Aripiprazole
About
Aripiprazole belongs to a class of drugs called antipsychotics and mood stabilizers primarily 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 characterized by uncontrollable, repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics). Psychosis may be caused due to disturbances in chemical messenger activity known as neurotransmitters (like dopamine and serotonin) in the brain.
Aripiprazole contains Aripiprazole which stabilizes and blocks the dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain, preventing its overactivity, thereby controlling the positive symptoms like hallucinations, misbelief, 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 how often you take Aripiprazole based on your medical condition. Some people may experience 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 gradually resolve 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 such as dizziness, inability to move and balance, orthostatic hypotension (fall 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 15 years of age. If you have any self-harming thoughts or behavior while taking Aripiprazole, please contact 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
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 behavior and thoughts and helps in having a better social life and comfortably doing daily activities. Aripiprazole may be used in combination with other medicines to treat depression. Additionally, Aripiprazole is also used to reduce unwanted sounds (tics) severity in Tourette's syndrome (a nervous system problem that causes unwanted sounds or sudden movements).
Directions for Use
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
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
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 such as dizziness, changes in the ability to move and balance, orthostatic hypotension (fall 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 15 years of age. If you have any self-harming thoughts or behavior while taking Aripiprazole, please contact 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 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
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption with Aripiprazole as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness or difficulty in concentrating.
Pregnancy
unsafeAripiprazole is a Category C pregnancy drug and is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester as it may cause adverse effects in the newborn baby. Aripiprazole may cause extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies with third-trimester exposure.
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 diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Aripiprazole with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeAripiprazole is not recommended for children below 15 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.
- Do regular exercise and maintain a stable weight as Aripiprazole may cause weight gain.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol 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 behavior 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 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 characterized by 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.
FAQs
Aripiprazole contains Aripiprazole, an antipsychotic that works by inhibiting the dopamine receptors in the brain and prevents its overactivity. Thereby, helps in controlling the positive symptoms (such as hallucinations, misbelief 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. Thereby, Aripiprazole improves behaviour, thoughts and helps in having a better social life and enables to comfortably do 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 necessary for everyone taking Aripiprazole to experience this side effect. However, in order to avoid gaining weight while taking Aripiprazole, you are advised to do regular exercise and avoid high-calorie drinks. Instead take non-alcoholic drinks, 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, fruity breath odour, please consult a doctor as these might 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, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Aripiprazole, please consult your doctor so that the dose may be gradually reduced.
