Abilify

Bertroche & Associates

Abilify

A Brief Overview

ABILIFY (aripiprazole)

Dr. J Patrick Bertroche, D.O.

Steven R. Morris, MS-III

GUIDE:

1. What is the most important information I should know about Aripiprazole?

2. What is Aripiprazole?

3. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Aripiprazole?

4. How should I take Aripiprazole?

5. What happens if I miss a dose?

6. What happens if I overdose?

7. What should I avoid while taking Aripiprazole?

8. What are the possible side effects of Aripiprazole?

9. What other drugs will affect Aripiprazole?

10. Where can I get more information?

11. What are the different dosages of Aripiprazole?

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ARIPIPRAZOLE?

· Abilify is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia.

· Abilify may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

· Stop using Abilify and call your doctor at once if you have the following symptoms: fever with stiff muscles and rapid heart rate; uncontrolled muscle movements; symptoms that come on suddenly such as numbness or weakness, severe headache, and problems with vision, speech, or balance.

· Abilify can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

· Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Abilify.

· Before you take aripiprazole, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Abilify.

· Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking Abilify.

WHAT IS ARIPIPRAZOLE?

· 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.

WHAT SHOULD I DISCUSS WITH MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE TAKING ARIPIPRAZOLE?

· Abilify is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Abilify may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions.

· Before taking Abilify, tell your doctor if you have:

o liver or kidney disease;

o heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems;

o a history of heart attack or stroke;

o a history of breast cancer;

o seizures or epilepsy;

o a personal or family history of diabetes; or

o trouble swallowing.

· If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

· Abilify may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Talk to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are taking Abilify.

· FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Abilify is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Abilify can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

HOW SHOULD I TAKE ARIPIPRAZOLE?

· Take Abilify exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

· Do not take aripiprazole for longer than 6 weeks unless your doctor has told you to. Take each dose with a full glass of water.

· Abilify can be taken with or without food.

· Abilify is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor 's instructions.

· Measure the liquid form of Abilify with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

· To take aripiprazole orally disintegrating tablets (Abilify Discmelt):

o Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package and peel back the foil from the tablet blister. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet.

o Using dry hands, remove the tablet and place it in your mouth. It will begin to dissolve right away.

o Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.

o Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.

· It is important to take Abilify regularly to get the most benefit.

· To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

· Store Abilify tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

· Abilify oral solution should be stored in the refrigerator and can be used for up to 6 months after opening.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS A DOSE?

· Take the missed dose as soon as you remember.

· If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.

· Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I OVERDOSE?

· Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

· Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, vomiting, agitation, aggression, confusion, tremors, fast or slow heart rate, seizure (convulsions), trouble breathing, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

WHAT SHOULD I AVOID WHILE TAKING ABILIFY?

· Abilify can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

· Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

· Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Abilify.

ABILIFY SIDE EFFECTS:

· Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

· Stop using Abilify and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

o An increased risk of stroke and ministroke has been reported in clinical studies of elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis

o Very high fever, rigid muscles, shaking, confusion, sweating, or increased heart rate and blood pressure. These may be signs of a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare but serious side effect which could be fatal

o If you have diabetes, or risk factors for diabetes (for example, obesity, family history of diabetes), or unexpected increases in thirst, urination, or hunger, your blood sugar should be monitored. Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), in some cases serious and associated with coma or death, have been reported in patients taking ABILIFY and medicines like it

o Seizures.

o 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).

o 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.

§ jerky muscle movements you cannot control;

§ sudden numbness or weakness, headache, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance;

o thoughts of hurting yourself;

o feeling like you might pass out;

· Less serious Abilify side effects may include:

o choking or trouble swallowing;

o dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness;

o constipation, mild stomach upset;

o headache, anxiety;

o sleep problems (insomnia); or

o weight gain.

· This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

WHAT OTHER DRUGS WILL AFFECT ABILIFY?

· Before you take Abilify, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Abilify.

· Before taking Abilify, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

o a medication to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition;

o carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin);

o rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

o ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox);

o quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute); or

o fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), or paroxetine (Paxil).

· This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Abilify.

· Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors.

· Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

· Your pharmacist can provide more information about Abilify.

DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS:

· Tablets: 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20mg, and 30 mg

· Orally Disintegrating Tablets: 10 mg and 15 mg

· Oral Solution: 1mg/mL

· Injectable: 9.75 mg/1.3 mL single-dose vial

WORKS CITED: