What is the dose of Abilify (aripiprazole)?

From the Guidelines

The dose of Abilify (aripiprazole) is 5 mg p.o. or i.m. (immediate-release) stat, with a scheduled dosing of q24h [ 1 ].

Important Considerations

• The dose may need to be reduced in older patients and in poor metabolisers of cytochrome P450 2D6 [ 1 ].
• Aripiprazole is less likely to cause EPSEs compared to other antipsychotics [ 1 ].
• However, it may cause headache, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, and drowsiness [ 1 ].

Dosing Adjustments

• The dose should be adjusted based on clinical response and tolerability.
• It is essential to be aware of cytochrome P450 2D6 and 3A4 drug–drug interactions and consult a pharmacist or pharmacy references for further details [ 1 ].

From the FDA Drug Label

1. 1 Schizophrenia Adults The recommended starting and target dose for aripiprazole tablets is 10 or 15 mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals Aripiprazole tablets have been systematically evaluated and shown to be effective in a dose range of 10 to 30 mg/day, when administered as the tablet formulation; however, doses higher than 10 or 15 mg/day were not more effective than 10 or 15 mg/day. Adolescents The recommended target dose of aripiprazole tablets is 10 mg/day.

The dose of Abilify (aripiprazole) is:

• 10 or 15 mg/day for adults with schizophrenia
• 10 mg/day for adolescents with schizophrenia 2 2

From the Research

Dose of Abilify (Aripiprazole)

The dose of Abilify (aripiprazole) varies depending on the condition being treated.

• For the treatment of schizophrenia, the recommended dose is between 10 and 15 mg once daily 3.
• Studies have shown that aripiprazole 10 or 15 mg once daily is effective and well tolerated in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder 3.
• The optimum dose for aripiprazole in schizophrenia is 10 mg/day, with doses above 20 mg/day providing no additional benefit 4.
• In the treatment of manic episodes in adolescents with bipolar I disorder, the approved dose is 10 mg once daily for 12 weeks 5.
• A literature review found that the effective dose range for aripiprazole in schizophrenia is between 10 and 25 mg/day, with less than 10 mg/day not showing significant efficacy on symptoms of schizophrenia apart from a specific short-term effect on agitation at very low doses (starting at 1mg) 6.
• For major depressive disorder, aripiprazole was efficacious and well tolerated as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants at doses of 2-15 mg/day 7.

Key Findings

• Aripiprazole has a beneficial profile in terms of a low potential for bodyweight gain 3.
• The drug is effective as early as the first or second week of treatment 3.
• Aripiprazole may improve cognitive function 3.
• The tolerability profile of aripiprazole was broadly similar to that observed with placebo in short-term trials 3.
• Aripiprazole has a low propensity to cause clinically significant bodyweight gain, hyperprolactinaemia or corrected QT interval prolongation in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder 3.