Last Updated on March 16, 2024
Unfortunately, aripiprazole is not available over the counter in the UK. It is a prescription medication that is only dispensed with the approval of a physician or a psychiatrist. Aripiprazole is a powerful antipsychotic drug that is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
The medication works by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help to alleviate symptoms of these serious mental health conditions. It is important that individuals seeking to use aripiprazole for their condition receive appropriate medical advice and ongoing monitoring from a qualified healthcare professional.
If you are struggling with symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or depression, it is recommended that you speak to your primary care physician immediately. They may refer you to a specialist who can prescribe aripiprazole or other appropriate medications for your condition. It is never advisable to self-diagnose or self-medicate when it comes to serious mental health conditions. Seeking professional help and obtaining a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can significantly improve your quality of life.
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What is aripiprazole?
Aripiprazole is one of the main drugs used to treat schizophrenia and mania. It was approved in 2004 and is now widely used. As an “atypical antipsychotic”, aripiprazole is considered to be better tolerated than the older “classic” neuroleptics. In rare cases, the drug may cause weight gain. Nursing mothers and pregnant women should take aripiprazole only after consulting their doctor. You can read all about Aripiprazole here.
How does aripiprazole works?
In the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) ensures the interaction between different neurotransmitters that make you feel balanced and can respond appropriately to certain situations (such as excitement, joy, etc.). Given the various messengers (such as serotonin and histamine) distributed according to the needs of nerve cells and later resumed and stored.
This balance of neurotransmitters is often disturbed in people who suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The thoughts and perceptions of these individuals are greatly altered. A disturbed sense of self and altered behavior make it almost impossible to cope with everyday life without help.
Aripiprazole belongs to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics: It blocks certain histamine receptors while simultaneously activating serotonin receptors. This restoration of neurotransmitter balance leads to calmness and mood.
Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of Aripiprazole
The drug is usually given by mouth and is then absorbed almost completely from the intestines into the blood. Reduction takes place in the liver. Because the drug accumulates in body tissues, it may take up to a month for all of aripiprazole to be eliminated from the body.
When is Aripiprazole used?
Among the areas of use (indications) of Aripiprazole include
- Schizophrenia
- Treatment and prevention of manic episodes in a so-called bipolar disorder
How aripiprazole is taken?
Usually the substance Aripiprazole is applied in the form of tablets, orodispersible tablets or solutions for absorption through the mouth (oral). In acute cases, however, it can also be injected directly into the muscle.
The dosage in adults is 10 to 30 milligrams per day, the dosage for each patient should be determined individually.
The effect usually takes a few weeks.
What are the side effects of aripiprazole?
Frequently, in one to ten percent of patients, aripiprazole causes side effects such as restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, dizziness, and blurred vision. In addition, there is often a so-called “extrapyramidal disorder” with symptoms such as tremor, shuffling when walking, motor restlessness, and muscle weakness.
Occasionally (less than one percent of people), there is a rapid pulse and low blood pressure. There may also be occasional wasting.
What should I watch for while taking Aripiprazole?
Patients with cardiovascular disorders and seizures should take Aripiprazole with caution.
It has been suggested that aripiprazole may increase the risk of developing gambling addiction.
Interaction
Concomitant use with other medications may result in serious interactions.
Aripiprazole increases the effects of centrally acting drugs (such as antidepressants or strong analgesics). This is especially true in combination with alcohol.
Some drugs increase the effect of aripiprazole. Therefore, your doctor should reduce the dose of aripiprazole if you are taking the following medications at the same time:
- Quinidine (for arrhythmia)
- Ketoconazole and itraconazole (for fungal infection)
- Fluoxetine, paroxetine and escitalopram (for depression)
- For HIV (such as indinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir or lopinavir)
- Diltiazem (in coronary heart disease, arrhythmia or blood pressure)
The following substances decrease the effect of aripiprazole when co-administered:
- Carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone (used to treat seizures)
- Rifampicin, rifabutin (antibiotics)
- Efavirenz, nevirapine (for HIV)
Driving and using machines
Because of the central effects of Aripiprazole, there may be a slower reflexes in the treated. Therefore, it should be taken only at the beginning of therapy to individual tolerance and initially not actively participated in use on the road.
Parental
There is limited data on the use of aripiprazole in children. Therefore, children and adolescents under the age of 15 should be treated with aripiprazole only after a rigorous benefit-risk assessment.
The efficacy of aripiprazole in older patients (65 years of age) has not been demonstrated in clinical trials. The individual benefit of treatment with aripiprazole in such a case must be assessed by the treating physician.
Pregnancy and lactation
There is limited experience with aripiprazole during pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, before taking any medication, Aripiprazole should be weighed against the individual risks by the treating physician.
How to get Aripiprazole?
Aripiprazole is available by prescription and is therefore only available with a doctor’s prescription in the pharmacy.
How long has Aripiprazole been on the market?
The active ingredient, aripiprazole, belongs to a new generation of antipsychotics (atypical antipsychotics). In comparison with the older generation of antipsychotics, it is less likely to resolve a so-called extrapyramidal disorder. In addition, the newer generation should significantly improve the so-called negative symptoms of schizophrenia (such as changes in self-perception, depression and slowed motor skills) – in contrast to the older drugs. However, the new generation of atypical neuroleptics often lead to weight gain.
Overall, experts are still debating whether second-generation antipsychotics such as aripiprazole are truly superior to older drugs. It remains to be seen how the new agents will be positioned.