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Abilify
Abilify is manufactured by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Abilify belongs to a group of medications called atypical (or second-generation) antipsychotic medications. It is not entirely clear how this medication works for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, or major depression.
However, it is known to block or lessen the effects of several chemicals in the brain. These chemicals (such as dopamine and serotonin) may be elevated in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression).
In previous clinical studies of Abilify for the treatment of schizophrenia, people taking the medication experienced improvements in their schizophrenia symptoms (including hallucinations and suspiciousness), compared to those not taking it. Longer studies also showed that the drug can help keep symptoms from returning.
Abilify has also been studied for treating major depression (when used along with antidepressants). These studies evaluated people who had not responded adequately to depression medications alone. Adding this medication significantly reduced depression symptoms, compared to adding a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredient).
Researchers have also studied Abilify for treating irritability associated with autism in children (age 6 through 17). In these studies, children taking Abilify showed improvement in their irritability symptoms (aggression towards others, deliberate self-injury, temper tantrums, and quickly changing moods), compared to children taking a placebo.
When and How to Take Abilify
Some general considerations for when and how to take Abilify include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth once a day.
- You can take Abilify with or without food. If the medication bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- A liquid form is available for those who have difficulty swallowing tablets.
- Abilify is also available in tablets that are meant to dissolve rapidly in the mouth. These tablets are called Abilify Discmelt® tablets. They do not need to be taken with water. Carefully remove Abilify Discmelt tablets by peeling pack the foil (not pushing the tablet), as they are delicate and are easily broken. Do not cut or split these tablets.
- The medication should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level in your blood.
- For Abilify to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. The medication will not work if you stop taking it.
The dose of Abilify your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The medical condition being treated
- Your age
- The severity of your condition
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be taking.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Abilify. However, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects include but are not limited to:
(Click Abilify Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report to your healthcare provider.)
You can also read about specific side effects in the following eMedTV articles:
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this drug if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose of Abilify?
People who take too much Abilify may have overdose symptoms that could include:
If you happen to overdose on this drug, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should This Medication Be Stored?
Abilify should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container, away from moisture and heat. Keep Abilify Discmelt tablets in their foil blisters until just before use.
Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your Abilify as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
- Abilify 2 mg
- Abilify 5 mg
- Abilify 10 mg
- Abilify 15 mg
- Abilify 20 mg
- Abilify 30 mg.
Abilify Discmelt orally disintegrating tablets are available in the following strengths:
- Abilify Discmelt 10 mg
- Abilify Discmelt 15 mg.
A liquid form of the medicine is available and contains 1 mg of Abilify per mL.
An injectable form is also available and is approved to treat agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania.
Are There Any Alternatives?
Mood stabilizer bipolar medications, which can also be used as alternatives to Abilify for treating bipolar disorder, include:
There are several different alternatives to Abilify that can be used along with antidepressants for the treatment of major depression. There are only a few other medications approved for treating autistic disorder symptoms at this time.
Not all of the medications listed here are approved to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. However, they are commonly used " off-label" to treat these conditions.
No generic versions of Abilify are currently licensed for sale (see Generic Abilify for more information).
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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