Missing doses of aripiprazole may increase your risk for a relapse in your symptoms. Do not stop taking aripiprazole or change your dose without talking to with your healthcare provider first. For aripiprazole to work properly, it should be taken every day as ordered by your healthcare provider. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your healthcare provider to best manage your medications.

People living with schizophrenia who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. This is a complex decision since untreated schizophrenia has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers.

Symptoms in the newborn may include agitation, feeding disorder, hypertonia, hypotonia, respiratory distress, somnolence, and tremor; these effects may be self-limiting or require hospitalization. In general, infants exposed to SGAs via breast milk should be monitored weekly for the first month of exposure for symptoms, such as appetite changes, insomnia, irritability, or lethargy. Aripiprazole tablets and suspension are usually taken 1 time per day with or without food.

Typically, patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks. The oral dose aripiprazole usually ranges from 2 mg to 30 mg taken once daily. The dose of aripiprazole maintena extended-release injection ranges from mg to mg given once monthly; the dose of aripiprazole lauroxil extended-release injection ranges from mg to mg — depending on the dose, it is given once per month, every 6 weeks, or every 2 months.

Aripiprazole maintena requires a two-week oral medication overlap; aripiprazole lauroxil requires a three-week oral overlap. Aripiprazole lauroxil Initio is typically given after an oral dose of aripiprazole along with an aripiprazole lauroxil injection — this allows for a one-day initiation and does not require further oral overlap.

Only your healthcare provider can determine the correct formulation and dose for you. Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. If you miss a dose of aripiprazole, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed.

If you miss an injection, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking aripiprazole. They may decrease the benefits e.

If an overdose occurs call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at A specific treatment to reverse the effects of aripiprazole does not exist. Headache, extrapyramidal symptoms, drowsiness, restlessness, fatigue, sedation, agitation, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, cholesterol abnormalities, increased glucose, nausea, vomiting, constipation, application site rash MyCite , tremor.

Aripiprazole may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems. Long term months or years of elevated prolactin can lead to osteoporosis or increased risk of bone fractures. Some people may develop muscle-related side effects while taking aripiprazole. Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness.

TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements. Temperature regulation: Impaired core body temperature regulation may occur; caution with strenuous exercise, heat exposure, and dehydration.

Second generation antipsychotics SGAs increase the risk of weight gain, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. This is also known as metabolic syndrome. Your healthcare provider may ask you for a blood sample to check your cholesterol, blood sugar, and hemoglobin A1c a measure of blood sugar over time while you take this medication. Information on healthy eating and adding exercise to decrease your chances of developing metabolic syndrome may be found at the following sites:. SGAs have been linked with higher risk of death, strokes, and transient ischemic attacks TIAs in elderly people with behavior problems due to dementia.

If you take aripiprazole while you are pregnant, there is nothing to suggest it will harm the developing baby, though the medication can cause symptoms in newborn babies. Use good contraception while you are taking aripiprazole and tell your doctor if you want to start trying for a baby. You might get any of the following signs:.

While taking aripiprazole, some people think about hurting themselves or taking their own lives. This can happen to anyone, including people who are under Take a friend or family member with you to keep you safe on the way. Stop taking your medicine and seek medical help straight away if you get any of the following symptoms:.

If you start to experience muscle spasms or abnormal bodily movements that you cannot control, you should go and see your doctor as soon as possible. Antipsychotic medications can cause a wide variety of problems with movement such as tremors, restlessness, agitation and unusual movement of the lips, tongue, hands or pelvis. If the movements are severe then you might find it difficult to speak, eat or breathe.

These are called extrapyramidal side effects EPS. Aripiprazole is less likely to cause these movements than some of the other antipsychotics. A subgroup of the movement side effects is called tardive dyskinesia. This is an uncommon side effect of aripiprazole.

It occurs in less than one in people and can be a legacy of taking earlier antipsychotics. The first sign might be some movements of your tongue that you cannot control, and they may be quite regular and rhythmic.

The problem with tardive dyskinesia is that it might not stop, even if you stop taking your medicine. You should have your weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure checked regularly while you are taking aripiprazole.

Your doctor should also do blood tests to check your liver, blood sugar, and some hormones before and regularly during your treatment. You may also have a heart test called an electrocardiogram ECG before you start treatment - and periodically while taking aripiprazole - if you are at risk of heart disease.

In the first two or three weeks of taking aripiprazole, side effects such as feeling agitated and restless, or feeling sick may make you feel generally worse. They should wear off quite quickly but if they are a problem, speak to your doctor or care team.

The side effects that come with aripiprazole are different to those of many other antipsychotics, but they can be serious. Do not stop taking the tablets until you talk to your doctor, or you may get withdrawal symptoms as well. There are other side effects that you can get when taking this medicine — we have only included the most common ones here. Please look at the paper leaflet inside your medicine box, or ask a doctor or pharmacist, if you want to know if you are getting a side effect from your medicine.

If you do get a side effect, please think about reporting it to the 'Yellow Card' scheme. Aripiprazole has also been known to make people feel like gambling to extremes. If you have ever had problems with gambling in the past, you should talk to your doctor about this before you take it.

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Guide Menu for Aripiprazole. Hide Show guide menu. Guide contents jump to section About aripiprazole Aripiprazole and everyday life Uses, warnings, safety and side effects About this information More information and advice. About aripiprazole. Please note. Always talk to your doctor about your situation and whether this medication is for you.

Thinking about trying medication? Read our guide. How aripiprazole works. Aripiprazole and everyday life. Frequently asked questions. How long does it take to start working? What effects will it have on my body? It is very difficult to know how it will affect each person who takes it. Your doctor should measure your weight regularly when you are taking aripiprazole. Should I tell my family and friends I am taking it?

Will it affect my sleep? Aripiprazole may make you feel very sleepy but may also make it hard to get to sleep. Sleepiness has been shown to affect young people more than adults.

See how it affects you for the first few days of taking it. Go back to your doctor if this causes a big problem for you. Can I drink alcohol and take street drugs while taking it?

Alcohol You can drink alcohol while taking aripiprazole, but the two together could make you very sleepy. If you want to drink alcohol, plan how you will get home safely if you feel sleepy.

Street drugs Be careful if you are also using street drugs. Cannabis can make drowsiness worse with aripiprazole. Methadone can make drowsiness worse with aripiprazole. Can I take it with other medications? I have allergies and food intolerances. Is there anything I need to know? Can I drive while taking it? Do not drive a car or ride a bike just after you start taking aripiprazole.

And you may wonder if Abilify is used for certain other conditions. Below is information on other possible uses for Abilify. Anxiety can refer to a range of conditions, which are explained in a bit more detail below. These conditions include:. Some studies have shown that Abilify may be a treatment option for certain people with anxiety. However, in some people, Abilify may actually cause symptoms of anxiety. So Abilify may not be right for everyone with anxiety. With GAD, you may feel restless or irritable.

And you may have trouble falling or staying asleep. This study showed that there may be a benefit from Abilify treatment in people with GAD. You may also have compulsions repetitive actions. For example, obsessions may include being afraid of germs or feeling that things need to be in a certain order. Examples of compulsions may include constantly cleaning or repeatedly checking to make sure the oven is turned off. These obsessions and compulsions from OCD can cause anxiety.

These other treatments may include drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. So for this condition, your doctor may recommend that you take a low dose of Abilify along with an SSRI. And that event may cause flashbacks and nightmares that lead to anxiety. For example, people with trouble sleeping may be unable to drive or focus on tasks. One study showed that Abilify may help people with sleep disorders to fall asleep more quickly and to sleep better.

Another study looked at why Abilify may work for people with sleep disorders. Because Abilify can cause insomnia as a side effect, a dose of the medication during the day may help people stay awake. And this could cause them to feel tired at night and be able to sleep better. But the drug is being studied for this use.

You may also have hyperactivity, which makes you unable to stay still. ADHD may also affect your ability to focus and learn. DMDD causes irritability, moodiness, and temper tantrums. In this study, people took Abilify along with methylphenidate Ritalin, Metadate.

People with psychosis may have trouble figuring out what is real and what is imagined. A review was done to see if Abilify may be a treatment option for people with psychosis. Abilify is still being studied for use in people with psychosis. If you have questions about using Abilify to treat psychosis, talk with your doctor.

Abilify is approved for use in children with certain mental health conditions. Below, we describe the use of Abilify for these conditions. Keep in mind that Abilify may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults ages 24 and younger. Because of this risk, Abilify should be used cautiously in people ages 24 and younger. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in treating schizophrenia in children ages 13 and older. In a study, Abilify treatment was compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug.

Test scores from this test range from 30 to Higher scores indicate worse schizophrenia symptoms than lower scores indicate. The study showed that:. Abilify is approved to treat manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder in children ages 10 years and older.

For this condition, Abilify is approved for use on its own. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in treating manic and mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in children. One study looked at Abilify treatment compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug.

Test scores from this scale range from 0 to Higher scores indicate worse mania symptoms than lower scores indicate. For this use, Abilify can be prescribed for children ages 6 years and older.

Autism symptoms vary across a spectrum. For example, some children with autism are able to function at a very high level, while other children with autism need more care. Autism is often diagnosed in children around the age of 2 years, when they may be having trouble with development. Specifically, Abilify is used to treat irritability in children with autism. Irritability includes symptoms such as tantrums, injuring yourself, or having aggressive behaviors.

Two different studies looked at Abilify treatment compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug. ABC test scores from this scale range from 0 to Higher ABC test scores indicate worse irritability symptoms than lower scores do. It causes involuntary movements and sounds that happen repetitively. These movements and sounds are also called tics. Examples of movement-related tics include repetitive eye blinking or head jerking.

Examples of sound-related tics include those that affect speech, such as repeating things that other people are saying. In some cases, tics can be dangerous. In fact, sometimes tics may cause a person to hurt themselves. It often improves and may even disappear as people age into adulthood. The TTS scale ranges from 0 to Higher TTS scores indicate worse tic symptoms than lower scores indicate.

For some of its approved uses, Abilify may be used in combination with other drugs. However, when treating major depressive disorder MDD , Abilify is always used with other drugs. MDD is also simply called depression. For MDD, Abilify is approved as an adjunct treatment. Adjunct treatments are used in combination with other drugs to treat certain conditions.

So as an adjunct treatment for MDD, Abilify is only used with other drugs. Below, we describe some of the drugs that may be used with Abilify. Or your doctor may change your medication regimen altogether. If you have questions about using medications with Abilify, talk with your doctor.

They can recommend an appropriate treatment plan for your condition. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with antidepressants to treat your condition. Some examples of antidepressants that may be taken with Abilify include:.

Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with mood stabilizers to treat your condition. Some examples of mood stabilizers that may be taken with Abilify include:. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with stimulants to treat your condition. Some examples of stimulants that may be taken with Abilify include:.

Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with other antipsychotic drugs to treat your condition. Some examples of other antipsychotics that may be taken with Abilify include:. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed below are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. This means that Abilify is only used with other drugs for MDD.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat manic and mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat schizophrenia include:. You may wonder how Abilify compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses.

Here we look at how Abilify and Abilify Maintena are alike and different. Both Abilify and Abilify Maintena contain the same active drug: aripiprazole.

But even though these medications contain the same active drug, they act slightly differently inside your body. Abilify Maintena is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults.

The typical dosage of this drug is mg given once each month. Because Abilify and Abilify Maintena both contain the same active drug, their mild and serious side effects are the same. Also, because Abilify Maintena is an injectable medication, you may have pain at your injection site after receiving a dose of the drug. In some cases, you may actually start out by taking Abilify.

Then if your condition responds well to the drug, you may start taking Abilify Maintena instead. One study looked at people who took Abilify and then transitioned to Abilify Maintena. These people had more benefit in decreasing their schizophrenia symptoms when they switched to Abilify Maintena. But separate studies have found both Abilify and Abilify Maintena to be effective in treating schizophrenia.

According to estimates on GoodRx. The cost also depends on whether you receive doses of either drug from a pharmacy or a medical facility. Abilify and Abilify Maintena are both brand-name drugs. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics cost. Like Abilify Maintena, discussed above, other medications are also prescribed for similar uses as Abilify is.

Here we look at how Abilify and Rexulti are alike and different. Abilify contains the active drug aripiprazole , while Rexulti contains the active drug brexpiprazole. Both Abilify and Rexulti are approved to treat schizophrenia.

For this use, Abilify can be prescribed for adults and children ages 13 years and older. However, Rexulti is only approved for use in adults. Abilify and Rexulti are also both approved for use in adults as adjunct treatments for major depressive disorder MDD , which is also simply called depression.

Abilify and Rexulti both contain medications that treat schizophrenia and MDD. Therefore, these medications can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Rexulti, or with both drugs when taken individually.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Rexulti, or with both drugs when taken individually. And these medications can also each be used in combination with other drugs to treat MDD. The use of Abilify and Rexulti in treating schizophrenia has been directly compared in a clinical study. Abilify and Rexulti are both brand-name drugs. There is currently a generic form of Abilify, called aripiprazole.

Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. Like Rexulti, discussed above, other medications are prescribed for similar uses as Abilify is. Here we look at how Abilify and Latuda are alike and different. Abilify contains the active drug aripiprazole , while Latuda contains the active drug lurasidone. Both Abilify and Latuda are approved to treat schizophrenia in adults and children ages 13 years and older. Abilify and Latuda both contain drugs to treat schizophrenia.

These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Latuda, or with both drugs when taken individually.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Latuda, or with both drugs when taken individually. But separate studies have found both Abilify and Latuda to be effective in treating schizophrenia. Abilify and Latuda are both brand-name drugs. Controlled substances are more likely than other medications to cause dependence.

With dependence, your body needs the drug in order to feel normal. Abilify may cause dependence because it affects hormones inside your brain. And once your body adjusts to the changes caused by Abilify, you may become dependent on the drug.

However, keep in mind that dependence of Abilify has not been studied in humans. Because this medication may cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may recommend a different medication for you that has a lower risk of these complications. His symptoms included dizziness, nausea, anxiety, and muscle twitches. He also had insomnia trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. But keep in mind that this case only involved one person.

If you have questions about withdrawal symptoms from Abilify, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. With tapering, your doctor will slowly decrease your dose of the drug so that your body can adjust to the lower dose over time. Tapering off of Abilify can help decrease your risk of withdrawal symptoms. Keep in mind that the lowest dose that Abilify tablets are made in is 2 mg.

Abilify affects the levels of two brain chemicals called dopamine and serotonin. Serotonin is important in controlling your mood and behavior. Dopamine is important in regulating how you think and feel. And Abilify is approved to treat each of these conditions.

Abilify may work to treat certain mental health conditions by balancing dopamine and serotonin levels. They can recommend whether you need medical attention.

Yes, sometimes Abilify is used off-label to treat anxiety. And if you have questions about whether Abilify may be helpful in treating your anxiety, talk with your doctor. Yes, Abilify may cause you to have dangerous impulses or urges. But all of these urges can be harmful, so you should tell your doctor, a family member, or a friend if you notice any impulses.

In addition, your family and friends should also be keeping an eye out for any new impulses you may develop. This is important for them to do because you might not notice certain urges developing. As soon as any urges or impulses are noticed, your doctor will likely decrease your dosage of Abilify.

Or your doctor may have you stop taking the medication altogether. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of treatment. These brain chemicals include dopamine and serotonin. And serotonin is important in controlling your mood and behavior.

Abilify may work by balancing your dopamine and serotonin levels. No, you should never take Abilify by snorting the drug. Abilify is meant to be taken by mouth. However, when you snort a drug through your nose, the drug goes directly into your bloodstream. In addition, snorting drugs can cause problems inside your nose, such as swelling or infections. And in some cases , snorting drugs can even cause a hole to form between your nostrils. If you have questions about the best way to take your doses of Abilify, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Yes, sometimes Abilify is used off-label to treat bipolar II disorder. On the other hand, Abilify is approved to treat manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder. During these episodes, you can feel very energetic or extremely irritable. With mixed episodes, you have both manic symptoms and depression symptoms at the same time. This causes large changes in your mood. However, with bipolar II disorder, your most common symptom is major depression.

Because people with bipolar II disorder mostly have depressive symptoms, Abilify may not work as well for them. If you have questions about using Abilify to treat bipolar II disorder, talk with your doctor. They can recommend whether Abilify may be an option to treat your condition. In fact, for some people, Abilify may actually make them feel more sleepy than usual. Some drugs called stimulants may make you feel more energetic than usual.