Abilify

Abilify (aripiprazole) is a drug that works by affecting chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.This drug works as a partial agonist of dopamine and serotonin receptors, thereby helping to regulate the activity of these chemicals in the brain.

Abilify is available as tablets, oral solution, and soluble tablets that dissolve in the mouth.

Benefits of Abilify

Abilify can be used for the following conditions:

1. Controlling manic symptoms in bipolar disorder

Abilify helps reduce symptoms of mania in people with bipolar disorder , such as excessive excitement, high energy, and impulsive behavior.

This medication helps maintain mood stability and prevent severe manic episodes.

2. Reduces psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia 

Abilify works by reducing psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia, such as hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that are not real), and delusions (false or unreasonable beliefs).

This drug helps improve disturbed thought patterns and perceptions in schizophrenia.

3. Additional treatment for major depressive disorder

Abilify may be used as an additional treatment for people with major depressive disorder who have not responded adequately to a single antidepressant. 

This medication helps increase the effectiveness of depression treatment and helps reduce symptoms such as persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and changes in appetite.

4. Additional treatment for autism spectrum disorders

Abilify may be used as an adjunct treatment in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders .

This medication helps reduce symptoms of aggressiveness, irritability, and other behavioral disturbances associated with autism. 

Using abilify as part of a comprehensive treatment program can help improve social adaptation and daily functioning in people with autism.

Research on Abilify Drug

There was a study in 2006 that evaluated the drug abilify (aripiprazole) for treating patients with schizophrenia or bipolar. The study was titled A Review of Aripiprazole in the Treatment of Patient with Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder.

According to studies, aripiprazole is a good choice for treating patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder because it has an overall good tolerability profile. 

The effectiveness of aripiprazole in the short- and long-term treatment of schizophrenia has been demonstrated in placebo trials. Aripiprazole has been shown to be effective in treating acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder type 1. Aripiprazole is also superior to placebo in preventing relapse of mania. 

Not only that, the study explained that aripiprazole has a lower risk of causing weight gain because it has a better metabolic profile. 

Abilify Dosage

Abilify has a maximum dosage for some of the conditions it is approved to treat.

The highest dose of Abilify taken each day depends on your health condition and treatment goals. 

The following are the abilify dosages for several health conditions: 

• Major depressive disorder in adults: 15 mg once daily.
• Manic episodes and mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder in adults and children: 30 mg once daily.
• Schizophrenia in adults and children: 30 mg once daily.
• Irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder in children: 15 mg once daily.
• Tourette syndrome in children: 10 mg or 20 mg once daily depending on body weight.

Information about Tourette syndrome can be read further in the article This is the Treatment for Tourette Syndrome, a Rare Disorder of the Nervous System .

Contact a Psychiatrist If You Want to Know About Using Abilify

If you or someone you care about needs Abilify or has further questions about other mental health treatments, you can immediately contact the experts at Halodoc. 

Below are some experienced psychiatrists available to contact. 

These experts have also received good ratings from the patients they have previously treated. 

By using Halodoc, you can consult from anywhere and anytime because doctors are available 24 hours a day. 

If the doctor is not available or is offline , you can still make a consultation appointment via the Halodoc application. 

No need to worry, your privacy is also guaranteed to be kept safe at Halodoc. 

So, what are you waiting for? Come on, download Halodoc now!

How to Use Abilify

Abilify medication should be taken according to the doctor’s instructions.

Don’t take more of it, don’t take it more often, and don’t take it for longer than your doctor tells you.

Here is the medically recommended way to use Abilify:

• If you are taking the tablet form, make sure your hands are dry before handling the tablet. 
• Do not open the blister pack containing the tablets until you are ready to take them. 
• Open the foil package and remove the tablet. Do not push the tablet through the foil. 
• Do not damage or split the tablet. 
• Place the tablet in your mouth. The medication should melt quickly. Once the tablet has melted, you may swallow it or take a sip of water.
• Swallow the tablet whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.

Abilify Usage Precautions

There are several things to consider when taking Abilify, namely: 

• Visit the care team for regular check-ups on treatment progress. 
• Tell your care team if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse. Do not stop taking it unless your healthcare team advises you to. 
• Be alert for sudden changes in mood such as feeling anxious, restless, panicky, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, very restless, overly excited and hyperactive, or unable to sleep. If this occurs, especially at the beginning of antidepressant treatment or after a dose change, contact your healthcare team. 
• You may feel dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires mental alertness until you know how this medication affects your health.
• Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizziness or fainting. Alcohol may interfere with the effects of this medication. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
• This medication may cause problems controlling body temperature. It may decrease the body’s response to cold temperatures. 
• This medication may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses, you may find this uncomfortable. Applying eye lubricant may help. 
• This medication may increase blood sugar. Ask your care team if changes in diet or medications are needed if you have diabetes. 

Abilify Side Effects

Possible side effects that may occur after taking Abilify are: 

• Allergic reactions, such as 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 tiredness, blurred vision.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome with symptoms of high fever, muscle stiffness, excessive sweating, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and confusion. 
• Low blood pressure, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurred vision.

• Pain or difficulty 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, vision changes.
• Uncontrolled and repetitive body movements, muscle stiffness or spasms, tremors or shaking, loss of balance or coordination, restlessness, staggering walk.
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression.

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention are:

• Constipation.
• Sleepy. 
• Weight gain.

Abilify Interactions

Do not take abilify with any of the following:

• Brexpiprazole.
• Cisapride.
• Dextromethorphan; quinidine.
• Dronedarone.
• Metoclopramide
• Pimozide.
• Thioridazine

This medication may also interact with medications:

• Antihistamines for allergies, coughs and colds.
• Carbamazepine.
• Certain medications for anxiety or sleep disorders.
• Certain medications for depression such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline.
• Medicines for fungal infections such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole.
• Clarithromycin.
• General anesthetics such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol.
• Levodopa or other drugs for Parkinson’s disease.
• Medicines for blood pressure.
• Medicine for seizures.
• A drug that relaxes muscles for surgery.
• Narcotic medication for pain.
• Other drugs that prolong the QT interval (causing an abnormal heart rhythm).
• Phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine.
• Rifampin.

Abilify Contraindications

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with abilify.

Before using abilify, talk to your doctor about your medical history. 

Health conditions or other factors that may interact with abilify include:

1. Seizures

The risk for these side effects may be higher if you have had seizures in the past.

Information about seizures and their treatment can be read in Fever Can Cause Seizures, Know These 3 Things .

2. Diabetes

If you have diabetes, taking abilify may make your health condition worse.

Your doctor may increase your dose or add other diabetes medications to your treatment plan.

3. Heart or blood pressure problems

Abilify can cause an abnormal heart rhythm. It can also cause changes in blood pressure, including orthostatic hypotension.