Is it safe to administer aripiprazole (Abilify) depot to a patient with a transient fever, now resolved, within 24 hours of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: May 8, 2025 • View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

From the Research

I would not recommend giving an aripiprazole depot injection to a patient who recently had a fever of 38.4°C within 24 hours of a COVID vaccine, even if the fever has settled for 4 hours. It's best to delay the depot administration until the patient has been completely afebrile (without fever) for at least 24-48 hours. Aripiprazole depot (long-acting injectable) is an antipsychotic medication that remains in the system for weeks to months, and administering it during or shortly after a febrile episode could potentially complicate the clinical picture if the patient were to develop further symptoms. The fever may have been a normal immune response to the COVID vaccine, but ensuring complete resolution before administering a long-acting medication is the safer approach. If antipsychotic treatment is urgently needed, consider using oral aripiprazole temporarily until the patient has been stable and afebrile for a longer period. This cautious approach helps distinguish between potential medication side effects and vaccine-related reactions should any issues arise after administration. According to a recent study 1, aripiprazole has been shown to have a protective effect against COVID-19 mortality, but this does not necessarily imply that it is safe to administer the depot injection during or shortly after a febrile episode. In fact, the study 2 on the use of analgesics/antipyretics in the management of symptoms associated with COVID-19 vaccination suggests that short-term use of these medications is unlikely to affect vaccine-induced immunity, but it does not provide guidance on the administration of long-acting medications like aripiprazole depot. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize caution and delay the administration of the aripiprazole depot injection until the patient has been completely afebrile for at least 24-48 hours.

Some key points to consider:

  • Aripiprazole depot is a long-acting injectable medication that remains in the system for weeks to months.
  • Administering the medication during or shortly after a febrile episode could potentially complicate the clinical picture.
  • Ensuring complete resolution of the fever before administering the medication is the safer approach.
  • If antipsychotic treatment is urgently needed, consider using oral aripiprazole temporarily until the patient has been stable and afebrile for a longer period.
  • The protective effect of aripiprazole against COVID-19 mortality does not necessarily imply that it is safe to administer the depot injection during or shortly after a febrile episode.

References

Related Questions

What are the complications of a prosthetic replacement (prosthesis)?
What are the complications of knee (total knee arthroplasty) prosthesis?
What is the management plan for exacerbated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?
Is olaparib (olaparib) indicated after adjuvant treatment with carboplatin (carboplatin) and paclitaxel (paclitaxel) for a patient with stage IA, grade 3 (G3) carcinosarcoma of the uterine corpus, with no lymphovascular invasion (LVI-0), and who has undergone surgery, brachytherapy, and chemotherapy?
When to initiate oral potassium (K+) supplementation?
What is the diagnosis for a patient with a large knee joint effusion, degenerative tears of the lateral meniscus, partial thickness radial tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, focal grade IV chondral wear of the lateral femoral condyle, and grade II chondral wear of the trochlea?

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.

Ask Question