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Aripiprazole This page contains recent news articles, when available, and an overview of Aripiprazole but does not offer medical advice. You should contact your physician with regard to any health issues or concerns. Why is Aripiprazole prescribed? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Aripiprazole is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). It is also used to treat episodes of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited or irritated mood) or mixed episodes (symptoms of mania and depression that happen together) in patients with bipolar I disorder (manic depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Aripiprazole is in a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. It works by changing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain. Recent news articles mentioning Aripiprazole Aripiprazole-Associated Acute Dystonia  -  Feb 16, 2007 Journal of Neuropsychiatry (subscription) SIR: Aripiprazole is the latest addition to the armamentarium of antipsychotic agents available in the United States. It has been heralded as a third Why Antipsychotics Cause Weight Gain  -  Feb 12, 2007 Wall Street Journal (subscription), In November, the National Institutes of Health kicked off a 300-patient trial to determine the effect of the schizophrenia drug, aripiprazole, on metabolic BiPolar - The New "Must-Have" Disorder  -  Feb 2, 2007 Huffington Post, I was surprised recently by a television commercial from Bristol-Myers Squibb for ABILIFY® (aripiprazole). While I've gotten used to the daily implications B-MS hopes the pain caused by generic Plavix will end soon  -  Jan 26, 2007 Pharma Times (subscription), Nevertheless there were some bright spots for B-MS, notably the performance of the antipsychotic Abilify (aripiprazole), up 62% to $362 million and The Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse: Is There a Role for Atypical ...  -  Jan 24, 2007 Psychiatric Times, Atypical antipsychotics (including clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole), which have demonstrated efficacy in the How should Aripiprazole be used? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Aripiprazole comes as a tablet and a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take aripiprazole at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take aripiprazole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of aripiprazole and increase your dose after at least 2 weeks. Aripiprazole controls schizophrenia but does not cure it. It may take 2 weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of aripiprazole. Continue to take aripiprazole even if you feel well. Do not stop taking aripiprazole without talking to your doctor. Other uses for Aripiprazole [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Before taking hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide, sulfa drugs, or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other medicines for high blood pressure, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin) or naproxen (Aleve), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), medications for diabetes, probenecid (Benemid), and vitamins. If you also are taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take it at least 1 hour after hydrochlorothiazide. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes, gout, or kidney, liver, thyroid, or parathyroid disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking hydrochlorothiazide, call your doctor immediately. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking hydrochlorothiazide. you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you. remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug. plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Hydrochlorothiazide may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. What side effects can Aripiprazole cause? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Aripiprazole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: headache nervousness difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep drowsiness lightheadedness restlessness upset stomach vomiting constipation increased salivation weight gain coughing runny nose shaking hands that you cannot control dry skin itchy eyes loss of appetite Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately: rash dizziness fainting slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat chest pain swelling of hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs depression seizures difficulty swallowing unusual movements of your body or face that you cannot control urgent need to urinate high fever muscle stiffness confusion sweating abnormal excitement Aripiprazole may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088]. Brand names for Aripiprazole [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Abilify®