What Is Aripiprazole Used For?

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic medication commonly prescribed for mental illness. Aripiprazole is available from drug maker Bristol-Meyers Squibb under the brand name Abilify. It is typically taken once daily with or without food. A doctor will typically prescribe a dose of 10 to 15 mg to start, and then change the dosing as necessary so patients realize the full benefits of the medicine. It can also be administered as an injection, typically given by a health care professional.

How It Works

• Exactly how aripiprazole works is not known, but it is believed to block some of the brain's nerve receptors for several neurotransmitters, particularly the dopamine and serotonin receptors.

Uses

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved aripiprazole to treat schizophrenia in 2002. Several years later, it was approved for treatment in people with bipolar disorder and as an add-on treatment for people with depression already taking an antidepressant. Aripiprazole is typically only one part of a user's treatment program. Many patients are also undergoing therapy, taking other medications or receiving other treatments.

Effects

• Some side effects of aripiprazole could indicate a potential problem. Stop taking the medicine and inform your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects: chest pain; irregular or rapid heartbeat; confusion or abnormal thinking; loss of coordination or control over urinating; uncontrolled movements of the face, mouth, arms, legs or back; increased thirst, hunger, urination or sweating; mood changes; muscle tremors or stiffness; suicidal thoughts or actions; weakness on one side of the body; seizures; swelling of the arms, hands, feet or legs; difficulty walking or swallowing; vision or speech changes; and unusual fatigue or bruising. Less serious side effects of aripiprazole include dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, and mild nausea and vomiting. These effects are no cause for concern.

Warnings

• Aripiprazole is not approved to treat people with dementia, because it increases the risk of death. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should inform their doctor before taking it because of how it may affect the fetus and breast milk. Additionally, patients taking aripiprazole should not drink alcohol, or become dehydrated or overheated, because doing so can result in heatstroke. Taking aripiprazole can also raise a person's blood sugar or increase the chances of developing diabetes.

Drug Interactions

• Aripiprazole can interact with some other medications, including alpha blockers, hydantoins, imidazole antifungals, benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anticholinergics, quinidine, voriconazole and carbamazepine. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you may be taking before taking aripiprazole.