What Is Abilify (Aripiprazole)

Date: Jul-27-2012Abilify (aripiprazole), a partial dopamine agonist, is an antipsychotic drug with additional antidepressant qualities. It has been approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression as an add-on treatment when the main antidepressant is not effective enough.

Aripiprazole is also used to treat symptoms of mood swings, aggression, irritability, and irritability associated with autistic disorder in pediatric patients aged six years or more.

Abilify uses a different mechanism from other drugs that have been approved for the same symptoms. The majority of antipsychotics shut down dopamine receptors. Experts say that Abilify works by making the receptors work properly.

Aripiprazole was developed in Japan by pharmaceutical company Otsuka. It is jointly marketed in the USA by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka America.
The history of Abilify (aripiprazole) regulatory

November 2002 - FDA approval, for the treatment of schizophrenia
June 2004 - EMA (European Medicines Agency) approval, for the treatment of schizophrenia
March 2005 - FDA approval, Abilify became applicable to the maintenance treatment, namely preventing Bipolar Disorder I relapses.
November 2007 - FDA approval, add-on treatment of major depressive disorder in patients who have not responded well enough to their antidepressant medication.
May 2008 - FDA approval (expanded indications) for maintenance treatment in pediatric patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
April 2008 - EMA approval for severe manic episodes in Bipolar I disorder.
November 2009 - FDA approval for the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder

Abilify (aripiprazole) 2 mg and 5 mg
Abilify used to treat schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe, complex, chronic and disabling mental illness that affects about 1 in every 100 people around the world. Experts believe that schizophrenia is a cluster of illnesses masquerading as one. Scientists say that schizophrenia is caused by faulty neuronal development in the brain while the baby (fetus) was still inside his/her mother, which later on manifests as a full-blown illness.

Major symptoms include:
Delusions - the person has beliefs which are unreal. They may think that people or organizations are out to harm, control or even kill them. Delusions of grandeur are also possible - patients think they have special powers or authority.
Hallucinations - hearing voices is the most common hallucinatory symptom. Less commonly, the other senses may be affected and the patient may see things or people that are not there, or smell or taste things. There may be a feeling that insects are crawling around under their skin.
Thought disorder - thought patterns may not follow the logical sequence one would expect. The person may jump from one subject to another, and the listener may be baffled by the incoherence. There may be muddled speech. Some patients wonder whether an outside force is messing with their mind.

Abilify (aripiprazole) has been demonstrated to effectively treat a range of schizophrenia symptoms, including:

Auditory hallucinations - hearing voices that are not there
Unclear thinking
Disturbing or uncomfortable thoughts
Confusion
Being uninterested in things the patient used to enjoy

According to clinical studies, people who take Abilify start noticing improvements within a few weeks. It may also be a useful medication for patients who have been stable while on another antipsychotic drug for at least three months and have been observed for relapse during a period of up to 26 weeks.
Abilify used to treat Bipolar Disorder I
Bipolar disorder, previously referred to as manic-depression or manic-depressive illness, is characterized by unstable moods, which can sometimes become serious and disabling.

A person who lives with bipolar disorder has strange mood changes, as well as shifts in levels of energy, vigor, and the ability to function properly - sometimes a change can cause weeks or even months of despair and anguish.

The ups-and-downs experienced by a bipolar disorder patient have nothing to do with what we all sometimes feel when we have a good or bad day. Their symptoms are much more severe and can destroy relationships, undermine work and school performance, and even lead to suicide. Fortunately, there are treatments available today which can help patients lead full, independent and productive lives.

Bipolar disorder can be classified into three types:

Bipolar I Disorder - the patient experiences at least one manic episode, regardless of whether or not there have been previous ones
Bipolar II Disorder - the patient has had one or more episodes of depression and at least one hypomanic episode (a short and not such a severe episode). Bouts of depression last longer than the periods of hypomania in bipolar II disorder.
Cyclothymia - a milder type of bipolar disorder. There are mood swings, but the fluctuations and symptoms in general are lower than with full bipolar disorder.

Abilify (aripiprazole) has been shown in clinical studies to effectively treat acute manic and mixed episodes in adults and older children (aged 10 to 17 years) with Bipolar I Disorder.
In most cases, onset of symptom relief starts within several days, but this may vary from person-to-person.

Abilify helps the patient control manic symptoms, it also stabilizes manic or mixed moods, and makes it less likely that a manic relapse may occur.

Pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb says that if a patient has been told to stop taking another medication when Abilify is prescribed, it is important to remember that the body needs time to adjust to the change. It may take some time before it starts working and controlling symptoms.
Abilify used to treat depression
Depression has nothing to do with having a sad day, which happens to all of us. Clinical depression is when symptoms are persistent and interfere with our daily life. Depression is not uniform, no two people are likely to have exactly the same set of symptoms with identical levels of severity.

The most common signs and symptoms include:
Suicidal thoughts, sometimes suicide attempts
Restlessness
More aches and pains and headaches than usual
Loss of libido (sex drive)
Lack of interest in things the patient used to enjoy
Irritability
Insomnia or sleeping too much
Fatigue, levels of energy drop
Eating habits change; either there is very little appetite or the person eats too much
Difficulty in focusing, making decisions, and remembering details
An overall feeling of gloom and hopelessness
A persistent feeling of emptiness, anxiety and sadness

Patients who are diagnosed with clinical depression are usually prescribed an antidepressant. However, in a number of cases there is either no improvement or not enough.

Abilify is an add-on prescription medication for patients with depression who are not responding well enough to their existing drug. Adults who have been taking an antidepressant for at least six weeks and are still struggling may benefit from the addition of Abilify. Clinical studies have shown that improvements may be felt within one or two weeks.
What side effects can Abilify cause?
The following common side effects have been reported by patients:

Agitation
Anxiety
Blurred vision
Constipation
Headache
Increased production of saliva
Insomnia
Light-headedness and/or vertigo
Nausea and vomiting
Sexual dysfunction
Shaking
Sleepiness
Unpleasant sensations in the stomach
Unusual tiredness or weakness

The following side effects have also been reported, but they are rare:

Akathisia - a movement disorder in which there is a feeling of inner restlessness and an strong urge to be constantly moving. The patient may start rocking when sitting, or marching on-the-spot while standing up.
Feeling faint when standing up from a sitting or lying position
Racing heart when standing up from a sitting or lying position
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - there is a fever, rapid breathing, reduced consciousness, fluctuating blood pressure and heart rate, and muscle stiffness
Thoughts about suicide, attempts to end one's life
Sustained erection which can become painful
Permanent Tardive dyskinesia - repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements, which may include lip smacking, puckering and pursing of the lips, blinking rapidly, tongue protrusion and grimacing.
Stroke - among seniors with dementia
Allergic reactions - swelling of the throat or mouth, itching, rash, inflammation of the pancreas, weakness, cramps, or stiffness.

Important information regarding Abilify
If you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in Abilify, you should not take Abilify. Allergic reactions may range from itching, hives, rash, to anaphylaxis.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages while you are on Abilify.

Do not take Abilify if you are breastfeeding.

Drug interactions - the following medications may either be affected by the presence of Abilify or may change how Abilify works:
Zoloft (Sertraline)
Xanax (Alprazolam)
Trazodone
Topamax (Topiramate)
Simvastatin
Seroquel (Quetiapine)
Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Omeprazole
Metformin
Lithium
Lisinopril
Lexapro (Escitalopram)
Levothyroxine
Lamictal (Lamotrigine)
Klonopin (Clonazepam)
Gabapentin
Cymbalta (Duloxetine)
Clonazepam
Ambien (Zolpidem)
Adderall (Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine)

Written by Christian Nordqvist

View drug information on Abilify; Clonazepam.

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