Abilify ratings & reviews

Aripiprazole
Company: Otsuka
Brand: Abilify
+1 more
Abilify, Abilify Maintena
Drug class: Central and Peripheral Nervous System
+7 more
Central and Peripheral Nervous System, Psychoanaleptics Excluding Anti-obesity Agents, Psycholeptics, Anti-depressants and Mood Stabilizers, Antipsychotics, Antidepressant Augmentation Agents, Second Generation Antipsychotics, Partial Dopamine Receptor Agonist Antipsychotics

Sermo AI Overview

  • Abilify is generally considered safe and well-tolerated across several conditions, making it a favorable option for patients. However, concerns about its efficacy and potential side effects, particularly weight gain and akathisia, persist.
  • Some positive feedback highlights that Abilify's once-daily dosing and lower sedation effects can enhance adherence for patients, though practitioners still stress the importance of monitoring for side effects and overall efficacy in treatment plans.
  • Accessibility to Abilify is generally high, though cost and insurance barriers are reported, leading to variability in prescribing practices. This suggests a need for more individualized approaches to treatment based on patient needs.
  • While it can be helpful for managing autism and bipolar disorder symptoms, Abilify's efficacy varies significantly, with many physicians noting limited effectiveness, especially for acute symptoms in conditions like schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome.
Based on insights from Sermo’s triple verified physicians

Description

Abilify contains the active ingredient aripiprazole in the form of tablets. It belongs to the class of atypical antipsychotic drugs and comes in strengths of 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg, intended for oral use. Key inactive ingredients include lactose monohydrate, corn starch, and magnesium stearate.

Source: This information is sourced from FDA and powered by AI

Dosage & Administration

How should I use this medication?

Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. You can take it with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Do not take your medication more often than directed. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While it may be prescribed for children as young as 6 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once. NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets. Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Side Effects

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible: -Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat -High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)—increased thirst or amount of urine, unusual weakness or fatigue, blurry vision -High fever, stiff muscles, increased sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, and confusion, which may be signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome -Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision -Pain or trouble swallowing -Prolonged or painful erection -Seizures -Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision -Uncontrolled and repetitive body movements, muscle stiffness or spasms, tremors or shaking, loss of balance or coordination, restlessness, shuffling walk, which may be signs of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) -Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression -Urges to engage in impulsive behaviors such as gambling, binge eating, sexual activity, or shopping in ways that are unusual for you Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome): -Constipation -Drowsiness -Weight gain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings & Precautions

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions: -Dementia -Diabetes -Difficulty swallowing -Have trouble controlling your muscles -Heart disease -History of irregular heartbeat -History of stroke -Low blood cell levels (white cells, red cells, and platelets) -Low blood pressure -Parkinson disease -Seizures -Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member -Urges to engage in impulsive behaviors in ways that are unusual for you -An unusual or allergic reaction to aripiprazole, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives -Pregnant or trying to get pregnant -Breastfeeding

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medication with any of the following: -Brexpiprazole -Cisapride -Dextromethorphan; quinidine -Dronedarone -Metoclopramide -Pimozide -Quinidine -Thioridazine This medication may also interact with the following: -Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold -Carbamazepine -Certain medications for anxiety or sleep -Certain medications for depression, such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, or sertraline -Certain medications for fungal infections, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole -Clarithromycin -General anesthetics, such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, or propofol -Medications for Parkinson disease, such as levodopa -Medications for blood pressure -Medications for seizures -Medications that relax muscles for surgery -Opioid medications for pain -Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes -Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine or prochlorperazine -Rifampin

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse. Do not suddenly stop taking this medication. You may develop a severe reaction. Your care team will tell you how much medication to take. If your care team wants you to stop the medication, the dose may be slowly lowered over time to avoid any side effects. Patients and their families should watch out for new or worsening depression or thoughts of suicide. Also watch out for sudden changes in feelings such as feeling anxious, agitated, panicky, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, severely restless, overly excited and hyperactive, or not being able to sleep. If this happens, especially at the beginning of antidepressant treatment or after a change in dose, call your care team. This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects. This medication can cause problems with controlling your body temperature. It can lower the response of your body to cold temperatures. If possible, stay indoors during cold weather. If you must go outdoors, wear warm clothes. It can also lower the response of your body to heat. Do not overheat. Do not over-exercise. Stay out of the sun when possible. If you must be in the sun, wear cool clothing. Drink plenty of water. If you have trouble controlling your body temperature, call your care team right away. This medication may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses, you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating eye drops may help. See your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe. This medication may increase blood sugar. Ask your care team if changes in diet or medications are needed if you have diabetes. There have been reports of increased sexual urges or other strong urges such as gambling while taking this medication. If you experience any of these while taking this medication, you should report this to your care team as soon as possible.

What are the most serious risks of this medication?

This medication should not be used to treat mood and behavior changes caused by dementia. It may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia. This medication may increase thoughts of suicide. This may be more common in children, teenagers, and young adults. The risk may increase after first starting the medication and after dose changes. Talk to your care team right away if you have changes in mood and behavior or thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Source: This information is sourced from Elsevier Inc.

Disclaimer

The reviews, ratings, comments, and opinions expressed on this platform are solely those of the individual medical professionals who posted them and do not reflect the views or positions of Sermo, Inc. Sermo does not endorse, verify, or validate the content of individual reviews. The information provided is user-generated and reflects personal clinical experiences, which may not be complete, accurate, or applicable to your specific health needs. It is not intended as medical advice.

Prescription medications affect individuals differently, and what works for one person may not work for another. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed applies to your personal circumstances. Only a licensed healthcare provider can advise you on what is safe and effective for you.

Keep all medications out of the reach of children, never share your medicine with others, and use each medication only as prescribed. Your reliance on any information provided on this platform is at your own risk.

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