Items Tagged With ARIPIPRAZOLE

Warnings

There may be a slightly increased risk of serious, possibly fatal side effects (e.g., heart failure, pneumonia, stroke) when this medication is used in elderly patients with dementia. Discuss the risks and benefits of this medication, as well as other effective and possibly safer treatments for dementia-related behavior problems, with your doctor.

Uses

Aripiprazole is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia). Aripiprazole is known as an antipsychotic drug (atypical type). It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters).

This medication can decrease hallucinations and improve your concentration. It helps you to think more clearly and positively about yourself, feel less nervous, and take a more active part in everyday life. Aripiprazole can treat severe mood swings and prevent or decrease how often mood swings occur.

OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This drug has also been used to treat dementia-related behavior problems (e.g., agitation, aggression) when standard treatments (e.g., behavioral therapy, cholinesterase inhibitors) have not been successful.

This drug should be used only for the condition for which it was prescribed.

How to use Abilify Oral
Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. If using the oral solution, measure the dose carefully using a medicine spoon or cup. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. To reduce the risk of side effects, your doctor may gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.

If you are using the rapidly dissolving tablets, dry your hands before peeling back the foil on the blister pack to carefully remove a tablet. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Place the tablet on the tongue, allow it to dissolve completely, then swallow it with saliva. Do not crush, split, or break the tablet before taking it. Do not remove the tablet from the blister pack until just before taking. No water is needed to take this medication.

Do not take this medication more often or increase your dose without consulting your doctor. Your condition will not improve any faster, but the risk of serious side effects will be increased.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day.

Take this medication as prescribed even if you feel well. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Side Effects

See also the Warning section.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, vomiting, blurred vision, weight gain, drowsiness and constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fast/pounding heartbeat, fainting, mental/mood changes (e.g., increased anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts), weakness, feelings of restlessness, mask-like facial expression, shakiness (tremors), muscle spasm/stiffness, trouble swallowing, swelling of the ankles/feet.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: seizures.

This drug may rarely cause a condition known as tardive dyskinesia. In some cases, this condition may be permanent. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any unusual uncontrolled movements (especially of the face, mouth, tongue, arms or legs).

This drug may infrequently cause a serious (rarely fatal) nervous system disorder (neuroleptic malignant syndrome). Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: confusion, fever, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, increased sweating, change in the amount of urine.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

See also the Warning section.

Before taking aripiprazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: problems with blood flow in the brain (cerebrovascular disease, stroke), a severe loss of body water (dehydration), diabetes, heart problems (e.g., low blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat), nervous system problems (e.g., dementia, NMS, seizures), obesity, trouble swallowing, alcohol/drug abuse.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause temporary blurred vision; use caution while engaging in activities requiring alertness or clear vision such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.

To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.

This medication can increase your risk of heat stroke. Avoid activities that might cause you to overheat (e.g., doing strenuous work, exercising in hot weather, or using a hot tub). Drink plenty of fluids, dress lightly and stay in cooler/air-conditioned areas when the weather is hot.

This drug may infrequently increase your blood sugar level, causing or worsening diabetes. Rarely, very serious conditions such as diabetic coma may occur. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. If you already have diabetes, be sure to check your blood sugar levels regularly as directed by your doctor. Your anti-diabetic medication or diet may need to be adjusted.

Liquid preparations of this product may contain sugar. Caution is advised if you have diabetes. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safe use of this product.

The rapidly dissolving tablets may contain aspartame. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU) or any other condition that requires you to restrict your intake of aspartame (or phenylalanine), consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding using this medicine safely.

Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially seizures, swallowing problems, and other serious (rarely fatal) side effects. (See also the Warning section.)

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: sibutramine.

If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting aripiprazole.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: dopamine agonists (e.g., bromocriptine), drugs for treating high blood pressure (e.g., alpha blockers such as prazosin, calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem, "water pills"-diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide), levodopa, drugs affecting liver enzymes that may remove aripiprazole from your body (e.g., azole antifungals including ketoconazole and itraconazole, quinidine, certain anti-seizure drugs including carbamazepine, SSRI antidepressants including fluoxetine and paroxetine).

Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with aripiprazole such as bupropion, isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., thioridazine), theophylline, tramadol, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., phenytoin), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, trazodone).

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of these products.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: very fast heartbeat, loss of consciousness.

NOTES:
Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood sugar, weight) may be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Store the tablets and the oral liquid at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage from 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Discard the oral solution 6 months after opening or after the expiration date, whichever comes first. Do not store any form of this medication in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised August 2007 Copyright(c) 2007 First DataBank, Inc.