Aripiprazole (Oral)

Generic name: Aripiprazole
Drug class: Atypical antipsychotics

Usage of Aripiprazole (Oral)

Aripiprazole is used alone or together with other medicines to treat mental conditions such as bipolar I disorder (manic-depressive illness), major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. It is also used in children to treat irritability associated with autistic disorder and Tourette syndrome. Aripiprazole works in the brain to change how certain chemicals affect patients. It is an antipsychotic agent.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Abilify® oral solution was withdrawn from the market on May 15, 2015 and this dose form is not marketed by any generic manufacturers.

Aripiprazole (Oral) side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Difficulty with speaking

drooling

loss of balance control

muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness

restlessness

shuffling walk

stiffness of the limbs

twisting movements of the body

uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back

Less common

Blurred vision

dizziness

headache

inability to move the eyes

increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid

nervousness

pounding in the ears

slow or fast heartbeat

sticking out the tongue

trouble with breathing or swallowing

unusual facial expressions

Rare

High fever

high or low blood pressure

increased sweating

lip smacking or puckering

loss of bladder control

muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities

puffing of the cheeks

rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue

seizures

severe muscle stiffness

sudden loss of consciousness

tiredness

uncontrolled chewing movements

uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs

unusually pale skin

Incidence not known

Hives or welts, itching, or skin rash

itching, puffiness, or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

redness of the skin

tightness in the chest

unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)

diarrhea

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

increased sensitivity of the eyes to light

lack or loss of strength

nausea

sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Anxiety

belching

blurred vision

difficulty having a bowel movement

dry mouth

fear

fever

heartburn

hyperventilation

inability to sit still

indigestion

irritability

lightheadedness

need to keep moving

nervousness

rash

runny nose

shaking

sore throat

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

trouble sleeping

weight gain

Less common

Accidental injury

bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet

body aches or pain

congestion

coughing

difficulty with moving

dryness or soreness of the throat

hoarseness

increased appetite

increased salivation

joint pain

muscle aching or cramping

muscle pains or stiffness

rapid weight gain

sneezing

stuffy nose

swollen joints

tender, swollen glands in the neck

tingling of the hands or feet

tremor

unusual weight gain or loss

voice changes

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Aripiprazole (Oral)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of aripiprazole in children younger than 13 years of age with schizophrenia and in children younger than 10 years of age with bipolar disorder. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Abilify Mycite® in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Aripiprazole is not approved for use in children or teenagers with major depression.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of aripiprazole in children 6 to 17 years of age with autistic disorder.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of aripiprazole in elderly patients who have schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder. This medicine should not be used to treat behavioral problems in elderly patients who have dementia or Alzheimer disease.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Bepridil

Bromopride

Cisapride

Dronedarone

Fluconazole

Ketoconazole

Levoketoconazole

Mesoridazine

Metoclopramide

Pimozide

Piperaquine

Posaconazole

Saquinavir

Sparfloxacin

Terfenadine

Thioridazine

Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abametapir

Abiraterone Acetate

Adagrasib

Alfentanil

Alfuzosin

Alprazolam

Amiodarone

Amisulpride

Amitriptyline

Anagrelide

Apalutamide

Apomorphine

Arsenic Trioxide

Asenapine

Astemizole

Atazanavir

Azithromycin

Bedaquiline

Bentazepam

Benzhydrocodone

Boceprevir

Bromazepam

Buprenorphine

Bupropion

Buserelin

Butorphanol

Calcium Oxybate

Cannabidiol

Cannabis

Carbamazepine

Ceritinib

Cetirizine

Chlordiazepoxide

Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

Ciprofloxacin

Citalopram

Clarithromycin

Clobazam

Clofazimine

Clomipramine

Clonazepam

Clorazepate

Clothiapine

Cloxazolam

Clozapine

Cobicistat

Codeine

Conivaptan

Crizotinib

Cyclobenzaprine

Dabrafenib

Daridorexant

Darunavir

Dasatinib

Degarelix

Delamanid

Delorazepam

Desipramine

Deslorelin

Desvenlafaxine

Deutetrabenazine

Dexmedetomidine

Diazepam

Dihydrocodeine

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dolasetron

Domperidone

Donepezil

Doxepin

Doxylamine

Droperidol

Duloxetine

Ebastine

Efavirenz

Encorafenib

Entrectinib

Enzalutamide

Eribulin

Erythromycin

Escitalopram

Esketamine

Estazolam

Etrasimod

Famotidine

Fedratinib

Felbamate

Fentanyl

Fexinidazole

Fingolimod

Flecainide

Flibanserin

Flunitrazepam

Fluoxetine

Flurazepam

Formoterol

Foscarnet

Fosnetupitant

Fosphenytoin

Fostemsavir

Gabapentin

Gabapentin Enacarbil

Galantamine

Gatifloxacin

Gemifloxacin

Gepirone

Glasdegib

Gonadorelin

Goserelin

Granisetron

Halazepam

Halofantrine

Haloperidol

Histrelin

Hydrocodone

Hydromorphone

Hydroquinidine

Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxyzine

Ibutilide

Idelalisib

Iloperidone

Imipramine

Indinavir

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin

Itraconazole

Ivabradine

Ivosidenib

Josamycin

Ketamine

Ketazolam

Lacosamide

Lapatinib

Lefamulin

Lemborexant

Lenvatinib

Leuprolide

Levocetirizine

Levofloxacin

Levorphanol

Lofexidine

Lonafarnib

Lopinavir

Loprazolam

Lorazepam

Lormetazepam

Loxapine

Lumacaftor

Lumefantrine

Macimorelin

Magnesium Oxybate

Mavacamten

Medazepam

Mefloquine

Meperidine

Metaclazepam

Methadone

Metronidazole

Mibefradil

Midazolam

Mifepristone

Mirtazapine

Mitotane

Mizolastine

Mobocertinib

Morphine

Morphine Sulfate Liposome

Moxifloxacin

Nafarelin

Nalbuphine

Nefazodone

Nelfinavir

Netupitant

Nilotinib

Nitrazepam

Nordazepam

Norfloxacin

Octreotide

Ofloxacin

Olanzapine

Omaveloxolone

Ondansetron

Osilodrostat

Osimertinib

Oxaliplatin

Oxazepam

Oxycodone

Oxymorphone

Ozanimod

Pacritinib

Paliperidone

Panobinostat

Paroxetine

Pasireotide

Pazopanib

Pentamidine

Periciazine

Perphenazine

Phenobarbital

Phenytoin

Pimavanserin

Pinazepam

Pipamperone

Pitolisant

Ponesimod

Potassium Oxybate

Prazepam

Pregabalin

Primidone

Probucol

Procainamide

Prochlorperazine

Promethazine

Propafenone

Protriptyline

Quazepam

Quetiapine

Quinidine

Quinine

Quizartinib

Ranolazine

Relugolix

Remifentanil

Remimazolam

Ribociclib

Rifampin

Rifapentine

Rilpivirine

Risperidone

Ritonavir

Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft

Selpercatinib

Sertindole

Sertraline

Sevoflurane

Siponimod

Sodium Oxybate

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sotalol

St John's Wort

Sufentanil

Sulpiride

Sunitinib

Tacrolimus

Tamoxifen

Tapentadol

Telaprevir

Telavancin

Telithromycin

Temazepam

Terbinafine

Tetrabenazine

Tetrazepam

Tolterodine

Topiramate

Toremifene

Tramadol

Trazodone

Triazolam

Triclabendazole

Trimipramine

Triptorelin

Troleandomycin

Tucatinib

Vandetanib

Vardenafil

Vemurafenib

Venlafaxine

Vilanterol

Vinflunine

Voclosporin

Voriconazole

Vorinostat

Zolpidem

Zuclopenthixol

Zuranolone

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Grapefruit Juice

Relate drugs

How to use Aripiprazole (Oral)

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

If you are using the orally disintegrating tablet, make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet. Do not open the blister pack that contains the tablet until you are ready to take it. Remove the tablet from the blister pack by peeling back the foil, then taking the tablet out. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Do not break or split the tablet. Place the tablet in your mouth. It should melt quickly. After the tablet has melted, you may swallow or take a sip of water.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew them.

Abilify Mycite® has a sensor in the tablet, which helps track it inside the stomach or bowels. The Abilify Mycite® System comes with a patch (wearable sensor), a smartphone application (app), and a web-based portal. Follow your doctor's instructions on how to use the medicine.

The Abilify Mycite® tablet is usually detected within 30 minutes after you take it, but there may be a delay of more than 2 hours for the smartphone app and web portal to detect that you have taken the medicine, and sometimes it might not be detected at all.

To apply the Abilify Mycite® patch:

The app will tell you when to apply or remove the patch. It should be changed weekly or sooner as needed.

Place the patch to the left side of your body just above the lower edge of your rib cage. Do not put the patch in areas where the skin is scraped, cracked, inflamed, or irritated, or near the area where you had removed the previous patch. The app will help you place the patch in the correct location.

You may keep the patch on when showering, swimming, or exercising.

Aripiprazole may be taken with or without food. If your doctor tells you to take it a certain way, follow your doctor's instructions.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage forms (tablets and orally disintegrating tablets):

For bipolar mania:

Abilify® and Abilify Discmelt®:

Adults—At first, 15 milligrams (mg) once a day. When it is given with lithium or valproate, the starting dose is 10 to 15 mg once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 30 mg per day.

Children 10 years of age and older—At first, 2 mg once a day. The dose will be gradually increased to 10 mg once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose again as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 30 mg per day.

Children younger than 10 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Abilify Mycite®:

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For depression:

Adults—At first, 2 to 5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 15 mg per day.

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For irritability in children with autistic disorder:

Children 6 to 17 years of age—At first, 2 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 15 mg per day.

Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For schizophrenia:

Abilify® and Abilify Discmelt®:

Adults—At first, 10 to 15 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 30 mg per day.

Children 13 to 17 years of age—At first, 2 mg once a day. The dose will be gradually increased to 10 mg once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose again as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 30 mg per day.

Children younger than 13 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Abilify Mycite®:

Adults—At first, 10 to 15 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 30 mg per day.

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For Tourette's disorder:

Children 6 to 18 years of age—At first, 2 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 20 mg per day.

Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If the Abilify Mycite® tablet is not detected on the app or portal after you take it, do not repeat the dose.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow for changes in your dose and to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects.

For some patients, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourself. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you, especially if they are new or are getting worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) or has tried to commit suicide.

This medicine may add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicines for hay fever, other allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, prescription pain medicines or narcotics, medicines for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any CNS depressants while you are taking this medicine.

Aripiprazole may cause drowsiness, trouble with thinking, or trouble with controlling movements, which may lead to falls, fractures or other injuries. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous unless you know how this medicine affects you.

Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions (seizures), difficulty with breathing, a fast heartbeat, a high fever, high or low blood pressure, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, unusually pale skin, or tiredness. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

This medicine may cause tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) especially in elderly women. Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine: lip smacking or puckering, puffing of the cheeks, rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue, uncontrolled chewing movements, or uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs.

Some people who have used this medicine had unusual changes in their behavior. Talk with your doctor right away if you start having unusual urges, such as gambling urges, binge or compulsive eating, compulsive shopping, or sexual urges while using this medicine.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If this problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may make it more difficult for your body to cool down. It might reduce how much you sweat. Your body could get too hot if you do not sweat enough. If your body gets too hot, you might feel dizzy, weak, tired, or confused. You might have an upset stomach or vomit. Call your doctor if drinking cool water and moving away from the heat does not cool you down.

This medicine may increase the amount of sugar in your blood. Also, the oral liquid form contains sugar. Check with your doctor right away if you have increased thirst or increased urination. If you have diabetes, you may notice a change in the results of your urine or blood sugar tests. If you have any questions, check with your doctor.

This medicine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

This medicine may increase your weight. Your doctor may need to check your weight on a regular basis while you are using this medicine.

Do not change the dose or stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines) and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Aripiprazole (Oral)

Usage of Aripiprazole (Oral)

Aripiprazole (Oral) side effects

Before taking Aripiprazole (Oral)

Allergies

Pediatric

Geriatric

Breast Feeding

Interactions with Medicines

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Other Medical Problems

Relate drugs

How to use Aripiprazole (Oral)

Dosing

Missed Dose

Storage

Warnings

Disclaimer

Popular Keywords