FDA Warnings for Abilify (Aripiprazole)

HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION FOR ABILIFY (ARIPIPRAZOLE)M THE ANTI-PSCYHOTIC MEDICATION

These highlights do not include all the information needed to use ABILIFY safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for ABILIFY.

ABILIFY® (aripiprazole) Tablets

ABILIFY DISCMELT® (aripiprazole) Orally Disintegrating Tablets

ABILIFY® (aripiprazole) Oral Solution

ABILIFY® (aripiprazole) Injection FOR INTRAMUSCULAR USE ONLY

Initial U.S. Approval: 2002

BLACK BOX WARNING:

WARNINGS: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED

PSYCHOSIS and SUICIDALITY AND ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS

See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.

• Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic

drugs are at an increased risk of death. ABILIFY is not approved for the

treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. (5.1)

• Children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants for Major

Depressive Disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders are at increased

risk of suicidal thinking and behavior. (5.2)

 

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – RECENT MAJOR CHANGES – - – - – - – - – - –

Boxed Warning, Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs 11/2007

Boxed Warning, Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis 08/2008

Indications and Usage, Adolescent (13 to 17 years) Schizophrenia (1.1) 05/2008

Adjunctive Therapy (Lithium or Valproate) in Adult and 05/2008

Pediatric (10 to 17 years) Patients with Bipolar Mania (1.2)

Pediatric (10 to 17 years) Bipolar Mania (1.2) 05/2008

Adjunctive Treatment in Adults with MDD (1.3) 11/2007

Dosage and Administration, Adolescent Schizophrenia (2.1) 05/2008

15 mg starting dose in Bipolar Mania (2.2) 05/2008

Adjunctive Therapy (Lithium or Valproate) in Adult and 05/2008

Pediatric Patients with Bipolar Mania (2.2)

Pediatric Bipolar Mania (2.2) 05/2008

Adjunctive Treatment in Adults with MDD (2.3) 11/2007

Warnings and Precautions, Clinical Worsening of Depression and Suicide Risk (5.2) 11/2007

 

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - ADVERSE REACTIONS – - – - – - – - – - – -

Commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% and at least twice that for

placebo) were (6.2):

  • Adult patients with Schizophrenia: akathisia
  • Pediatric patients (13 to 17 years) with Schizophrenia: extrapyramidal disorder,

somnolence, and tremor

  • Adult patients (monotherapy) with Bipolar Mania: akathisia, sedation, restlessness,

tremor, and extrapyramidal disorder

  • Adult patients (adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate) with Bipolar Mania:

akathisia, insomnia, and extrapyramidal disorder

  • Pediatric patients (10 to 17 years) with Bipolar Mania: somnolence, extrapyramidal

disorder, fatigue, nausea, akathisia, blurred vision, salivary hypersecretion,

and dizziness

  • Adult patients with Major Depressive Disorder (adjunctive treatment to antidepressant

therapy): akathisia, restlessness, insomnia, constipation, fatigue, and

blurred vision

  • Adult patients with agitation associated with Schizophrenia or Bipolar Mania:

Nausea

 For full side effects click on the “Abilify” link to your left on this page.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

  • Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Increased incidence of

cerebrovascular adverse events (eg, stroke, transient ischemic attack, including

fatalities) (5.1)

  • Suicidality and Antidepressants: Increased risk of suicidality in children,

adolescents, and young adults with Major Depressive Disorder (5.2)

  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Manage with immediate discontinuation and

close monitoring (5.3)

  • Tardive Dyskinesia: Discontinue if clinically appropriate (5.4)
  • Hyperglycemia and Diabetes Mellitus: Monitor glucose regularly in patients with

and at risk for diabetes (5.5)

  • Orthostatic Hypotension: Use with caution in patients with known cardiovascular

or cerebrovascular disease (5.6)

  • Seizures/Convulsions: Use cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with

conditions that lower the seizure threshold (5.7)

  • Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: Use caution when operating

machinery – 5.8

  • Suicide: The possibility of a suicide attempt is inherent in Schizophrenia and

Bipolar Disorder. Closely supervise high-risk patients (5.10)

This list is a small portion of the warnngs on the FDA’s website.  You decide if you want to take the risk with your own life.  But if you are depressed you just might.  Huh?

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch and leave a comment on this blog for all to see.

All information posted in this writing is the opinion of the author and is provided for educational purposes only.  It is not to be construed as medical advice.  Only a licensed medical doctor can legally offer medical advice in the United States.  Consult the healer of your choice for medical care and advice.

 

 

This website may contain some copyrighted material. We reserve the right to reproduce such material under the Copyright Act, Title 17 US Code, Section 107, “Fair Use”, as we believe the public should be informed of such information so they can think for themselves rather than rely on advertisements and the word of others.http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107

Leave a Reply