From the Guidelines
Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic medication.
Key Characteristics
- It is a partial dopamine 2 agonist, which means it works by partially activating dopamine receptors in the brain, rather than fully blocking them like traditional antipsychotics.
- Aripiprazole is often used in combination with other antipsychotics, such as clozapine, to reduce side effects and improve treatment outcomes 1.
- Studies have shown that combining aripiprazole with clozapine may be effective in reducing treatment side effects and residual symptoms 1.
Clinical Use
- Aripiprazole is used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and is often prescribed as part of a treatment plan that includes other medications and therapies.
- The medication has been shown to be effective in reducing negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as apathy and social withdrawal, as well as positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions 1.
- Aripiprazole may also be used to treat other conditions, such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, although its use for these conditions is not as well established as its use for schizophrenia.
Side Effects and Interactions
- Aripiprazole can cause a range of side effects, including weight gain, drowsiness, and increased risk of diabetes 1.
- The medication can also interact with other medications, such as benzodiazepines, and may increase the risk of drug-drug interactions 1.
- However, studies have also shown that aripiprazole may be associated with a lower risk of side effects compared to other antipsychotics, particularly when used in combination with clozapine 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Aripiprazole is a psychotropic drug that is available as aripiprazole tablets. Aripiprazole tablets, USP are chemically designated as 7-[4-[4-(2,3-Dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone. Aripiprazole tablets are prescription medicine used to treat: o Schizophrenia
Aripiprazole is a psychotropic drug used to treat schizophrenia 2.
From the Research
Definition and Mechanism of Action
- Aripiprazole is a third-generation antipsychotic agent indicated for use in the treatment of schizophrenia 3.
- It is considered a partial dopaminergic agonist, acting on both postsynaptic dopamine(2) receptors and presynaptic autoreceptors, in addition to displaying partial agonism at serotonin(1A) receptors and antagonism at serotonin(2A) receptors 4.
- Aripiprazole's unique pharmacological profile includes partial D2 agonism and functionally selective properties, which contribute to its ability to manage schizophrenia symptoms 5.
Clinical Efficacy
- Aripiprazole has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia comparable to that of haloperidol and superior to placebo 3.
- It has also shown antipsychotic and antimanic properties superior to placebo in dose ranges of 10-30 mg/day 6.
- Aripiprazole is effective at treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and has the potential to treat negative and cognitive symptoms at least as well as other atypical antipsychotics 5.
Safety and Tolerability
- Aripiprazole exhibits a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with a low propensity to cause extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, cardiovascular abnormalities, hyperprolactinemia, hypercholesterolemia, or glucose dysregulation 4.
- The most commonly reported side effects include restlessness/akathisia, somnolence, and nausea, which may be dose-dependent and usually occur early on during treatment 6.
- Aripiprazole is generally well-tolerated with low rates of motor side effects and metabolic adverse effects, and is associated with reduced serum prolactin levels and QTc interval 7.