, insulin resistance, sedation, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, and others. It may also be associated with tardive dyskinesia when taken long term, but the risk here is substantially lower than the risk of the older antipsychotics. There is data that suggest this category of medication can rarely cause strokes in the elderly.
Aripiprazole, along with the other atypical antipsychotics, carries a warning from the FDA against the possibility of new onset diabetes Mellisent. Guidelines for the appropriate medical monitoring of this category of medications for these possible medical adverse events were published in 2003. We follow these guidelines at Scott P. Hoopes, M.D., & Associates. If you are prescribed aripiprazole you will be referred to our Metabolic Clinic for medical monitoring. Following these guidelines is essential for the responsible use of all the atypical antipsychotics in patients of all ages.
Aripiprazole has no effects on liver enzyme systems and consequently does not significantly effect the elimination of other medications.
If you miss a dose of Abilify it is not necessary to “make up the dose” by taking extra medication with the next dose. It may be taken at any time of the day. Take aripiprazole regularly as prescribed.
