Aripiprazole

What is aripiprazole?

Aripiprazole is a medicine that is used to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, aggression and bipolar disorder. It is also used to treat autism and Tourette syndrome. It works by restoring certain natural chemicals in the brain.

You may hear aripiprazole called by its brand name, Abilify. You may also hear it called an atypical antipsychotic. Aripiprazole comes in tablet and injection forms.

Before giving aripiprazole

Tell your child’s health-care provider if your child has an allergy to aripiprazole or any ingredient in the medication.

Talk with your child’s health-care provider if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• a history of suicidal thinking or behaviour
• a seizure disorder or history of seizure(s)
• impulse control disorders
• an abnormal heart rhythm)
• low blood pressure

How to give aripiprazole

• Give aripiprazole exactly as your child’s health-care provider tells you and for as long as they tell you, even if your child seems better.
• Give aripiprazole at the same time(s) every day.
• Do not suddenly stop giving this medicine to your child. Talk with your child's health-care provider before you stop giving this medicine for any reason.
• If your child is prescribed aripiprazole injection, a health-care provider will give the drug by needle into your child’s muscle.
• If your child is taking aripiprazole tablets:
• The tablets should be swallowed whole, with water.
• If your child cannot swallow a whole tablet, the tablet may be crushed and mixed into a small amount of soft food, such as apple sauce. Make sure your child takes the full amount of soft food, so they get the full dose of medicine.
• The tablets can be taken with or without food, but taking with food can help lessen stomach upset.

What should you do if your child misses a dose?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does this medicine take to work?

Depending on the reason your child is taking aripiprazole, it may take anywhere from a few days to six to eight weeks for them to feel better.

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take aripiprazole, especially at the beginning of therapy. Many side effects will go away over a few weeks as your child’s body gets used to the medication.

Check with your child's health-care provider if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away or if they bother your child:

• feeling tired or sleepy
• stomach upset
• constipation
• dry mouth
• blurry eyesight
• feeling dizzy or light-headed, especially when they stand up
• increased appetite leading to weight gain

Call your child’s health-care provider during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• change in balance
• increased sexual urges, excessive gambling or struggles with impulse control
• very bad dizziness or fainting
• unusual movements of fingers, toes, neck, lips or tongue

Rarely, aripiprazole can cause a muscle problem called tardive dyskinesia. This problem may lessen or go away after stopping this drug, but it may not go away. Call your child's health-care provider if your child has trouble controlling body movements or has problems with their tongue, face, mouth or jaw like tongue sticking out, puffing cheeks, mouth puckering or chewing.

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's health-care provider right away or take your child to the Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• fever, sweating a lot, feeling very sleepy, feeling very thirsty, peeing more often, feeling flushed, breathing quickly or breath that smells like fruit (these can be signs of dangerously high blood sugar)
• seizures
• difficulty swallowing or speaking
• high fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, fast or abnormal heartbeat, very bad headache, confusion and sudden changes in thinking (these can be signs of a rare but serious reaction to aripiprazole called neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
• thoughts of hurting themselves, suicide, increased hostility or worsening symptoms

What safety measures should you take when your child is using this medicine?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with aripiprazole, or, in some cases, the dose of aripiprazole or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your child’s health-care provider if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter or herbal), including:

• medications that affect the heart’s rhythm
• other antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine, risperidone or haloperidol
• certain medications used to treat seizures, such as carbamazepine and valproic acid

When your child is taking aripiprazole, their body may have more difficulty maintaining a normal body temperature. Be sure your child drinks enough fluids throughout the day to avoid becoming dehydrated. When possible, your child should avoid doing excessive physical activity on hot days.

Because aripiprazole can make your child feel dizzy or lightheaded, especially when starting the medication, make sure your child gets up from sitting or lying down more slowly to avoid passing out. If your child feels dizzy, drowsy or slowed down, they should not drive a car or operate heavy machinery. Alcohol could make this worse. Your child should avoid alcohol while taking aripiprazole.

What other important information should you know?

Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to their health-care providers.

Do not share your child’s medicine with others and do not give anyone else’s medicine to your child.

Make sure you always have enough aripiprazole to last through weekends, holidays and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.

Keep all appointments at the clinic or doctor's office so that the health-care provider can check your child's response to aripiprazole.

Keep aripiprazole at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.

Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.

Keep aripiprazole out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much aripiprazole, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.