Aripiprazole

Indications & Dose:

Maintenance in schizophrenia in patients stabilised with oral aripiprazole

INITIALLY BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION

Adult: 400 mg every month, to be injected into the gluteal muscle, minimum of 26 days between injections, for dose adjustment due to side effects or concomitant use of interacting drugs, consult product literature and (by mouth) 10–20 mg daily continued for 14 consecutive days after the first injection, for missed depot doses consult product literature

Schizophrenia

BY MOUTH

Adult: 10–15 mg once daily; usual dose 15 mg once daily (max. per dose 30 mg once daily), for dose adjustments due to concomitant use of interacting  drugs—consult product literature

Treatment and recurrence prevention of mania

BY MOUTH

Adult: 15 mg once daily, increased if necessary up to 30 mg once daily, for dose adjustments due to concomitant use of interacting drugs consult product  literature Control of agitation and disturbed behaviour in

schizophrenia

BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION

Adult: Initially 5.25–15 mg for 1 dose, alternatively usual dose 9.75 mg for 1 dose, followed by 5.25–15 mg after 2 hours if required, maximum 3 injections daily; maximum daily combined oral and parenteral dose 30 mg, for dose adjustments due to concomitant use of interacting drugs—consult product literature

Contraindications:

CNS depression .comatose state .phaeochromocytoma

Side Effects:

GENERAL SIDE-EFFECTS

Common or very common Anxiety .hypersalivation .malaise Uncommon Depression .dry mouth

Frequency not known Alopecia .anorexia .bradycardia .hepatitis .hyponatraemia .infection .laryngospasm .myalgia .oedema .oropharyngeal 

spasm . pancreatitis .pathological gambling . respiratory disorders . rhabdomyolysis .suicidal ideation . sweating .urinary disorders

SPECIFIC SIDE-EFFECTS

With intramuscular use Erythema .nodules .pain at injection site . swelling

SIDE-EFFECTS, FURTHER INFORMATION

With intramuscular use If the dose needs to be reduced to alleviate side-effects, it is important to recognise that the

plasma-drug concentration may not fall for some time after reducing the dose of the depot injection, therefore it may be a month or longer

before side-effects subside

Cautions:

GENERAL CAUTIONS

Cerebrovascular disease .elderly (reduce initial dose)

SPECIFIC CAUTIONS

With intramuscular use when transferring from oral to depot therapy, the dose by mouth should be reduced gradually

Precautions:

Interaction:

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

PREGNANCY Use only if potential benefit outweighs risk.

BREAST FEEDINGAvoid—present in milk.

HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT Use with caution in severe impairment (oral treatment preferred to intramuscular administration).

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

Patient And Carer Advice: