Abilify

Not applicable.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using aripiprazole and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This medication is injected slowly, deep into a muscle, by a health care professional. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Another injection may be given if agitation continues, usually no sooner than 2 hours after the first injection. The maximum adult daily dose is 30 milligrams. If continuing treatment is needed, your doctor should switch you to a medication taken by mouth as soon as possible.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: sibutramine. If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting aripiprazole. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin, enoxaparin), dopamine agonists (e.g., bromocriptine), drugs for treating high blood pressure (e.g., alpha blockers such as prazosin, calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem, "water pills"/diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide), levodopa, drugs affecting liver enzymes that may remove aripiprazole from your body (e.g., quinidine, azole antifungals including ketoconazole and itraconazole, certain anti-seizure drugs including carbamazepine, SSRI antidepressants including fluoxetine and paroxetine). Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk when combined with aripiprazole such as bupropion, isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., thioridazine), theophylline, tramadol, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., phenytoin), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, trazodone). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood sugar, weight) may be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: very fast heartbeat, loss of consciousness.

See also Warning section. Before using aripiprazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: problems with blood flow in the brain (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, stroke), blood clotting problem (e.g., hemophilia, low platelets), a severe loss of body water (dehydration), diabetes, heart problems (e.g., low blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat), nervous system problems (e.g., dementia, NMS, seizures), obesity, trouble swallowing, alcohol/drug abuse, low white blood cell count. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. To reduce dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. This medication can increase your risk of a serious reaction to too much heat (heat stroke). Avoid activities that might cause you to overheat (e.g., doing strenuous work, exercising in hot weather, using a hot tub). Drink plenty of fluids, dress lightly, and stay in cooler/air-conditioned areas when the weather is hot. Seek emergency medical attention if you notice any symptoms of heat stroke, such as hot/dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, a high body temperature. This drug may infrequently increase your blood sugar level, causing or worsening diabetes. Rarely, very serious conditions such as diabetic coma may occur. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. If you already have diabetes, be sure to check your blood sugar levels regularly as directed by your doctor. Your anti-diabetic medication or diet may need to be adjusted. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially seizures, swallowing problems, and other serious (rarely fatal) side effects. (See also Warning section.) During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Not applicable. This medication is given in a hospital and will not be stored at home.

See also the Warning section. Dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, weight gain, drowsiness, excess saliva/drooling, or redness/itching/stinging/bruising at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fast/pounding heartbeat, fainting, unusual mental/mood changes (e.g., increased anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts), weakness, feelings of restlessness, mask-like facial expression, shakiness (tremors), muscle spasm/stiffness, trouble swallowing, swelling of the ankles/feet. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: seizures, signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat). This drug may rarely cause a condition known as tardive dyskinesia. In some cases, this condition may be permanent. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any unusual uncontrolled movements (especially of the face, mouth, tongue, arms, or legs). This drug may infrequently cause a serious (rarely fatal) nervous system disorder (neuroleptic malignant syndrome-NMS). Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: confusion, fever, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, increased sweating, change in the amount of urine. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

There may be a slightly increased risk of serious, possibly fatal side effects (e.g., heart failure, pneumonia, stroke) when this medication is used in elderly patients with dementia. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication, as well as other effective and possibly safer treatments for dementia-related behavior problems.