Aripiprazole
About Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic medicine used to treat mood disorders like schizophrenia, irritability linked with autism, and Tourette's syndrome. Besides this, Aripiprazole also helps in managing mental depression along with other antidepressant medicines. Schizophrenia affects the ability of a person to feel, think and behave clearly. Tourette's syndrome is a mental disorder characterised by uncontrollable, repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics). Psychosis may be caused by disturbances in chemical messenger activity known as neurotransmitters (like dopamine and serotonin) in the brain.
Aripiprazole contains Aripiprazole, which stabilises and blocks the dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain, preventing their overactivity, thereby controlling the symptoms like hallucinations, misbeliefs, and unfriendly characteristics of schizophrenia. Aripiprazole improves the activity of dopamine and serotonin receptors in other areas of the brain. It helps control negative symptoms (like lack of emotion, social isolation, poor attention, and memory loss) of schizophrenia. Thus, Aripiprazole improves mood swings, depression, and other psychotic problems.
Take Aripiprazole as prescribed. Your doctor will advise you on how often to take Aripiprazole, based on your medical condition. Some people may experience drowsiness, headache, tiredness, akathisia (an inability to sit still), difficulty sleeping, lightheadedness, indigestion, shaking, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and increased saliva production. Most of these side effects of Aripiprazole do not require medical attention and typically resolve on their own over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Aripiprazole or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Aripiprazole should be used with caution in elderly patients above 65 years of age. There is an increased risk of adverse reactions, including dizziness, difficulty moving and maintaining balance, orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up), and drowsiness. Avoid taking Aripiprazole if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and consult a doctor. Aripiprazole is not recommended for children below 13 years of age. If you have any self-harming thoughts or behaviour while taking Aripiprazole, please get in touch with a doctor immediately. If you have diabetes, abnormal blood pressure, high cholesterol, fits, involuntary muscle movements, especially in the face, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), blood clots, a history of stroke or heart attack, kidney or liver problems, inform your doctor before taking Aripiprazole.
Uses of Aripiprazole
• Schizophrenia: Aripiprazole is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children aged 13 years and older. It helps manage negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as lack of emotion, social isolation, poor attention, and memory loss.
• Bipolar I Disorder (Manic Depression): Aripiprazole is used alone or in combination with mood stabilizers (like valproate or lithium) to treat acute episodes of mania (abnormally elevated mood) in adults and children aged 10 years and older. It helps stabilize mood and reduce irritability and hyperactivity.
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) - As Adjunctive Therapy: Aripiprazole is used in combination with antidepressants to treat MDD when antidepressants alone are not effective. It helps improve mood, energy levels, and overall functioning.
• Tourette Syndrome (TS): Aripiprazole is used to reduce the severity and frequency of tics (sudden, uncontrollable vocal sounds or movements) in children over 6 years with TS.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Aripiprazole is used to manage the symptoms of ASD in children over 6 years, such as mood swings, irritability, aggression, tantrums, and self-injurious behaviour.
• Maintenance Treatment: Aripiprazole is used for long-term management of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to prevent relapse or worsening of symptoms.
Medicinal Benefits
Aripiprazole contains Aripiprazole, which helps treat various psychotic conditions like schizophrenia, mood disorders (such as mania and bipolar disorder), and sometimes depression. Aripiprazole inhibits the dopamine receptor in our brain, thereby controlling the positive symptoms (like hallucinations, misbelief, and unfriendliness) and negative symptoms (like social isolation, lack of emotion, poor attention, and memory loss) of schizophrenia. Thus, Aripiprazole improves overall behaviour and thoughts, helping people lead a better social life and comfortably perform daily activities. Aripiprazole may be used in combination with other medicines to treat depression. Additionally, Aripiprazole is also used to reduce the severity of unwanted sounds (tics) in Tourette's syndrome (a nervous system problem that causes unwanted sounds or sudden movements).
Directions for Use
- Aripiprazole can be taken with or without food, as advised by the doctor.
- It is usually taken once daily or as prescribed by your doctor.
- Swallow Aripiprazole as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Aripiprazole
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Akathisia (inability to sit still)
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Light-headedness
- Indigestion
- Shaking
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Increased saliva production
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Aripiprazole or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Aripiprazole should be used with caution in elderly patients above 65 years of age, as there is an increased risk of adverse reactions, including dizziness, changes in mobility and balance, orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up), and drowsiness. Avoid taking Aripiprazole if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and consult a doctor. Aripiprazole is not recommended for children below 13 years of age. If you have any self-harming thoughts or behaviour while taking Aripiprazole, please get in touch with a doctor immediately. If you develop impulse control disorders such as excessive eating, spending, addictive gambling, or abnormally high sex drive, inform your doctor so that the dose may be adjusted appropriately, or you are advised to stop taking Aripiprazole. If you have diabetes, abnormal blood pressure, high cholesterol, fits, involuntary muscle movements especially in the face, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), blood clots, history of stroke or heart attack, kidney or liver problems, inform your doctor before taking Aripiprazole.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Aripiprazole may have interaction with medicines used to lower high blood pressure (metoprolol), antipsychotics (olanzapine), antidepressants (fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine), antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole), medicines used to treat irregular heartbeat (amiodarone, flecainide, quinidine), HIV drugs (nevirapine, efavirenz, indinavir, ritonavir), painkillers (ibuprofen), antibiotics (rifampicin, rifabutin), anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital).
Drug-Food Interaction: Aripiprazole may interact with grapefruit juice. Therefore, avoid intake of grapefruit juice with Aripiprazole as it may reduce the effect of Aripiprazole. Avoid taking St. John's Wort (herbal medicine used to treat depression) as it may interact with Aripiprazole. Also, avoid alcohol intake as it may increase side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness or difficulty in concentrating.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have diabetes, abnormal blood pressure, high cholesterol, fits, involuntary muscle movements especially in the face, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), blood clots, history of stroke or heart attack, liver or kidney problems, inform your doctor before taking Aripiprazole.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption while taking Aripiprazole, as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, or difficulty concentrating.
Pregnancy
unsafeAripiprazole is a Category C pregnancy drug. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, as it may cause extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAvoid breastfeeding while taking Aripiprazole, as it may be excreted in breast milk and cause adverse effects in the baby.
Driving
unsafeAripiprazole may cause dizziness or vision problems, such as blurred vision. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel dizzy or have vision disturbances after taking Aripiprazole.
Liver
cautionTake Aripiprazole with caution, especially if you have a history of liver disease. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Aripiprazole with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disease. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeAripiprazole is not recommended for children below 13 years due to the increased risk of adverse effects. However, please consult a doctor before giving Aripiprazole to children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Limit the intake of caffeine as it may reduce the effectiveness of Aripiprazole.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Eat more fish, especially oily fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, mackerel, pilchards, and herring.
- Cut down sugars, salt, and saturated fats.
- Drink adequate water to keep the body hydrated.
- Engage in regular exercise and maintain a stable weight, as Aripiprazole may contribute to weight gain.
- Avoid alcohol consumption, as it may increase drowsiness.
Special Advise
- Elderly patients more than 65 years with dementia-related psychosis treated with Aripiprazole can be at an increased risk of death.
- Aripiprazole is not prescribed and approved for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis.
- Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behaviour changes has been observed in children, adolescents, and young adults taking Aripiprazole, so close monitoring for worsening and the emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours is required.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Schizophrenia: It is a mental disorder that affects a person's ability to feel, think and behave clearly. Mania is a mental condition that causes intense excitement, high energy, and delusions (misbeliefs). Mania may occur due to a lack of sleep or sleep pattern changes, high levels of stress, and alcohol intake. Seek medical help immediately if you have any self-harming or suicidal thoughts.
Bipolar disorder: It is also called manic depression, associated with extreme mood swings ranging from manic highs to depressive lows. The symptoms of bipolar disorder include mania (high energy and excitability) and depression (loss of interest, hopelessness, low energy). Bipolar disorder involves lifelong treatment.
Depression: It is a mental condition characterised by a low mood and a loss of interest in activities. People affected by this condition are often unsocial and try to keep isolated from other social activities.
Tourette syndrome (TS): It is a neurological condition characterised by sudden, involuntary, and repetitive movements or vocalisations known as tics. Various factors, including fatigue, stress, and excitement, can trigger tics. TS typically begins around age 6, with symptoms becoming more noticeable by the age of 10.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): It is a neurological condition that impacts brain development, affecting how a person perceives others and engages in social interactions. This can lead to difficulties with communication and forming social connections.
FAQs
Aripiprazole is used to treat mood disorders like schizophrenia, irritability linked with autism, and Tourette's syndrome. Besides this, it also helps in managing mental depression along with other antidepressant medicines.
Aripiprazole contains Aripiprazole, an antipsychotic that works by inhibiting the dopamine receptors in the brain and preventing their overactivity. Thereby, helps in controlling the positive symptoms (such as hallucinations, misbeliefs and unfriendliness) of schizophrenia. Also, Aripiprazole improves the activity of dopamine receptors in other areas of the brain and helps in controlling negative symptoms (such as social isolation, lack of emotion, poor attention and memory loss) of schizophrenia. Therefore, Aripiprazole improves behaviour, thoughts, and helps in having a better social life, enabling one to comfortably perform daily activities.
No, you are not recommended to take Aripiprazole with ibuprofen as co-administration of these medicines may increase the risk of fits and increase the levels of Aripiprazole in the blood, leading to increased adverse effects. However, please consult a doctor before taking Aripiprazole with other medicines.
Aripiprazole may cause weight gain in some patients, but it is not a necessary side effect for everyone taking Aripiprazole. However, to avoid gaining weight while taking Aripiprazole, it is advisable to engage in regular exercise and limit high-calorie drinks. Instead, opt for non-alcoholic beverages, herbal tea, and lemon water.
Aripiprazole is not recommended for dementia (loss of memory or other mental abilities) patients, especially in elderly people, as it may cause severe adverse effects, including stroke. Therefore, it is advised to inform your doctor if you have dementia or a history of stroke before taking Aripiprazole.
Yes, Aripiprazole may cause high blood sugar levels. Therefore, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Aripiprazole and inform your doctor if you have diabetes before taking Aripiprazole. However, if you experience dry mouth, increased thirst or urination, or a fruity breath odour, please consult a doctor, as these may be signs of high blood sugar.
No, you are not recommended to stop taking Aripiprazole without consulting your doctor, as it may worsen the condition or cause recurring symptoms. Therefore, take Aripiprazole for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. If you experience any difficulty while taking Aripiprazole, please consult your doctor so that the dose can be gradually reduced.
Yes, Aripiprazole is a mood stabiliser. It helps calm the mood and treats mood-related problems.
Aripiprazole might start working within a few days or weeks. However, you may notice the full benefits of Aripiprazole after 2-3 months. Continue taking Aripiprazole for the prescribed duration to prevent the recurrence of symptoms.
Aripiprazole may cause priapism (prolonged and painful erection) in some people. Please consult the doctor if you have any concerns.
Elderly patients more than 65 years old with dementia-related psychosis treated with Aripiprazole can be at an increased risk of death. Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behaviour changes has been observed in children, adolescents, and young adults taking Aripiprazole, so close monitoring for worsening and the emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours is required.
Avoid intake of grapefruit juice with Aripiprazole as it may reduce the effect of Aripiprazole. Also, avoid alcohol consumption with Aripiprazole as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness or difficulty in concentrating. Do not drive if you feel dizzy or have vision disturbances after taking Aripiprazole.
Consult the doctor if you are diabetic, as Aripiprazole may cause high blood sugar levels. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is advised.
Aripiprazole may cause side effects like drowsiness, headache, tiredness, akathisia (inability to sit still), difficulty sleeping, light-headedness, indigestion, shaking, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and increased saliva production. Most of these side effects of Aripiprazole do not require medical attention and typically resolve on their own over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
