Aripiprazole, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antipsychotic

Generic and brand names: aripiprazole, oral; Abilify; Abilify Discmelt

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a stroke
• Alzheimer's disease or dementia
• diabetes
• heart or blood vessel disease or a heart attack
• low blood pressure
• problems with dehydration
• Parkinson's disease
• phenylketonuria (PKU). The orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine.
• seizures (convulsions)
• severe depression or thoughts of suicide.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine may come in different forms, including tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, and liquid. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Continue to take this medicine even if you feel better. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

If you are taking the orally disintegrating tablets, do not remove from the blister pack until needed. Peel the backing off the blister pack. Do not push the tablet through the packaging. With dry hands, place a tablet on tongue and allow the tablet to dissolve in your mouth before swallowing. It is recommended that the tablet not be taken with liquid. However, if needed, you may take it with water. Do not chew, crush, or break the tablet.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

Older adults with dementia are at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your provider about this.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery until you are fully alert and can see clearly.

Using this medicine for a long time may cause muscle spasms, twitching in the face and body, and uncontrolled tongue or jaw movement. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

While taking this medicine, avoid strenuous exercise, high temperatures, and dehydration. This medicine interferes with your body's ability to cool down, and you may become overheated.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may increase the risk of developing diabetes, especially if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. If you have diabetes, this medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Tremors, muscle twitching or stiffness, trouble swallowing, loss of balance, vision changes, irregular or fast heartbeat, chest pain, high fever, seizures, change in mood.

Other: Headache, anxiety, trouble sleeping, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, runny nose, loss of appetite, dry skin, weight gain, muscle cramps, sweating.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as quinidine, amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), and propafenone (Rythmol)
• antibiotics such as erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, Ery-Tab, EryPed), clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), and rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), trazodone (Desyrel), desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and nefazodone
• antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) and itraconazole (Sporanox)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• antiviral medicines such as ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), nelfinavir (Viracept), amprenavir (Agenerase), indinavir (Crixivan), delavirdine (Rescriptor), and nevirapine (Viramune)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), and pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Calan, Covera HS, Isoptin, Verelan) and diltiazem (Cartia XT, Cardizem, Tiazac)
• diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic)
• narcotic analgesics (pain killers) such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), morphine (MS Contin, Avinza, Kadian), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100, Darvon), pentazocine (Talwin), meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl (Duragesic patches), methadone (Dolophine), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• St. John's wort.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. Grapefruit affects the way this medicine works and may increase the risk of side effects.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.