Abilify Side Effects, Overdose and Pregnancy Information
Abilify side effects may include
tremor, twitching, rigidity,
restlessness, agitated and unable to sit still,
anxiety,
dizziness,
sleepiness,
headache,
blurred vision,
fatigue,
insomnia, constipation, indigestion, nausea and vomiting. Rare Abilify side effects may include tachycardia, sudden drop in blood pressure,
depression,
increase or decrease in body weight,
prolonged erection,
jaundice,
fever,
hyperglycemia and diabetes,
muscle pain,
abnormal heart beats, and
seizures.
ABILIFY SIDE EFFECTS REPORTING
If you experience any Abilify side effects not mentioned above you should report it to your primary health care provider or FDA 1-800-FDA-1088 in the United States, Health Canada 1-866-225-0709 in Canada, MHRA 020 3080 6000 in UK, or TGA 1800 020 653 in Australia.
Main ingredient in Abilify is Aripiprazole, a type of drug known as an atypical antipsychotic used primarily to treat Schizophrenia and is also used to treat moderate to severe episodes of mania in people with manic depression. In people whose manic episode is controlled with Abilify, the drug may also be used long-term as a mood stabilizer to prevent further manic episodes.
Abilify works by acting on dopamine and serotonin (5HT) receptors which are neurotransmitters and are involved in transmitting messages between nerve cells. Psychotic illness is believed to be caused by disturbances in the activity of neurotransmitters (primarily dopamine) in the brain. Abilify works mainly by stabilizing the dopamine activity in the brain.
Abilify may be given by injection intramuscularly if there is a need for fast control of agitation and disturbed behavior in people with schizophrenia, or manic episodes. Once behavior has been controlled, the treatment is usually switched to oral treatment with Abilify tablets or oral solution by mouth.
Abilify Overdose
Symptoms of Abilify overdose may include drowsiness,
Weakness,
Nausea,
Vomiting,
changes in heartbeat,
controllable movements,
confusion,
seizures, and
loss of consciousness. In case of Abilify overdose seek medical attention right away.
Abilify and Pregnancy
Abilify is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by the physician. Nursing mothers should switch to bottle-feed while using Abilify.
Abilify Warning and Caution
Abilify may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Abilify affects you.
If you feel sleepy or lightheaded while taking Abilify, these side effects are likely to get worse by alcohol.
Unless your physician tells you otherwise, you should not suddenly stop taking Abilify, even if you feel better and think you don't need it any more. This is because Abilify controls the symptoms of the illness but doesn't actually cure it.
Consult your physician right away if you experience abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw and tongue, while taking Abilify.
Consult your physician right away if you experience the following symptoms while taking Abilify: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, faster breathing and drowsiness or sleepiness. These symptoms may be due to a rare side effect known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and your treatment may need to be stopped.
Abilify should be used with caution in:
Seniors over 65 and older.
Severely decreased liver function.
Cardiovascular disease.
Cerebrovascular disease.
Low blood pressure.
High blood pressure (hypertension).
History of seizures.
Diabetes.
Obesity.
Difficulty swallowing.
Abilify should not be given to children under the age of 18.
Abilify is not recommended for treating psychosis in elderly people with dementia, e.g. Alzheimer's disease, as it may increase the risk of stroke or death.
Abilify tablets contain lactose.
Abilify oral solution contains fructose and sucrose.
Abilify Interaction
Abilify may enhance the blood pressure-lowering effects of certain drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
There may be an increased chance of feeling sleepy if this medicine is taken in combination with alcohol or drugs that can make you drowsy, such as the following:
Tricyclic antidepressants.
Narcotic painkillers, e.g. morphine, codeine.
Benzodiazepines.
Sedating antihistamines.
Sleeping pills.
The following drugs may increase the amount of Abilify in your blood:
Fluoxetine
HIV protease inhibitors
Itraconazole
Ketoconazole
Paroxetine
Quinidine.
The following drugs may decrease the amount of Abilify in your blood:
Carbamazepine
Efavirenz
Nevirapine
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin
Primidone
Rifabutin
Rifampicin
(herb) St. John's Wort.
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