Aripiprazole (aripiprazole 2 mg) Dailymed
Generic: aripiprazole is used for the treatment of Schizophrenia
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Boxed Warning
Warning: Increased Mortality In Elderly Patients With Dementia-related Psychosis And Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors With Antidepressant Drugs
- Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Aripiprazole is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. (
5.1 ) - Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants. Monitor for worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. (
5.3 )
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Warning: Increased Mortality In Elderly Patients With Dementia-related Psychosis And Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors With Antidepressant Drugs
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Aripiprazole is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies. These studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in patients over age 24 years; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressant use in patients aged 65 years and older [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. In patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy, monitor closely for worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Advise families and caregivers of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS WITH 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. Aripiprazole is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. (
5.1 )- Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants. Monitor for worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. (
5.3 )
1 Indications & Usage
Aripiprazole Oral Tablets, are indicated for the treatment of:
- Schizophrenia
- Acute Treatment of Manic and Mixed Episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder
- Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
- Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder
- Treatment of Tourette’s Disorder
Aripiprazole tablets are an atypical antipsychotic. The oral formulation is indicated for:
- Schizophrenia (
14.1 )- Acute Treatment of Manic and Mixed Episodes associated with Bipolar I (
14.2 )- Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (
14.3 )- Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder (
14.4 )- Treatment of Tourette’s disorder (
14.5 )
2 Dosage And Administration
InitialDose RecommendedDose MaximumDose Schizophrenia – adults ( 2.1 )10 to 15mg/day 10 to 15 mg/day 30mg/day Schizophrenia – adolescents( 2.1 )2 mg/day 10 mg/day 30mg/day Bipolar mania – adults: monotherapy( 2.2 )15 mg/day 15 mg/day 30mg/day Bipolar mania – adults: adjunct tolithium or valproate ( 2.2 )10 to 15mg/day 15 mg/day 30mg/day Bipolar mania – pediatric patients:monotherapy or as an adjunct to lithium or valproate ( 2.2 )2 mg/day 10 mg/day 30mg/day Major Depressive Disorder – adults:adjunct to antidepressants ( 2.3 )2 to 5 mg/day 5 to 10 mg/day 15mg/day Irritability associated with autisticdisorder – pediatric patients ( 2.4 )2 mg/day 5 to 10 mg/day 15mg/day Tourette’sdisorder – ( 2.5 )Patients < 50 kg 2 mg/day 5 mg/day 10mg/day Patients ≥ 50 kg 2 mg/day 10 mg/day 20mg/day
• Oral formulations: Administer once daily without regard to meals (2 ) • Known CYP2D6 poor metabolizers: Half of the usual dose (2.7 )
2.1 Schizophrenia
Adults The recommended starting and target dose for aripiprazole is 10 or 15 mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals. Aripiprazole has been systematically evaluated and shown to be effective in a dose range of 10 to 30 mg/day, when administered as the tablet formulation; however, doses higher than 10 or 15 mg/day were not more effective than 10 or 15 mg/day. Dosage increases should generally not be made before 2 weeks, the time needed to achieve steady-state [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Maintenance Treatment: Maintenance of efficacy in schizophrenia was demonstrated in a trial involving patients with schizophrenia who had been symptomatically stable on other antipsychotic medications for periods of 3 months or longer. These patients were discontinued from those medications and randomized to either aripiprazole 15 mg/day or placebo, and observed for relapse [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the continued need for maintenance treatment. Adolescents The recommended target dose of aripiprazole is 10 mg/day. Aripiprazole was studied in adolescent patients 13 to 17 years of age with schizophrenia at daily doses of 10 and 30 mg. The starting daily dose of the tablet formulation in these patients was 2 mg, which was titrated to 5 mg after 2 days and to the target dose of 10 mg after 2 additional days. Subsequent dose increases should be administered in 5 mg increments. The 30 mg/day dose was not shown to be more efficacious than the 10 mg/day dose. Aripiprazole can be administered without regard to meals [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for maintenance treatment. Switching from Other Antipsychotics There are no systematically collected data to specifically address switching patients with schizophrenia from other antipsychotics to aripiprazole or concerning concomitant administration with other antipsychotics. While immediate discontinuation of the previous antipsychotic treatment may be acceptable for some patients with schizophrenia, more gradual discontinuation may be most appropriate for others. In all cases, the period of overlapping antipsychotic administration should be minimized.
2.2 Bipolar I Disorder
Acute Treatment of Manic and Mixed Episodes Adults: The recommended starting dose in adults is 15 mg given once daily as monotherapy and 10 mg to 15 mg given once daily as adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate. Aripiprazole can be given without regard to meals. The recommended target dose of aripiprazole is 15 mg/ day, as monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate. The dose may be increased to 30 mg/day based on clinical response. The safety of doses above 30 mg/day has not been evaluated in clinical trials. Pediatrics: The recommended starting dose in pediatric patients (10 to 17 years) as monotherapy is 2 mg/day, with titration to 5 mg/day after 2 days, and a target dose of 10 mg/day after 2 additional days. Recommended dosing as adjunctive therapy to lithium or valproate is the same. Subsequent dose increases, if needed, should be administered in 5 mg/day increments. Aripiprazole can be given without regard to meals [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].
2.3 Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Adults
The recommended starting dose for aripiprazole as adjunctive treatment for patients already taking an antidepressant is 2 to 5 mg/day. The recommended dosage range is 2 to 15 mg/day. Dosage adjustments of up to 5 mg/day should occur gradually, at intervals of no less than one week [see Clinical Studies (14.3)]. Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the continued need for maintenance treatment.
2.4 Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder
Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years)
The recommended dosage range for the treatment of pediatric patients with irritability associated with autistic disorder is 5 to 15 mg/day.
Dosing should be initiated at 2 mg/day. The dose should be increased to 5 mg/day, with subsequent increases to 10 or 15 mg/day if needed. Dose adjustments of up to 5 mg/day should occur gradually, at intervals of no less than one week [see Clinical Studies (14.4)]. Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the continued need for maintenance treatment.
2.5 Tourettes Disorder
Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years)
The recommended dosage range for Tourette’s Disorder is 5 to 20 mg/day.
For patients weighing less than 50 kg, dosing should be initiated at 2 mg/day with a target dose of 5 mg/day after 2 days. The dose can be increased to 10 mg/day in patients who do not achieve optimal control of tics. Dosage adjustments should occur gradually at intervals of no less than one week.
For patients weighing 50 kg or more, dosing should be initiated at 2 mg/day for 2 days, and then increased to 5 mg/day for 5 days, with a target dose of 10 mg/day on Day 8. The dose can be increased up to 20 mg/day for patients who do not achieve optimal control of tics. Dosage adjustments should occur gradually in increments of 5 mg/day at intervals of no less than one week [see Clinical Studies (14.5)].
Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the continued need for maintenance treatment.
2.7 Dosage Adjustments for Cytochrome P450 Considerations
Dosage adjustments are recommended in patients who are known CYP2D6 poor metabolizers and in patients taking concomitant CYP3A4 inhibitors or CYP2D6 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inducers (see Table 2). When the coadministered drug is withdrawn from the combination therapy, aripiprazole dosage should then be adjusted to its original level. When the coadministered CYP3A4 inducer is withdrawn, aripiprazole dosage should be reduced to the original level over 1 to 2 weeks. Patients who may be receiving a combination of strong, moderate, and weak inhibitors of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 (e.g., a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor and a moderate CYP2D6 inhibitor or a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor with a moderate CYP2D6 inhibitor), the dosing may be reduced to one-quarter (25%) of the usual dose initially and then adjusted to achieve a favorable clinical response.
Table 2: Dose Adjustments for Aripiprazole in Patients who are known CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers and Patients Taking Concomitant CYP2D6 Inhibitors, 3A4 Inhibitors, and/or CYP3A4 Inducers
Factors Dosage Adjustments for Aripiprazole Known CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers Administer half of usual dose Known CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers taking concomitant strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole, clarithromycin) Administer a quarter of usual dose Strong CYP2D6 (e.g., quinidine, fluoxetine, paroxetine) or CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole, clarithromycin) Administer half of usual dose Strong CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors Administer a quarter of usual dose Strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., carbamazepine, rifampin) Double usual dose over 1 to 2 weeks
When adjunctive aripiprazole is administered to patients with major depressive disorder, aripiprazole should be administered without dosage adjustment as specified in Dosage and Administration (2.3).
3 Dosage Forms & Strengths
Aripiprazole Tablets,USP are available as described in 3. Table 3: Aripiprazole Tablet Presentations
Tablet Strength Tablet Color/Shape Tablet Markings 2 mg green modified rectangle “ARI” and “2” 5 mg blue modified rectangle “ARI” and “5” 10 mg pink modified rectangle “ARI” and “10” 15 mg yellow round “ARI” and “15” 20 mg White to off-white round “ARI” and “20” 30 mg pink round “ARI” and “30”
• Tablets: 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30mg (3 )
4 Contraindications
Aripiprazole Tablets is contraindicated in patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to aripiprazole. Reactions have ranged from pruritus/urticaria to anaphylaxis [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].
- Known hypersensitivity to aripiprazole (
4 )
5 Warnings And Precautions
• Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Increased incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack, including fatalities) (5.2 )
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Manage with immediate discontinuation and close monitoring (5.4 )
• Tardive Dyskinesia: Discontinue if clinically appropriate (5.5 )
• Metabolic Changes: Atypical antipsychotic drugs have been associated with metabolic changes that include hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and body weight gain (5.6 )
- Hyperglycemia/Diabetes Mellitus: Monitor glucose regularly in patients with and at risk for diabetes (
5.6 )
- Dyslipidemia: Undesirable alterations in lipid levels have been observed in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics (
5.6 )
- Weight Gain: Weight gain has been observed with atypical antipsychotic use. Monitor weight (
5.6 )
- Pathological Gambling and Other Compulsive Behaviors: Consider dose reduction or discontinuation (
5.7 )
• Orthostatic Hypotension: Monitor heart rate and blood pressure and warn patients with known cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, and risk of dehydration or syncope (5.8 )
• Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis: have been reported with antipsychotics including aripiprazole. Patients with a history of a clinically significant low white blood cell count (WBC) or a drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia should have their complete blood count (CBC) monitored frequently during the first few months of therapy and
discontinuation of aripiprazole tablets should be considered at the first sign of a clinically significant decline in WBC in the absence of other causative factors (5.10 )
• Seizures/Convulsions: Use cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold (5.11 )
• Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: Use caution when operating machinery (5.12 )
• Suicide: The possibility of a suicide attempt is inherent in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Closely supervise high-risk patients (5.14 )
5.1 Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis
Increased Mortality Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Aripiprazole is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Boxed Warning]. Safety Experience in Elderly Patients with Psychosis Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease In three, 10 week, placebo-controlled studies of aripiprazole in elderly patients with psychosis associated with Alzheimer’s disease (n=938; mean age: 82.4 years; range: 56 to 99 years), the adverse reactions that were reported at an incidence of ≥3% and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo were lethargy [placebo 2%, aripiprazole 5%], somnolence (including sedation) [placebo 3%, aripiprazole 8%], and incontinence (primarily, urinary incontinence) [placebo 1%, aripiprazole 5%], excessive salivation [placebo 0%, aripiprazole 4%], and lightheadedness [placebo 1%, aripiprazole 4%].The safety and efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of patients with psychosis associated with dementia have not been established. If the prescriber elects to treat such patients with aripiprazole, assess for the emergence of difficulty swallowing or excessive somnolence, which could predispose to accidental injury or aspiration [see Boxed Warning].
5.2 Cerebrovascular Adverse Events, Including Stroke
In placebo-controlled clinical studies (two flexible dose and one fixed dose study) of dementia-related psychosis, there was an increased incidence of cerebrovascular adverse events (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack), including fatalities, in aripiprazole-treated patients (mean age: 84 years; range: 78 to 88 years). In the fixed-dose study, there was a statistically significant dose response relationship for cerebrovascular adverse events in patients treated with aripiprazole. Aripiprazole is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Boxed Warning ].
5.3 Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), both adult and pediatric, may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality) or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until significant remission occurs. Suicide is a known risk of depression and certain other psychiatric disorders, and these disorders themselves are the strongest predictors of suicide. There has been a long-standing concern, however, that antidepressants may have a role in inducing worsening of depression and the emergence of suicidality in certain patients during the early phases of treatment. Pooled analyses of short-term, placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant drugs (SSRIs and others) showed that these drugs increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 18 to 24 years ) with MDD and other psychiatric disorders. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24 years; there was a reduction with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 years and older.The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled trials in children and adolescents with MDD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 24 short-term trials of 9 antidepressant drugs in over 4400 patients. The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled trials in adults with MDD or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 295 short-term trials (median duration of 2 months) of 11 antidepressant drugs in over 77,000 patients. There was considerable variation in risk of suicidality among drugs, but a tendency toward an increase in the younger patients for almost all drugs studied. There were differences in absolute risk of suicidality across the different indications, with the highest incidence in MDD. The risk differences (drug vs. placebo), however, were relatively stable within age strata and across indications. These risk differences (drug- placebo difference in the number of cases of suicidality per 1,000 patients treated) are provided in Table 5.
Table 5:
Age Range Drug-Placebo Difference in Number of Cases of Suicidality per 1,000 Patients Treated Increases Compared to Placebo <18 14 additional cases 18 to 24 5 additional cases Decreases Compared to Placebo 25 to 64 1 fewer case ≥65 6 fewer cases
No suicides occurred in any of the pediatric trials. There were suicides in the adult trials, but the number was not sufficient to reach any conclusion about drug effect on suicide.It is unknown whether the suicidality risk extends to longer-term use, i.e., beyond several months. However, there is substantial evidence from placebo-controlled maintenance trials in adults with depression that the use of antidepressants can delay the recurrence of depression. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases. The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for MDD as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric. Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established, there is concern that such symptoms may represent precursors to emerging suicidality.Consideration should be given to changing the therapeutic regimen, including possibly discontinuing the medication, in patients whose depression is persistently worse, or who are experiencing emergent suicidality or symptoms that might be precursors to worsening depression or suicidality, especially if these symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms. Families and caregivers of patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder or other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric, should be alerted about the need to monitor patients for the emergence of agitation, irritability, unusual changes in behavior, and the other symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidality, and to report such symptoms immediately to healthcare providers. Such monitoring should include daily observation by families and caregivers. Prescriptions for aripiprazole should be written for the smallest quantity of tablets consistent with good patient management, in order to reduce the risk of overdose. Screening Patients for Bipolar Disorder: A major depressive episode may be the initial presentation of bipolar disorder. It is generally believed (though not established in controlled trials) that treating such an episode with an antidepressant alone may increase the likelihood of precipitation of a mixed/manic episode in patients at risk for bipolar disorder. Whether any of the symptoms described above represent such a conversion is unknown. However, prior to initiating treatment with an antidepressant, patients with depressive symptoms should be adequately screened to determine if they are at risk for bipolar disorder; such screening should include a detailed psychiatric history, including a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, and depression. It should be noted that aripiprazole is not approved for use in treating depression in the pediatric population.
5.4 Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
A potentially fatal symptom complex sometimes referred to as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) may occur with administration of antipsychotic drugs, including aripiprazole. Rare cases of NMS occurred during aripiprazole treatment in the worldwide clinical database. Clinical manifestations of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and evidence of autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevated creatine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure.The diagnostic evaluation of patients with this syndrome is complicated. In arriving at a diagnosis, it is important to exclude cases where the clinical presentation includes both serious medical illness (e.g., pneumonia, systemic infection) and untreated or inadequately treated extrapyramidal signs and symptoms (EPS). Other important considerations in the differential diagnosis include central anticholinergic toxicity, heat stroke, drug fever, and primary central nervous system pathology.The management of NMS should include: 1) immediate discontinuation of antipsychotic drugs and other drugs not essential to concurrent therapy; 2) intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring; and 3) treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems for which specific treatments are available. There is no general agreement about specific pharmacological treatment regimens for uncomplicated NMS.If a patient requires antipsychotic drug treatment after recovery from NMS, the potential reintroduction of drug therapy should be carefully considered. The patient should be carefully monitored since recurrences of NMS have been reported.
5.5 Tardive Dyskinesia
A syndrome of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. Although the prevalence of the syndrome appears to be highest among the elderly, especially elderly women, it is impossible to rely upon prevalence estimates to predict, at the inception of antipsychotic treatment, which patients are likely to develop the syndrome. Whether antipsychotic drug products differ in their potential to cause tardive dyskinesia is unknown.The risk of developing tardive dyskinesia and the likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase as the duration of treatment and the total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs administered to the patient increase. However, the syndrome can develop, although much less commonly, after relatively brief treatment periods at low doses.Tardive dyskinesia may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn. Antipsychotic treatment, itself, however, may suppress (or partially suppress) the signs and symptoms of the syndrome and, thereby, may possibly mask the underlying process. The effect that symptomatic suppression has upon the long-term course of the syndrome is unknown.
Given these considerations, aripiprazole should be prescribed in a manner that is most likely to minimize the occurrence of tardive dyskinesia. Chronic antipsychotic treatment should generally be reserved for patients who suffer from a chronic illness that (1) is known to respond to antipsychotic drugs and (2) for whom alternative, equally effective, but potentially less harmful treatments are not available or appropriate. In patients who do require chronic treatment, the smallest dose and the shortest duration of treatment producing a satisfactory clinical response should be sought. The need for continued treatment should be reassessed periodically.
If signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear in a patient on aripiprazole, drug discontinuation should be considered. However, some patients may require treatment with aripiprazole despite the presence of the syndrome.
5.6 Metabolic Changes
Atypical antipsychotic drugs have been associated with metabolic changes that include hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and body weight gain. While all drugs in the class have been shown to produce some metabolic changes, each drug has its own specific risk profile.
Hyperglycemia/Diabetes Mellitus
Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. There have been reports of hyperglycemia in patients treated with aripiprazole [see Adverse Reactions (6.1, 6.2)]. Assessment of the relationship between atypical antipsychotic use and glucose abnormalities is complicated by the possibility of an increased background risk of diabetes mellitus in patients with schizophrenia and the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus in the general population. Given these confounders, the relationship between atypical antipsychotic use and hyperglycemia-related adverse events is not completely understood. However, epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk of hyperglycemia-related adverse reactions in patients treated with the atypical antipsychotics. Because aripiprazole was not marketed at the time these studies were performed, it is not known if aripiprazole is associated with this increased risk. Precise risk estimates for hyperglycemia-related adverse reactions in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics are not available.
Patients with an established diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who are started on atypical antipsychotics should be monitored regularly for worsening of glucose control. Patients with risk factors for diabetes mellitus (e.g., obesity, family history of diabetes) who are starting treatment with atypical antipsychotics should undergo fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of treatment and periodically during treatment. Any patient treated with atypical antipsychotics should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemia including polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weakness. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemia during treatment with atypical antipsychotics should undergo fasting blood glucose testing. In some cases, hyperglycemia has resolved when the atypical antipsychotic was discontinued; however, some patients required continuation of anti-diabetic treatment despite discontinuation of the suspect drug.
Adults
In an analysis of 13 placebo-controlled monotherapy trials in adults, primarily with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the mean change in fasting glucose in aripiprazole- treated patients (+4.4 mg/dL; median exposure 25 days; N=1,057) was not significantly different than in placebo-treated patients (+2.5 mg/dL; median exposure 22 days; N=799). Table 6 shows the proportion of aripiprazole-treated patients with normal and borderline fasting glucose at baseline (median exposure 25 days) that had treatment- emergent high fasting glucose measurements compared to placebo-treated patients (median exposure 22 days).
Table 6: Changes in Fasting Glucose from Placebo-Controlled Monotherapy Trials in Adult Patients
Category Change (at least once) from Baseline Treatment Arm n/N % Fasting Glucose Normal to High (<100 mg/dL to ≥126 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 31/822 3.8 Placebo 22/605 3.6 Borderline to High (≥100 mg/dL and <126 mg/dL to ≥126 mg/dL ) Aripiprazole 31/176 17.6 Placebo 13/142 9.2
At 24 weeks, the mean change in fasting glucose in aripiprazole-treated patients was not significantly different than in placebo-treated patients [+2.2 mg/dL (n=42) and +9.6 mg/dL (n=28), respectively].
The mean change in fasting glucose in adjunctive aripiprazole-treated patients with major depressive disorder (+0.7 mg/dL; median exposure 42 days; N=241) was not significantly different than in placebo-treated patients (+0.8 mg/dL; median exposure 42 days; N=246). Table 7 shows the proportion of adult patients with changes in fasting glucose levels from two placebo-controlled, adjunctive trials (median exposure 42 days) in patients with major depressive disorder.
Table 7: Changes in Fasting Glucose from Placebo-Controlled Adjunctive Trials in Adult Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Category Change (at least once) from Baseline Treatment Arm n/N % Fasting Glucose Normal to High (<100 mg/dL to ≥126 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 2/201 1.0 Placebo 2/204 1.0 Borderline to High (≥100 mg/dL and <126 mg/dL to ≥126 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 4/34 11.8 Placebo 3/37 8.1
Pediatric Patients and Adolescents
In an analysis of two placebo-controlled trials in adolescents with schizophrenia (13 to 17 years) and pediatric patients with bipolar disorder (10 to 17 years), the mean change in fasting glucose in aripiprazole-treated patients (+4.8 mg/dL; with a median exposure of 43 days; N=259) was not significantly different than in placebo-treated patients (+1.7 mg/dL; with a median exposure of 42 days; N=123).
In an analysis of two placebo-controlled trials in pediatric and adolescent patients with irritability associated with autistic disorder (6 to 17 years) with median exposure of 56 days, the mean change in fasting glucose in aripiprazole-treated patients (–0.2 mg/dL; N=83) was not significantly different than in placebo-treated patients (–0.6 mg/dL; N=33). In an analysis of two placebo-controlled trials in pediatric and adolescent patients with Tourette’s disorder (6 to 18 years) with median exposure of 57 days, the mean change in fasting glucose in aripiprazole-treated patients (0.79 mg/dL; N=90) was not significantly different than in placebo-treated patients (–1.66 mg/dL; N=58).
Table 8 shows the proportion of patients with changes in fasting glucose levels from the pooled adolescent schizophrenia and pediatric bipolar patients (median exposure of 42 to 43 days), from two placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients (6 to 17 years) with irritability associated with autistic disorder (median exposure of 56 days), and from the two placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients (6 to 18 year) with Tourette’s Disorder (median exposure 57 days).
Table 8: Changes in Fasting Glucose from Placebo-Controlled Trials in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients
Category Change (at least once) from Baseline Indication Treatment Arm n/N % Fasting Glucose Normal to High (<100 mg/dL to ≥126 mg/dL) Pooled Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Aripiprazole 2/236 0.8 Placebo 2/110 1.8 Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder Aripiprazole 0/73 0 Placebo 0/32 0 Tourette’s Disorder Aripiprazole 3/88 3.4 Placebo 1/58 1.7 Fasting Glucose Borderline to High (≥100 mg/dL and <126 mg/dL to ≥126 mg/dL) Pooled Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Aripiprazole 1/22 4.5 Placebo 0/12 0 Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder Aripiprazole 0/9 0 Placebo 0/1 0 Tourette’s Disorder Aripiprazole 0/11 0 Placebo 0/4 0
At 12 weeks in the pooled adolescent schizophrenia and pediatric bipolar disorder trials, the mean change in fasting glucose in aripiprazole-treated patients was not significantly different than in placebo-treated patients [+2.4 mg/dL (n=81) and +0.1 mg/dL (n=15), respectively].
Dyslipidemia
Undesirable alterations in lipids have been observed in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. There were no significant differences between aripiprazole- and placebo-treated patients in the proportion with changes from normal to clinically significant levels for fasting/nonfasting total cholesterol, fasting triglycerides, fasting LDLs, and fasting/nonfasting HDLs. Analyses of patients with at least 12 or 24 weeks of exposure were limited by small numbers of patients.
Adults
Table 9 shows the proportion of adult patients, primarily from pooled schizophrenia and bipolar disorder monotherapy placebo-controlled trials, with changes in total cholesterol (pooled from 17 trials; median exposure 21 to 25 days), fasting triglycerides (pooled from eight trials; median exposure 42 days), fasting LDL cholesterol (pooled from eight trials; median exposure 39 to 45 days, except for placebo-treated patients with baseline normal fasting LDL measurements, who had median treatment exposure of 24 days) and HDL cholesterol (pooled from nine trials; median exposure 40 to 42 days).
Table 9: Changes in Blood Lipid Parameters from Placebo-Controlled Monotherapy Trials in Adults
Treatment Arm n/N % Total Cholesterol Normal to High (<200 mg/dL to ≥240 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 34/1,357 2.5 Placebo 27/973 2.8 Fasting Triglycerides Normal to High (<150 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 40/539 7.4 Placebo 30/431 7.0 Fasting LDL Cholesterol Normal to High (<100 mg/dL to ≥160 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 2/332 0.6 Placebo 2/268 0.7 HDL Cholesterol Normal to Low (≥40 mg/dL to <40 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 121/1,066 11.4 Placebo 99/794 12.5
In monotherapy trials in adults, the proportion of patients at 12 weeks and 24 weeks with changes from Normal to High in total cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting), fasting triglycerides, and fasting LDL cholesterol were similar between aripiprazole- and placebo-treated patients: at 12 weeks, Total Cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting), 1/71 (1.4%) vs. 3/74 (4.1%); Fasting Triglycerides, 8/62 (12.9%) vs. 5/37 (13.5%); Fasting LDL Cholesterol, 0/34 (0%) vs. 1/25 (4.0%), respectively; and at 24 weeks, Total Cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting), 1/42 (2.4%) vs. 3/37 (8.1%); Fasting Triglycerides, 5/34 (14.7%) vs. 5/20 (25%); Fasting LDL Cholesterol, 0/22 (0%) vs. 1/18 (5.6%), respectively.
Table 10 shows the proportion of patients with changes in total cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting), fasting triglycerides, fasting LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol from two placebo-controlled adjunctive trials in adult patients with major depressive disorder (median exposure 42 days). Table 10: Changes in Blood Lipid Parameters from Placebo-Controlled Adjunctive Trials in Adult Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Treatment Arm n/N % Total Cholesterol Normal to High(<200 mg/dL to ≥240 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 3/139 2.2 Placebo 7/135 5.2 Fasting Triglycerides Normal to High(<150 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 14/145 9.7 Placebo 6/147 4.1 Fasting LDL Cholesterol Normal to High(<100 mg/dL to ≥160 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 0/54 0 Placebo 0/73 0 HDL Cholesterol Normal to Low(≥40 mg/dL to <40 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 17/318 5.3 Placebo 10/286 3.5
Pediatric Patients and Adolescents
Table 11 shows the proportion of adolescents with schizophrenia (13 to 17 years) and pediatric patients with bipolar disorder (10 to 17 years) with changes in total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol (pooled from two placebo-controlled trials; median exposure 42 to 43 days) and fasting triglycerides (pooled from two placebo-controlled trials; median exposure 42 to 44 days).
Table 11: Changes in Blood Lipid Parameters from Placebo-Controlled Monotherapy Trials in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Treatment Arm n/N % Total Cholesterol Normal to High (<170 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 3/220 1.4 Placebo 0/116 0 Fasting Triglycerides Normal to High (<150 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 7/187 3.7 Placebo 4/85 4.7 HDL Cholesterol Normal to Low (≥40 mg/dL to <40 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 27/236 11.4 Placebo 22/109 20.2
In monotherapy trials of adolescents with schizophrenia and pediatric patients with bipolar disorder, the proportion of patients at 12 weeks and 24 weeks with changes from Normal to High in total cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting), fasting triglycerides, and fasting LDL cholesterol were similar between aripiprazole- and placebo-treated patients: at 12 weeks, Total Cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting), 0/57 (0%) vs. 0/15 (0%); Fasting Triglycerides, 2/72 (2.8%) vs. 1/14 (7.1%), respectively; and at 24 weeks, Total Cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting), 0/36 (0%) vs. 0/12 (0%); Fasting Triglycerides, 1/47 (2.1%) vs. 1/10 (10.0%), respectively.
Table 12 shows the proportion of patients with changes in total cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting) and fasting triglycerides (median exposure 56 days) and HDL cholesterol (median exposure 55 to 56 days) from two placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients (6 to 17 years) with irritability associated with autistic disorder.
Table 12: Changes in Blood Lipid Parameters from Placebo-Controlled Trials in Pediatric Patients with Autistic Disorder
Treatment Arm n/N % Total Cholesterol Normal to High(<170 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 1/95 1.1 Placebo 0/34 0 Fasting Triglycerides Normal to High(<150 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 0/75 0 Placebo 0/30 0 HDL Cholesterol Normal to Low(≥40 mg/dL to <40 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 9/107 8.4 Placebo 5/49 10.2
Table 13 shows the proportion of patients with changes in total cholesterol (fasting/nonfasting) and fasting triglycerides (median exposure 57 days) and HDL cholesterol (median exposure 57 days) from two placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients (6 to 18 years) with Tourette’s Disorder.
Table 13: Changes in Blood Lipid Parameters from Placebo-Controlled Trials in Pediatric Patients with Tourette’s Disorder
Treatment Arm n/N % Total CholesterolNormal to High(<170 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 1/85 1.2 Placebo 0/46 0 Fasting TriglyceridesNormal to High(<150 mg/dL to ≥200 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 5/94 5.3 Placebo 2/55 3.6 HDL CholesterolNormal to Low(≥40 mg/dL to <40 mg/dL) Aripiprazole 4/108 3.7 Placebo 2/67 3.0
Weight Gain
Weight gain has been observed with atypical antipsychotic use. Clinical monitoring of weight is recommended.
Adults
In an analysis of 13 placebo-controlled monotherapy trials, primarily from pooled schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with a median exposure of 21 to 25 days, the mean change in body weight in aripiprazole-treated patients was +0.3 kg (N=1673) compared to –0.1 kg (N=1100) in placebo-controlled patients. At 24 weeks, the mean change from baseline in body weight in aripiprazole-treated patients was –1.5 kg (n=73) compared to –0.2 kg (n=46) in placebo-treated patients.
In the trials adding aripiprazole to antidepressants, patients first received 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment followed by 6 weeks of adjunctive aripiprazole or placebo in addition to their ongoing antidepressant treatment. The mean change in body weight in patients receiving adjunctive aripiprazole was +1.7 kg (N=347) compared to +0.4 kg (N=330) in patients receiving adjunctive placebo.
Table 14 shows the percentage of adult patients with weight gain ≥7% of body weight by indication.
Table 14: Percentage of Patients from Placebo-Controlled Trials in Adult Patients with Weight Gain ≥7% of Body Weight
Weight gain ≥ 7% of body weight Indication Treatment Arm N Patients n (%) Schizophrenia* Aripiprazole 852 69(8.1) Placebo 379 12 (3.2) Bipolar Mania† Aripiprazole 719 16 (2.2) Placebo 598 16 (2.7) Major Depressive Disorder (Adjunctive Therapy)‡ Aripiprazole 347 18 (5.2) Placebo 330 2 (0.6) *4 to 6 weeks duration †3 weeks duration. ‡6 weeks duration.
Pediatric Patients and Adolescents
In an analysis of two placebo-controlled trials in adolescents with schizophrenia (13 to 17 years) and pediatric patients with bipolar disorder (10 to 17 years) with median exposure of 42 to 43 days, the mean change in body weight in aripiprazole-treated patients was +1.6 kg (N=381) compared to +0.3 kg (N=187) in placebo-treated patients. At 24 weeks, the mean change from baseline in body weight in aripiprazole-treated patients was +5.8 kg (n=62) compared to +1.4 kg (n=13) in placebo-treated patients.
In two short-term, placebo-controlled trials in patients (6 to 17 years) with irritability associated with autistic disorder with median exposure of 56 days, the mean change in body weight in aripiprazole-treated patients was +1.6 kg (n=209) compared to +0.4 kg (n=98) in placebo-treated patients.
In two short-term, placebo-controlled trials in patients (6 to 18 years) with Tourette’s Disorder with median exposure of 57 days, the mean change in body weight in aripiprazole-treated patients was +1.5 kg (n=105) compared to +0.4 kg (n=66) in placebo-treated patients.
Table 15 shows the percentage of pediatric and adolescent patients with weight gain ≥7% of body weight by indication.
Table 15: Percentage of Patients from Placebo-Controlled Monotherapy Trials in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Weight Gain ≥7% of Body Weight
Indication Treatment Arm N Patients n (%) Weight gain ≥ 7% of body weight Pooled Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mania* Aripiprazole 381 20 (5.2) Placebo 187 3 (1.6) Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder† Aripiprazole 209 55 (26.3) Placebo 98 7 (7.1) Tourette’s Disorder‡ Aripiprazole 105 21 (20.0) Placebo 66 5 (7.6) * 4 to 6 weeks duration †8 weeks duration. ‡ 8 to10 weeks duration.
In an open-label trial that enrolled patients from the two placebo-controlled trials of adolescents with schizophrenia (13 to 17 years) and pediatric patients with bipolar disorder (10 to 17 years), 73.2% of patients (238/325) completed 26 weeks of therapy with aripiprazole. After 26 weeks, 32.8% of patients gained ≥7% of their body weight, not adjusted for normal growth. To adjust for normal growth, z-scores were derived (measured in standard deviations [SD]), which normalize for the natural growth of pediatric patients and adolescents by comparisons to age- and gender-matched population standards. A z-score change <0.5 SD is considered not clinically significant. After 26 weeks, the mean change in z-score was 0.09 SD.
In an open-label trial that enrolled patients from two short-term, placebo-controlled trials, patients (6 to 17 years) with irritability associated with autistic disorder, as well as de novo patients, 60.3% (199/330) completed one year of therapy with aripiprazole. The mean change in weight z-score was 0.26 SDs for patients receiving greater than 9 months of treatment.
When treating pediatric patients for any indication, weight gain should be monitored and assessed against that expected for normal growth.
5.7 Pathological Gambling and Other Compulsive Behaviors
Post-marketing case reports suggest that patients can experience intense urges, particularly for gambling, and the inability to control these urges while taking aripiprazole. Other compulsive urges, reported less frequently, include sexual urges, shopping, eating or binge eating, and other impulsive or compulsive behaviors. Because patients may not recognize these behaviors as abnormal, it is important for prescribers to ask patients or their caregivers specifically about the development of new or intense gambling urges, compulsive sexual urges, compulsive shopping, binge or compulsive eating, or other urges while being treated with aripiprazole. It should be noted that impulse-control symptoms can be associated with the underlying disorder. In some cases, although not all, urges were reported to have stopped when the dose was reduced, or the medication was discontinued. Compulsive behaviors may result in harm to the patient and others if not recognized. Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges.
5.8 Orthostatic Hypotension
Aripiprazole may cause orthostatic hypotension, perhaps due to its α1-adrenergic receptor antagonism. The incidence of orthostatic hypotension-associated events from short-term, placebo-controlled trials of adult patients on oral aripiprazole (n=2,467) included (aripiprazole incidence, placebo incidence) orthostatic hypotension (1%, 0.3%), postural dizziness (0.5%, 0.3%), and syncope (0.5%, 0.4%); of pediatric patients 6 to 18 years of age (n=732) on oral aripiprazole included orthostatic hypotension (0.5%, 0%), postural dizziness (0.4%, 0%), and syncope (0.2%, 0%) [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
The incidence of a significant orthostatic change in blood pressure (defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure ≥20 mmHg accompanied by an increase in heart rate ≥25 bpm when comparing standing to supine values) for aripiprazole was not meaningfully different from placebo (aripiprazole incidence, placebo incidence): in adult oral aripiprazole- treated patients (4%, 2%), or in pediatric oral aripiprazole-treated patients aged 6 to 18 years (0.4%, 1%).
Aripiprazole should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease (history of myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease, heart failure or conduction abnormalities), cerebrovascular disease, or conditions which would predispose patients to hypotension (dehydration, hypovolemia, and treatment with antihypertensive medications) [see Drug Interactions(7.1)].
5.9 Falls
Antipsychotics, including aripiprazole, may cause somnolence, postural hypotension, motor and sensory instability, which may lead to falls and, consequently, fractures or other injuries. For patients with diseases, conditions, or medications that could exacerbate these effects, complete fall risk assessments when initiating antipsychotic treatment and recurrently for patients on long-term antipsychotic therapy.
5.10 Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis
In clinical trials and/or postmarketing experience, events of leukopenia and neutropenia have been reported temporally related to antipsychotic agents, including aripiprazole. Agranulocytosis has also been reported.Possible risk factors for leukopenia/neutropenia include pre-existing low white blood cell count (WBC)/absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and history of drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia. In patients with a history of a clinically significant low WBC/ANC or drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia, perform a complete blood count (CBC) frequently during the first few months of therapy. In such patients, consider discontinuation of aripiprazole at the first sign of a clinically significant decline in WBC in the absence of other causative factors.Monitor patients with clinically significant neutropenia for fever or other symptoms or signs of infection and treat promptly if such symptoms or signs occur. Discontinue aripiprazole in patients with severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1,000/mm3) and follow their WBC counts until recovery.
5.11 Seizures/Convulsions
In short-term, placebo-controlled trials, patients with a history of seizures excluded seizures/convulsions occurred in 0.1% (3/2,467) of undiagnosed adult patients treated with oral aripiprazole, in 0.1% (1/732) of pediatric patients (6 to 18 years).As with other antipsychotic drugs, aripiprazole should be used cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold. Conditions that lower the seizure threshold may be more prevalent in a population of 65 years or older.
5.12 Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment
Aripiprazole, like other antipsychotics, may have the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. For example, in short-term, placebo-controlled trials, somnolence (including sedation) was reported as follows (aripiprazole incidence, placebo incidence): in adult patients (n=2,467) treated with oral aripiprazole (11%, 6%), in pediatric patients ages 6 to 17 years (n=611; 24%, 6%), and in adult patients (n=501) on aripiprazole Injection (9%, 6%). Somnolence (including sedation) led to discontinuation in 0.3% (8/2,467) of adult patients and 3% (20/732) of pediatric patients (6 to 18 years) on oral aripiprazole in short-term, placebo-controlled trials.Despite the relatively modest increased incidence of these events compared to placebo, patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that therapy with aripiprazole does not affect them adversely.
5.13 Body Temperature Regulation
Disruption of the body’s ability to reduce core body temperature has been attributed to antipsychotic agents. Appropriate care is advised when prescribing aripiprazole for patients who will be experiencing conditions which may contribute to an elevation in core body temperature, (e.g., exercising strenuously, exposure to extreme heat, receiving concomitant medication with anticholinergic activity, or being subject to dehydration) [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].
5.14 Suicide
The possibility of a suicide attempt is inherent in psychotic illnesses, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, and close supervision of high-risk patients should accompany drug therapy. Prescriptions for aripiprazole should be written for the smallest quantity consistent with good patient management in order to reduce the risk of overdose [see Adverse Reactions (6.1, 6.2)].
5.15 Dysphagia
Esophageal dysmotility and aspiration have been associated with antipsychotic drug use, including aripiprazole. Aspiration pneumonia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients, in particular those with advanced Alzheimer’s dementia. Aripiprazole and other antipsychotic drugs should be used cautiously in patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Adverse Reactions (6.2)].
6 Adverse Reactions
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling:
- Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
- Cerebrovascular Adverse Events, Including Stroke [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
- Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults [see Boxed Warning and Warnings Precautions (5.3)]
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
- Tardive Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
- Metabolic Changes [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
- Pathological Gambling and Other Compulsive Behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]
- Orthostatic Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]
- Falls [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)]
- Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)]
- Seizures/Convulsions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)]
- Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12)]
- Body Temperature Regulation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13)]
- Suicide [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14)]
- Dysphagia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15)]
The most common adverse reactions in adult patients in clinical trials (≥10%) were nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, dizziness, akathisia, anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness.
The most common adverse reactions in the pediatric clinical trials (≥10%) were somnolence, headache, vomiting, extrapyramidal disorder, fatigue, increased appetite, insomnia, nausea, nasopharyngitis, and weight increased.
Aripiprazole has been evaluated for safety in 13,543 adult patients who participated in multiple-dose, clinical trials in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, Parkinson’s disease, and alcoholism, and who had approximately 7,619 patient-years of exposure to oral aripiprazole and 749 patients with exposure to aripiprazole injection. A total of 3,390 patients were treated with oral aripiprazole for at least 180 days and 1,933 patients treated with oral aripiprazole had at least one year of exposure.
Aripiprazole has been evaluated for safety in 1,686 pediatric patients (6 to 18 years) who participated in multiple-dose, clinical trials in schizophrenia, bipolar mania, autistic disorder, or Tourette’s disorder and who had approximately 1,342 patient-years of exposure to oral aripiprazole. A total of 959 pediatric patients were treated with oral aripiprazole for at least 180 days and 556 pediatric patients treated with oral aripiprazole had at least one year of exposure.
The conditions and duration of treatment with aripiprazole (monotherapy and adjunctive therapy with antidepressants or mood stabilizers) included (in overlapping categories) double-blind, comparative and noncomparative open-label studies, inpatient and outpatient studies, fixed- and flexible-dose studies, and short- and longer-term exposure.
Commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% and at least twice that for placebo) were (6.1 ): • 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
• Pediatric patients (6 to 17 years) with autistic disorder: sedation, fatigue, vomiting, somnolence, tremor, pyrexia, drooling, decreased appetite, salivary hypersecretion, extrapyramidal disorder, and lethargy • Pediatric patients (6 to 18 years) with Tourette’s disorder: sedation, somnolence, nausea, headache, nasopharyngitis, fatigue, increased appetite • Adult patients with agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania: nausea
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Ascend Laboratories, LLC at 1-877-272-7901 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience
Adult Patients with Schizophrenia
The following findings are based on a pool of five placebo-controlled trials (four 4 week and one 6 week) in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses ranging from 2 to 30 mg/day.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
The only commonly observed adverse reaction associated with the use of aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) was akathisia (aripiprazole 8%; placebo 4%).
Adult Patients with Bipolar Mania Monotherapy The following findings are based on a pool of 3-week, placebo-controlled, bipolar mania trials in which oral aripiprazole was administered at doses of 15 or 30 mg/day. Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in patients with bipolar mania (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) are shown in Table 16. Table 16: Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Adult Patients with Bipolar Mania Treated with Oral Aripiprazole Monotherapy
Preferred Term Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction Aripiprazole (n=917) Placebo (n=753) Akathisia 13 4 Sedation 8 3 Restlessness 6 3 Tremor 6 3 Extrapyramidal Disorder 5 2
Less Common Adverse Reactions in Adults
Table 17 enumerates the pooled incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during acute therapy (up to 6 weeks in schizophrenia and up to 3 weeks in bipolar mania), including only those reactions that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with aripiprazole (doses ≥2 mg/day) and for which the incidence in patients treated with aripiprazole was greater than the incidence in patients treated with placebo in the combined dataset.
Table 17: Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials in Adult Patients Treated with Oral Aripiprazole
Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction* System Organ Class Aripiprazole Placebo Preferred Term (n=1,843) (n=1,166) Eye Disorders Blurred Vision 3 1 Gastrointestinal Disorders Nausea 15 11 Constipation 11 7 Vomiting 11 6 Dyspepsia 9 7 Dry Mouth 5 4 Toothache 4 3 Abdominal Discomfort 3 2 Stomach Discomfort 3 2 General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions Fatigue 6 4 Pain 3 2 Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders Musculoskeletal Stiffness 4 3 Pain in Extremity 4 2 Myalgia 2 1 Muscle Spasms 2 1 Nervous System Disorders Headache 27 23 Dizziness 10 7 Akathisia 10 4 Sedation 7 4 Extrapyramidal Disorder 5 3 Tremor 5 3 Somnolence 5 3 Psychiatric Disorders Agitation 19 17 Insomnia 18 13 Anxiety 17 13 Restlessness 5 3 Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders Pharyngolaryngeal Pain 3 2 Cough 3 2 * Adverse reactions reported by at least 2% of patients treated with oral aripiprazole, except adverse reactions which had an incidence equal to or less than placebo.
An examination of population subgroups did not reveal any clear evidence of differential adverse reaction incidence on the basis of age, gender, or race.
Adult Patients with Adjunctive Therapy with Bipolar Mania
The following findings are based on a placebo-controlled trial of adult patients with bipolar disorder in which aripiprazole was administered at doses of 15 or 30 mg/day as adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
In a study of patients who were already tolerating either lithium or valproate as monotherapy, discontinuation rates due to adverse reactions were 12% for patients treated with adjunctive aripiprazole compared to 6% for patients treated with adjunctive placebo. The most common adverse drug reactions associated with discontinuation in the adjunctive aripiprazole-treated compared to placebo-treated patients were akathisia (5% and 1%, respectively) and tremor (2% and 1%, respectively).
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
The commonly observed adverse reactions associated with adjunctive aripiprazole and lithium or valproate in patients with bipolar mania (incidence of 5% or greater and incidence at least twice that for adjunctive placebo) were: akathisia, insomnia, and extrapyramidal disorder.
Less Common Adverse Reactions in Adult Patients with Adjunctive Therapy in Bipolar Mania
Table 18 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during acute treatment (up to 6 weeks), including only those reactions that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with adjunctive aripiprazole (doses of 15 or 30 mg/day) and lithium or valproate and for which the incidence in patients treated with this combination was greater than the incidence in patients treated with placebo plus lithium or valproate.
Table 18: Adverse Reactions in a Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Adjunctive Therapy in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction* Aripiprazole + Placebo + System Organ Class Preferred Term Li or Val † Li or Val † (n=253) (n=130) Gastrointestinal Disorders Nausea 8 5 Vomiting 4 0 Salivary Hypersecretion 4 2 Dry Mouth 2 1 Infections and Infestations Nasopharyngitis 3 2 Investigations Weight Increased 2 1 Nervous System Disorders Akathisia 19 5 Tremor 9 6 Extrapyramidal Disorder 5 1 Dizziness 4 1 Sedation 4 2 Psychiatric Disorders Insomnia 8 4 Anxiety 4 1 Restlessness 2 1 * Adverse reactions reported by at least 2% of patients treated with oral aripiprazole , except adverse reactions which had an incidence equal to or less than placebo. † Lithium or Valproate
Pediatric Patients (13 to 17 years) with Schizophrenia
The following findings are based on one 6-week, placebo-controlled trial in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses ranging from 2 to 30 mg/day.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions between aripiprazole-treated and placebo-treated pediatric patients (13 to 17 years) was 5% and 2%, respectively.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in adolescent patients with schizophrenia (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) were extrapyramidal disorder, somnolence, and tremor.
Pediatric Patients (10 to 17 years) with Bipolar Mania
The following findings are based on one 4-week, placebo-controlled trial in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses of 10 or 30 mg/day.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions between aripiprazole-treated and placebo-treated pediatric patients (10 to 17 years) was 7% and 2%, respectively.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in pediatric patients with bipolar mania (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) are shown in Table 19.
Table 19: Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pediatric Patients (10 to 17 years) with Bipolar Mania Treated with Oral Aripiprazole
Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction Preferred Term Aripiprazole (n=197) Placebo (n=97) Somnolence 23 3 Extrapyramidal Disorder 20 3 Fatigue 11 4 Nausea 11 4 Akathisia 10 2 Blurred Vision 8 0 Salivary Hypersecretion 6 0 Dizziness 5 1
Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years) with Autistic Disorder
The following findings are based on two 8 week, placebo-controlled trials in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses of 2 to 15 mg/day.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions between aripiprazole-treated and placebo-treated pediatric patients (6 to 17 years) was 10% and 8%, respectively.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in pediatric patients with autistic disorder (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) are shown in Table 20.
Table 20: Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years) with Autistic Disorder Treated with Oral Aripiprazole
Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction Aripiprazole Placebo Preferred Term (n=212) (n=101) Sedation 21 4 Fatigue 17 2 Vomiting 14 7 Somnolence 10 4 Tremor 10 0 Pyrexia 9 1 Drooling 9 0 Decreased Appetite 7 2 Salivary Hypersecretion 6 1 Extrapyramidal Disorder 6 0 Lethargy 5 0
Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) with Tourette's Disorder
The following findings are based on one 8 week and one 10 week, placebo-controlled trials in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses of 2 to 20 mg/day.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions between aripiprazole-treated and placebo-treated pediatric patients (6 to 18 years) was 7% and 1%, respectively.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in pediatric patients with Tourette's disorder (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) are shown in Table 21.
Table 21: Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) with Tourette's Disorder Treated with Oral Aripiprazole
Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction Aripiprazole Placebo Preferred Term (n=121) (n=72) Sedation 13 6 Somnolence 13 1 Nausea 11 4 Headache 10 3 Nasopharyngitis 9 0 Fatigue 8 0 Increased Appetite 7 1
Less Common Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Mania, Autistic Disorder, or Tourette’s Disorder
Table 22 enumerates the pooled incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during acute therapy (up to 6 weeks in schizophrenia, up to 4 weeks in bipolar mania, up to 8 weeks in autistic disorder, and up to 10 weeks in Tourette’s disorder), including only those reactions that occurred in 2% or more of pediatric patients treated with aripiprazole (doses ≥2 mg/day) and for which the incidence in patients treated with aripiprazole was greater than the incidence in patients treated with placebo.
Table 22: Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) Treated with Oral Aripiprazole
Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction* System Organ Class Aripiprazole Placebo Preferred Term (n=732) (n=370) Eye Disorders Blurred Vision 3 0 Gastrointestinal Disorders Abdominal Discomfort 2 1 Vomiting 8 7 Nausea 8 4 Diarrhea 4 3 Salivary Hypersecretion 4 1 Abdominal Pain Upper 3 2 Constipation 2 2 General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions Fatigue 10 2 Pyrexia 4 1 Irritability 2 1 Asthenia 2 1 Infections and Infestations Nasopharyngitis 6 3 Investigations Weight Increased 3 1 Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders Increased Appetite 7 3 Decreased Appetite 5 4 Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders Musculoskeletal Stiffness 2 1 Muscle Rigidity 2 1 Nervous System Disorders Somnolence 16 4 Headache 12 10 Sedation 9 2 Tremor 9 1 Extrapyramidal Disorder 6 1 Akathisia 6 4 Drooling 3 0 Lethargy 3 0 Dizziness 3 2 Dystonia 2 1 Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders Epistaxis 2 1 Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders Rash 2 1 * Adverse reactions reported by at least 2% of pediatric patients treated with oral aripiprazole, except adverse reactions which had an incidence equal to or less than placebo.
Adult Patients Receiving Aripiprazole as Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
The following findings are based on a pool of two placebo-controlled trials of patients with major depressive disorder in which aripiprazole was administered at doses of 2 to 20 mg as adjunctive treatment to continued antidepressant therapy.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions was 6% for adjunctive aripiprazole-treated patients and 2% for adjunctive placebo-treated patients.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
The commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of adjunctive aripiprazole in patients with major depressive disorder (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) were: akathisia, restlessness, insomnia, constipation, fatigue, and blurred vision.
Less Common Adverse Reactions in Adult Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Table 23 enumerates the pooled incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during acute therapy (up to 6 weeks), including only those adverse reactions that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with adjunctive aripiprazole (doses ≥2 mg/day) and for which the incidence in patients treated with adjunctive aripiprazole was greater than the incidence in patients treated with adjunctive placebo in the combined dataset.
Table 23: Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Adjunctive Trials in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction* System Organ Class Preferred Term Aripiprazole + ADT † (n=371) Placebo + ADT † (n=366) Eye Disorders 6 1 Blurred Vision Gastrointestinal Disorders Constipation 5 2 General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions Fatigue 8 4 Feeling Jittery 3 1 Infections and Infestations Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 6 4 Investigations Weight Increased 3 2 Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders Increased Appetite 3 2 Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders Arthralgia 4 3 Myalgia 3 1 Nervous System Disorders Akathisia 25 4 Somnolence 6 4 Tremor 5 4 Sedation 4 2 Dizziness 4 2 Disturbance in Attention 3 1 Extrapyramidal Disorder 2 0 Psychiatric Disorders Restlessness 12 2 Insomnia 8 2 * Adverse reactions reported by at least 2% of patients treated with adjunctive aripiprazole, except adverse reactions which had an incidence equal to or less than placebo. † Antidepressant Therapy
Dose-Related Adverse Reactions
Schizophrenia
Dose response relationships for the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events were evaluated from four trials in adult patients with schizophrenia comparing various fixed doses (2, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg/day) of oral aripiprazole to placebo. This analysis, stratified by study, indicated that the only adverse reaction to have a possible dose response relationship, and then most prominent only with 30 mg, was somnolence [including sedation]; (incidences were placebo, 7.1%; 10 mg, 8.5%; 15 mg, 8.7%; 20 mg, 7.5%; 30 mg, 12.6%).
In the study of pediatric patients (13 to 17 years of age) with schizophrenia, three common adverse reactions appeared to have a possible dose response relationship: extrapyramidal disorder (incidences were placebo, 5.0%; 10 mg, 13.0%; 30 mg, 21.6%); somnolence (incidences were placebo, 6.0%; 10 mg, 11.0%; 30 mg, 21.6%); and tremor (incidences were placebo, 2.0%; 10 mg, 2.0%; 30 mg, 11.8%).
Bipolar Mania
In the study of pediatric patients (10 to 17 years of age) with bipolar mania, four common adverse reactions had a possible dose response relationship at 4 weeks; extrapyramidal disorder (incidences were placebo, 3.1%; 10 mg, 12.2%; 30 mg, 27.3%); somnolence (incidences were placebo, 3.1%; 10 mg, 19.4%; 30 mg, 26.3%); akathisia (incidences were placebo, 2.1%; 10 mg, 8.2%; 30 mg, 11.1%); and salivary hypersecretion (incidences were placebo, 0%; 10 mg, 3.1%; 30 mg, 8.1%).
Autistic Disorder
In a study of pediatric patients (6 to 17 years of age) with autistic disorder, one common adverse reaction had a possible dose response relationship: fatigue (incidences were placebo, 0%; 5 mg, 3.8%; 10 mg, 22.0%; 15 mg, 18.5%).
Tourette’s Disorder
In a study of pediatric patients (7 to 17 years of age) with Tourette’s disorder, no common adverse reaction(s) had a dose response relationship.
Extrapyramidal Symptoms
Schizophrenia
In short-term, placebo-controlled trials in schizophrenia in adults, the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole-treated patients was 13% vs. 12% for placebo; and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole-treated patients was 8% vs. 4% for placebo. In the short-term, placebo-controlled trial of schizophrenia in pediatric patients (13 to 17 years), the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole-treated patients was 25% vs. 7% for placebo; and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole-treated patients was 9% vs. 6% for placebo.
Objectively collected data from those trials was collected on the Simpson Angus Rating Scale (for EPS), the Barnes Akathisia Scale (for akathisia), and the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales (for dyskinesias). In the adult schizophrenia trials, the objectively collected data did not show a difference between aripiprazole and placebo, with the exception of the Barnes Akathisia Scale (aripiprazole, 0.08; placebo, –0.05). In the pediatric (13 to 17 years) schizophrenia trial, the objectively collected data did not show a difference between aripiprazole and placebo, with the exception of the Simpson Angus Rating Scale (aripiprazole, 0.24; placebo, –0.29).
Similarly, in a long-term (26 week), placebo-controlled trial of schizophrenia in adults, objectively collected data on the Simpson Angus Rating Scale (for EPS), the Barnes Akathisia Scale (for akathisia), and the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales (for dyskinesias) did not show a difference between aripiprazole and placebo.
Bipolar Mania
In the short-term, placebo-controlled trials in bipolar mania in adults, the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for monotherapy aripiprazole-treated patients was 16% vs. 8% for placebo and the incidence of akathisia-related events for monotherapy aripiprazole-treated patients was 13% vs. 4% for placebo. In the 6 week, placebo-controlled trial in bipolar mania for adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate, the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia for adjunctive aripiprazole-treated patients was 15% vs. 8% for adjunctive placebo and the incidence of akathisia-related events for adjunctive aripiprazole-treated patients was 19% vs. 5% for adjunctive placebo. In the short-term, placebo-controlled trial in bipolar mania in pediatric (10 to 17 years) patients, the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole-treated patients was 26% vs. 5% for placebo and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole-treated patients was 10% vs. 2% for placebo.
In the adult bipolar mania trials with monotherapy aripiprazole, the Simpson Angus Rating Scale and the Barnes Akathisia Scale showed a significant difference between aripiprazole and placebo (aripiprazole, 0.50; placebo, –0.01 and aripiprazole, 0.21; placebo, –0.05). Changes in the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales were similar for the aripiprazole and placebo groups. In the bipolar mania trials with aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy with either lithium or valproate, the Simpson Angus Rating Scale and the Barnes Akathisia Scale showed a significant difference between adjunctive aripiprazole and adjunctive placebo (aripiprazole, 0.73; placebo, 0.07 and aripiprazole, 0.30; placebo, 0.11). Changes in the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales were similar for adjunctive aripiprazole and adjunctive placebo. In the pediatric (10 to 17 years), short-term, bipolar mania trial, the Simpson Angus Rating Scale showed a significant difference between aripiprazole and placebo (aripiprazole, 0.90; placebo, −0.05). Changes in the Barnes Akathisia Scale and the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales were similar for the aripiprazole and placebo groups.
Major Depressive Disorder
In the short-term, placebo-controlled trials in major depressive disorder, the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for adjunctive aripiprazole-treated patients was 8% vs. 5% for adjunctive placebo-treated patients; and the incidence of akathisia-related events for adjunctive aripiprazole-treated patients was 25% vs. 4% for adjunctive placebo-treated patients.
In the major depressive disorder trials, the Simpson Angus Rating Scale and the Barnes Akathisia Scale showed a significant difference between adjunctive aripiprazole and adjunctive placebo (aripiprazole, 0.31; placebo, 0.03 and aripiprazole, 0.22; placebo, 0.02). Changes in the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales were similar for the adjunctive aripiprazole and adjunctive placebo groups.
Autistic Disorder
In the short-term, placebo-controlled trials in autistic disorder in pediatric patients (6 to 17 years), the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole-treated patients was 18% vs. 2% for placebo and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole-treated patients was 3% vs. 9% for placebo.
In the pediatric (6 to 17 years) short-term autistic disorder trials, the Simpson Angus Rating Scale showed a significant difference between aripiprazole and placebo (aripiprazole, 0.1; placebo, –0.4). Changes in the Barnes Akathisia Scale and the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales were similar for the aripiprazole and placebo groups.
Tourette’s Disorder
In the short-term, placebo-controlled trials in Tourette’s disorder in pediatric patients (6 to 18 years), the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole-treated patients was 7% vs. 6% for placebo and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole-treated patients was 4% vs. 6% for placebo.
In the pediatric (6 to 18 years) short-term Tourette’s disorder trials, changes in the Simpson Angus Rating Scale, Barnes Akathisia Scale and Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scale were not clinically meaningfully different for aripiprazole and placebo.
Dystonia
Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur in susceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment. Dystonic symptoms include spasm of the neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficulty breathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occur more frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first generation antipsychotic drugs. An elevated risk of acute dystonia is observed in males and younger age groups.
Additional Findings Observed in Clinical Trials
Adverse Reactions in Long-Term, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials
The adverse reactions reported in a 26 week, double-blind trial comparing oral aripiprazole and placebo in patients with schizophrenia were generally consistent with those reported in the short-term, placebo-controlled trials, except for a higher incidence of tremor [8% (12/153) for aripiprazole vs. 2% (3/153) for placebo]. In this study, the majority of the cases of tremor were of mild intensity (8/12 mild and 4/12 moderate), occurred early in therapy (9/12 ≤49 days), and were of limited duration (7/12 ≤10 days). Tremor infrequently led to discontinuation (<1%) of aripiprazole. In addition, in a long-term (52 weeks), active-controlled study, the incidence of tremor was 5% (40/859) for aripiprazole.
A similar profile was observed in a long-term monotherapy study and a long-term adjunctive study with lithium and valproate in bipolar disorder.
Other Adverse Reactions Observed During Clinical Trial Evaluation of Aripiprazole
The following uling does not include reactions: 1) already uled in previous tables or elsewhere in labeling, 2) for which a drug cause was remote, 3) which were so general as to be uninformative, 4) which were not considered to have significant clinical implications, or 5) which occurred at a rate equal to or less than placebo.
Reactions are categorized by body system according to the following definitions: frequent adverse reactions are those occurring in at least 1/100 patients; infrequent adverse reactions are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1,000 patients; rare reactions are those occurring in fewer than 1/1,000 patients:
Adults - Oral Administration
- Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: rare - thrombocytopenia
- Cardiac Disorders: infrequent – bradycardia, palpitations, rare – atrial flutter, cardio-respiratory arrest, atrioventricular block, atrial fibrillation, angina pectoris, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary failure
- Eye Disorders: infrequent – photophobia; rare -diplopia
- Gastrointestinal Disorders: infrequent - gastroesophageal reflux disease
- General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: frequent - asthenia; infrequent – peripheral edema, chest pain; rare – face edema
- Hepatobiliary Disorders: rare - hepatitis, jaundice
- Immune System Disorders: rare-hypersensitivity
- Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications: infrequent– fall; rare – heat stroke
- Investigations: frequent - blood prolactin decreased, weight decreased, infrequent - hepatic enzyme increased, blood glucose increased, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, gamma glutamyl transferase increased; rare – blood prolactin increased, blood urea increased, blood creatinine increased, blood bilirubin increased, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, glycosylated hemoglobin increased
- Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: frequent –anorexia; rare - hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia
- Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: infrequent -muscular weakness, muscle tightness; rare – rhabdomyolysis, mobility decreased
- Nervous System Disorders: infrequent - parkinsonism, memory impairment, cogwheel rigidity, hypokinesia, bradykinesia; rare – akinesia, myoclonus, coordination abnormal, speech disorder, Grand Mal convulsion; <1/10,000 patients - choreoathetosis
- Psychiatric Disorders: infrequent – aggression, loss of libido, delirium; rare – libido increased, anorgasmia, tic, homicidal ideation, catatonia, sleep walking
- Renal and Urinary Disorders: rare - urinary retention, nocturia
- Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: infrequent - erectile dysfunction; rare – gynaecomastia, menstruation irregular, amenorrhea, breast pain, priapism
- Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: infrequent - nasal congestion, dyspnea
- Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: infrequent - rash, hyperhidrosis, pruritus, photosensitivity reaction, alopecia; rare - urticaria
- Vascular Disorders: infrequent – hypotension, hypertension
Pediatric Patients - Oral Administration
Most adverse events observed in the pooled database of 1,686 pediatric patients, aged 6 to 18 years, were also observed in the adult population. Additional adverse reactions observed in the pediatric population are uled below.
- Eye Disorders: infrequent - oculogyric crisis
- Gastrointestinal Disorders: infrequent -tongue dry, tongue spasm
- Investigations: frequent - blood insulin increased
- Nervous System Disorders: infrequent - sleep talking
- Renal and Urinary Disorders frequent – enuresis
- Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: infrequent – hirsutism
6.2 Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of aripiprazole tablets. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure: occurrences of allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction, angioedema, laryngospasm, pruritus/urticaria, or oropharyngeal spasm), blood glucose fluctuation, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), hiccups, oculogyric crisis, and pathological gambling.
7 Drug Interactions
Dosage adjustment due to drug interactions (7.1 ):
Factors Dosage Adjustments for Aripiprazole Known CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers Administer half of usual dose Known CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors Administer a quarter of usual dose Strong CYP2D6 or CYP3A4 inhibitors Administer half of usual dose Strong CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors Administer a quarter of usual dose Strong CYP3A4 inducers Double usual dose over 1 to 2 weeks 7.1 Drugs Having Clinically Important Interactions with Aripiprazole
Table 25: Clinically Important Drug Interactions with Aripiprazole:
Concomitant Drug Name or Drug Class Clinical Rationale Clinical Recommendation Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole, clarithromycin) or strong CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., quinidine, fluoxetine, paroxetine) The concomitant use of aripiprazole with strong CYP 3A4 or CYP2D6 inhibitors increased the exposure of aripiprazole compared to the use of aripiprazole alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. With concomitant use of aripiprazole with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor or CYP2D6 inhibitor, reduce the aripiprazole dosage [see Dosage and Administration (2.7)]. Strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., carbamazepine, rifampin) The concomitant use of aripiprazole and carbamazepine decreased the exposure of aripiprazole compared to the use of aripiprazole alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. With concomitant use of aripiprazole with a strong CYP3A4 inducer, consider increasing the aripiprazole dosage [see Dosage and Administration (2.7)]. Antihypertensive Drugs Due to its alpha adrenergic antagonism, aripiprazole has the potential to enhance the effect of certain antihypertensive agents. Monitor blood pressure and adjust dose accordingly [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]. Benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam) The intensity of sedation was greater with the combination of oral aripiprazole and lorazepam as compared to that observed with aripiprazole alone. The orthostatic hypotension observed was greater with the combination as compared to that observed with lorazepam alone [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]. Monitor sedation and blood pressure. Adjust dose accordingly. 7.2 Drugs Having No Clinically Important Interactions with Aripiprazole
Based on pharmacokinetic studies, no dosage adjustment of aripiprazole is required when administered concomitantly with famotidine,valproate, lithium, lorazepam.
In addition, no dosage adjustment is necessary for substrates of CYP2D6 (e.g., dextromethorphan, fluoxetine, paroxetine, or venlafaxine), CYP2C9 (e.g., warfarin), CYP2C19 (e.g., omeprazole, warfarin, escitalopram), or CYP3A4 (e.g., dextromethorphan) when co-administered with aripiprazole. Additionally, no dosage adjustment is necessary for valproate, lithium, lamotrigine, lorazepam, or sertraline when co-administered with aripiprazole.[see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
8 Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy: May cause extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms in neonates with third trimester exposure (8.1 )
8.1 Pregnancy
Pregnancy Exposure Registry
There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to atypical antipsychotics, including aripiprazole, during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by contacting the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics at 1-866-961-2388 or visit http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and- research-programs/pregnancyregistry/.
Risk Summary
Neonates exposed to antipsychotic drugs, including aripiprazole, during the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk for extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms following delivery (see Clinical Considerations). Overall available data from published epidemiologic studies of pregnant women exposed to aripiprazole have not established a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes (see Data). There are risks to the mother associated with untreated schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, or major depressive disorder, and with exposure to antipsychotics, including aripiprazole, during pregnancy (see Clinical Considerations).
In animal reproduction studies, oral and intravenous aripiprazole administration during organogenesis in rats and/or rabbits at doses 10 and 19 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area, produced fetal death, decreased fetal weight, undescended testicles, delayed skeletal ossification, skeletal abnormalities, and diaphragmatic hernia. Oral and intravenous aripiprazole administration during the pre- and post-natal period in rats at doses 10 times the MRHD based on mg/m2 body surface area, produced prolonged gestation, stillbirths, decreased pup weight, and decreased pup survival (see Data).
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.
Clinical Considerations
Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk
There is a risk to the mother from untreated schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder, including increased risk of relapse, hospitalization, and suicide. Schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder are associated with increased adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth. It is not known if this is a direct result of the illness or other comorbid factors.
A prospective, longitudinal study followed 201 pregnant women with a history of major depressive disorder who were euthymic and taking antidepressants at the beginning of pregnancy. The women who discontinued antidepressants during pregnancy were more likely to experience a relapse of major depression than women who continued antidepressants. Consider the risk of untreated depression when discontinuing or changing treatment with antidepressant medication during pregnancy and postpartum.
Fetal/Neonatal Adverse Reactions
Extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms, including agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress, and feeding disorder have been reported in neonates who were exposed to antipsychotic drugs (including aripiprazole) during the third trimester of pregnancy. These symptoms have varied in severity. Monitor neonates for extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms and manage symptoms appropriately. Some neonates recovered within hours or days without specific treatment; others required prolonged hospitalization.
Data
Human Data
Published data from observational studies, birth registries, and case reports on the use of atypical antipsychotics during pregnancy do not report a clear association with antipsychotics and major birth defects. A retrospective study from a Medicaid database of 9258 women exposed to antipsychotics during pregnancy did not indicate an overall increased risk for major birth defects.
Animal Data
In animal studies, aripiprazole demonstrated developmental toxicity, including possible teratogenic effects in rats and rabbits.
In pregnant rats treated orally with aripiprazole during organogenesis at doses of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day, which are approximately 1, 3 and 10 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area, a slight prolongation of gestation and delay in fetal development, as evidenced by decreased fetal weight and undescended testes, were observed at 10 times the MRHD. Delayed skeletal ossification was observed at 3 and 10 times the MRHD. Delivered offspring had increased incidences of hepatodiaphragmatic nodules and diaphragmatic hernia were observed at 10 times the MRHD (the other dose groups were not examined for these findings). Postnatally, delayed vaginal opening was seen at 3 and 10 times the MRHD. Impaired reproductive performance (decreased fertility rate, corpora lutea, implants, live fetuses, and increased post-implantation loss, likely mediated through effects on female offspring) were observed at 10 times the MRHD; however, there was no evidence to suggest that these developmental effects were secondary to maternal toxicity.
In pregnant rats injected intravenously with aripiprazole during organogenesis at doses of 3, 9, and 27 mg/kg/day, which are 1, 3, and 9 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area, decreased fetal weight and delayed skeletal ossification were observed at 9 times the MRHD; this dose also caused maternal toxicity.
In pregnant rabbits treated orally with aripiprazole during organogenesis at doses of 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg/day which are 6, 19, and 65 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area, decreased maternal food consumption, and increased abortions as well as increased fetal mortality were observed at 65 times the MRHD. Decreased fetal weight and increased incidence of fused sternebrae were observed at 19 and 65 times the MRHD.
In pregnant rabbits injected intravenously with aripiprazole during organogenesis at doses of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day, which are 2, 6, and 19 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area, decreased fetal weight, increased fetal abnormalities (primarily skeletal), and decreased fetal skeletal ossification were observed at 19 times the MRHD; this dose also caused maternal toxicity. The fetal no-effect dose was 10 mg/kg/day, which is 6 times the MRHD.
In rats treated orally with aripiprazole peri- and postnatally from gestation Day 17 through postpartum Day 21 at doses of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day which are 1, 3, and 10 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area slight maternal toxicity and slightly prolonged gestation were observed at 10 times the MRHD. An increase in stillbirths and, decreases in pup weight (persisting into adulthood) and survival were also seen at this dose.
In rats injected intravenously with aripiprazole from gestation Day 6 through lactation Day 20 at doses of 3, 8, and 20 mg/kg/day, which are 1, 3, and 6 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area, increased stillbirths were observed at 3 and 6 times the MRHD; and decreases in early postnatal pup weight and survival were observed at 6 times the MRHD; these doses also caused some maternal toxicity. There were no effects on postnatal behavioral and reproductive development.
8.2 Lactation
Risk Summary
Limited data from published literature report the presence of aripiprazole in human breast milk, at relative infant doses ranging between 0.7% to 8.3% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. There are reports of poor weight gain in breastfed infants exposed to aripiprazole and reports of inadequate milk supply in lactating women taking aripiprazole.
The development and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for aripiprazole and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from aripiprazole or from the underlying maternal condition.
8.4 Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients with major depressive disorder or agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania have not been established.
The pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole in pediatric patients, 10 to 17 years of age, were similar to those in adults after correcting for the differences in body weight [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Schizophrenia
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients with schizophrenia were established in a 6 week, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 202 pediatric patients aged 13 to 17 years [see Dosage and Administration (2.1), Adverse Reactions (6.1), and Clinical Studies (14.1)] . Although maintenance efficacy in pediatric patients has not been systematically evaluated, maintenance efficacy can be extrapolated from adult data along with comparisons of aripiprazole pharmacokinetic parameters in adult and pediatric patients.
Bipolar I Disorder
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients with bipolar mania were established in a 4 week, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 197 pediatric patients aged 10 to 17 years [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Adverse Reactions (6.1), and Clinical Studies (14.2)]. Although maintenance efficacy in pediatric patients has not been systematically evaluated, maintenance efficacy can be extrapolated from adult data along with comparisons of aripiprazole pharmacokinetic parameters in adult and pediatric patients.
The efficacy of adjunctive aripiprazole with concomitant lithium or valproate in the treatment of manic or mixed episodes in pediatric patients has not been systematically evaluated. However, such efficacy and lack of pharmacokinetic interaction between aripiprazole and lithium or valproate can be extrapolated from adult data, along with comparisons of aripiprazole pharmacokinetic parameters in adult and pediatric patients.
Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients demonstrating irritability associated with autistic disorder were established in two 8 week, placebo-controlled clinical trials in 212 pediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years [see Indications and Usage (1), Dosage and Administration (2.4),
Adverse Reactions (6.1), and Clinical Studies (14.4)]. A maintenance trial was conducted in pediatric patients (6 to 17 years of age) with irritability associated with autistic disorder. The first phase of this trial was an open-label, flexibly dosed (aripiprazole 2 to 15 mg/day) phase in which patients were stabilized (defined as > 25% improvement on the ABC-I subscale, and a CGI-I rating of “much improved” or “very much improved”) on aripiprazole for 12 consecutive weeks. Overall, 85 patients were stabilized and entered the second, 16 week, double-blind phase where they were randomized to either continue aripiprazole treatment or switch to placebo. In this trial, the efficacy of aripiprazole for the maintenance treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder was not established.
Tourette’s Disorder
Safety and effectiveness of aripiprazole in pediatric patients with Tourette’s Disorder were established in one 8 week (aged 7 to 17 years) and one 10 week trial (aged 6 to 18 years) in 194 pediatric patients [see Dosage and Administration (2.5), Adverse Reactions (6.1), and Clinical Studies (14.5)]. Maintenance efficacy in pediatric patients has not been systematically evaluated.
Juvenile Animal Studies
Aripiprazole in juvenile rats caused mortality, CNS clinical signs, impaired memory and learning, and delayed sexual maturation when administered at oral doses of 10, 20, 40 mg/kg/day from weaning (21 days old) through maturity (80 days old). At 40 mg/kg/day, mortality, decreased activity, splayed hind limbs, hunched posture, ataxia, tremors and other CNS signs were observed in both genders. In addition, delayed sexual maturation was observed in males. At all doses and in a dose-dependent manner, impaired memory and learning, increased motor activity, and histopathology changes in the pituitary (atrophy), adrenals (adrenocortical hypertrophy), mammary glands (hyperplasia and increased secretion), and female reproductive organs (vaginal mucification, endometrial atrophy, decrease in ovarian corpora lutea) were observed. The changes in female reproductive organs were considered secondary to the increase in prolactin serum levels. A No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) could not be determined and, at the lowest tested dose of 10 mg/kg/day, there is no safety margin relative to the systemic exposures (AUC0-24) for aripiprazole or its major active metabolite in adolescents at the maximum recommended pediatric dose of 15 mg/day. All drug-related effects were reversible after a 2 month recovery period, and most of the drug effects in juvenile rats were also observed in adult rats from previously conducted studies.
Aripiprazole in juvenile dogs (2 months old) caused CNS clinical signs of tremors, hypoactivity, ataxia, recumbency and limited use of hind limbs when administered orally for 6 months at 3, 10, 30 mg/kg/day. Mean body weight and weight gain were decreased up to 18% in females in all drug groups relative to control values. A NOAEL could not be determined and, at the lowest tested dose of 3 mg/kg/day, there is no safety margin relative to the systemic exposures (AUC0-24) for aripiprazole or its major active metabolite in adolescents at the maximum recommended pediatric dose of 15 mg/day. All drug-related effects were reversible after a 2 month recovery period.
8.5 Geriatric Use
No dosage adjustment is recommended for elderly patients [see Boxed Warning, Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ), and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ].
Of the 13,543 patients treated with oral aripiprazole in clinical trials, 1,073 (8%) were ≥65 years old and 799 (6%) were ≥75 years old. Placebo-controlled studies of oral aripiprazole in schizophrenia, bipolar mania, or major depressive disorder did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients.
Of the 749 patients treated with aripiprazole injection in clinical trials, 99 (13%) were ≥65 years old and 78 (10%) were ≥75 years old. Placebo-controlled studies of aripiprazole injection in patients with agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 years and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients.
Aripiprazole is not approved for the treatment of patients with psychosis associated with Alzheimer’s disease [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].
8.6 CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers
Dosage adjustment is recommended in known CYP2D6 poor metabolizers due to high aripiprazole concentrations. Approximately 8% of Caucasians and 3 to 8% of Black/African Americans cannot metabolize CYP2D6 substrates and are classified as poor metabolizers (PM) [see Dosage and Administration (2.7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
8.7 Hepatic and Renal Impairment
No dosage adjustment for aripiprazole is required on the basis of a patient’s hepatic function (mild to severe hepatic impairment, Child-Pugh score between 5 and 15), or renal function (mild to severe renal impairment, glomerular filtration rate between 15 and 90 mL/minute) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
8.8 Other Specific Populations
No dosage adjustment for aripiprazole is required on the basis of a patient’s sex, race, or smoking status [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
9 Drug Abuse And Dependence
9.1 Controlled Substance
Aripiprazole is not a controlled substance.
9.2 Abuse
Aripiprazole has not been systematically studied in humans for its potential for abuse,tolerance, or physical dependence. Consequently, patients should be evaluated carefully for a history of drug abuse, and such patients should be observed closely for signs of aripiprazole misuse or abuse (e.g., development of tolerance, increases in dose, drug-seeking behavior).
9.3 Dependence
In physical dependence studies in monkeys, withdrawal symptoms were observed upon abrupt cessation of dosing. While the clinical trials did not reveal any tendency for any drug-seeking behavior, these observations were not systematic and it is not possible to predict on the basis of this limited experience the extent to which a CNS-active drug will be misused, diverted, and/or abused once marketed.
10 Overdosage
MedDRA terminology has been used to classify the adverse reactions.
10.1 Human Experience
In clinical trials and in postmarketing experience, adverse reactions of deliberate or accidental overdosage with oral aripiprazole have been reported worldwide. These include overdoses with oral aripiprazole alone and in combination with other substances. No fatality was reported with aripiprazole alone. The largest known dose with a known outcome involved acute ingestion of 1,260 mg of oral aripiprazole (42 times the maximum recommended daily dose) by a patient who fully recovered. Deliberate or accidental overdosage was also reported in children (age 12 years and younger) involving oral aripiprazole ingestions up to 195 mg with no fatalities.
Common adverse reactions (reported in at least 5% of all overdose cases) reported with oral aripiprazole overdosage (alone or in combination with other substances) include vomiting, somnolence, and tremor. Other clinically important signs and symptoms observed in one or more patients with aripiprazole overdoses (alone or with other substances) include acidosis, aggression, aspartate aminotransferase increased, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, coma, confusional state, convulsion, blood creatine phosphokinase increased, depressed level of consciousness, hypertension, hypokalemia, hypotension, lethargy, loss of consciousness, QRS complex prolonged, QT prolonged, pneumonia aspiration, respiratory arrest, status epilepticus, and tachycardia.
10.2 Management of Overdosage
No specific information is available on the treatment of overdose with aripiprazole. An electrocardiogram should be obtained in case of overdosage and if QT interval prolongation is present, cardiac monitoring should be instituted. Otherwise, management of overdose should concentrate on supportive therapy, maintaining an adequate airway, oxygenation and ventilation, and management of symptoms. Close medical supervision and monitoring should continue until the patient recovers.
Charcoal: In the event of an overdose of aripiprazole, an early charcoal administration may be useful in partially preventing the absorption of aripiprazole. Administration of 50 g of activated charcoal, one hour after a single 15 mg oral dose of aripiprazole, decreased the mean AUC and Cmax of aripiprazole by 50%.
Hemodialysis: Although there is no information on the effect of hemodialysis in treating an overdose with aripiprazole, hemodialysis is unlikely to be useful in overdose management since aripiprazole is highly bound to plasma proteins.
11 Description
Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is available as Aripiprazole Tablets, USP. Aripiprazole is 7-[4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]butoxy]-3,4-dihydrocarbostyril.The empirical formula is C23H27Cl2N3O2 and its molecular weight is 448.38. The chemical structure is:
Aripiprazole Tablets, USP are available in 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg strengths. Inactive ingredients include lactose monohydrate, corn starch, hydroxyl propyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose 101, magnesium stearate. Colorants include FD&C blue #2/indigo carmine AL11-14%, yellow ferric oxide, red ferric oxide.
FDA approved dissolution test specifications differ from USP.
12 Clinical Pharmacology
12.1 Mechanism of Action
The mechanism of action of aripiprazole in schizophrenia or bipolar mania, is unclear. However, the efficacy of aripiprazole in the uled indications could be mediated through a combination of partial agonist activity at D2 and 5-HT1A receptors and antagonist activity at 5-HT2A receptors.
12.2 Pharmacodynamics
Aripiprazole exhibits high affinity for dopamine D2 and D3, serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors (Ki values of 0.34 nM, 0.8 nM, 1.7 nM, and 3.4 nM, respectively), moderate affinity for dopamine D4, serotonin 5-HT2C and 5-HT7, alpha1-adrenergic and histamine H1 receptors (Ki values of 44 nM, 15 nM, 39 nM, 57 nM, and 61 nM, respectively), and moderate affinity for the serotonin reuptake site (Ki=98 nM). Aripiprazole has no appreciable affinity for cholinergic muscarinic receptors (IC50>1000 nM).
12.3 Pharmacokinetics
Aripiprazole activity is presumably primarily due to the parent drug, aripiprazole, and to a lesser extent, to its major metabolite, dehydro-aripiprazole, which has been shown to have affinities for D2receptors similar to the parent drug and represents 40% of the parent drug exposure in plasma. The mean elimination half-lives are about 75 hours and 94 hours for aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole, respectively. Steady-state concentrations are attained within 14 days of dosing for both active moieties. Aripiprazole accumulation is predictable from single-dose pharmacokinetics. At steady-state, the pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole is dose-proportional. Elimination of aripiprazole is mainly through hepatic metabolism involving two P450 isozymes, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4.
For CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, the mean elimination half-life for aripiprazole is about 146 hours.
Oral administration
Absorption
Tablet: Aripiprazole is well absorbed after administration of the tablet, with peak plasma concentrations occurring within 3 hours to 5 hours; the absolute oral bioavailability of the tablet formulation is 87%. Aripiprazole can be administered with or without food. Administration of a 15 mg aripiprazole tablet with a standard high-fat meal did not significantly affect the Cmax or AUC of aripiprazole or its active metabolite, dehydro-aripiprazole, but delayed Tmax by 3 hours for aripiprazole and 12 hours for dehydro-aripiprazole. Distribution The steady-state volume of distribution of aripiprazole following intravenous administration is high (404 L or 4.9 L/kg), indicating extensive extravascular distribution. At therapeutic concentrations, aripiprazole and its major metabolite are greater than 99% bound to serum proteins, primarily to albumin. In healthy human volunteers administered 0.5 to 30 mg/day aripiprazole for 14 days, there was dose-dependent D2receptor occupancy indicating brain penetration of aripiprazole in humans.
Elimination
Metabolism
Aripiprazole is metabolized primarily by three biotransformation pathways: dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, and N-dealkylation. Based on in vitro studies, CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 enzymes are responsible for dehydrogenation and hydroxylation of aripiprazole, and N-dealkylation is catalyzed by CYP3A4. Aripiprazole is the predominant drug moiety in the systemic circulation. At steady-state, dehydro-aripiprazole, the active metabolite, represents about 40% of aripiprazole AUC in plasma.
Excretion
Following a single oral dose of [14C]-labeled aripiprazole, approximately 25% and 55% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in the urine and feces, respectively. Less than 1% of unchanged aripiprazole was excreted in the urine and approximately 18% of the oral dose was recovered unchanged in the feces. Drug Interaction Studies Effect of other drugs on the exposures of aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole are summarized in Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively. Based on simulation, a 4.5 fold increase in mean Cmax and AUC values at steady-state is expected when extensive metabolizers of CYP2D6 are administered with both strong CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors. A 3 fold increase in mean Cmax and AUC values at steady-state is expected in poor metabolizers of CYP2D6 administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Figure 1: The Effect of Other Drugs on Aripiprazole Pharmacokinetics Effect of Other Drugs on Aripiprazole
Figure 2: The Effect of Other Drugs on Dehydro-Aripiprazole Pharmacokinetics
Effect of Other Drugs on Aripiprazole
The effect of aripiprazole on the exposures of other drugs are summarized in Figure 3. A population PK analysis in patients with major depressive disorder showed no substantial change in plasma concentrations of fluoxetine (20 or 40 mg/day), paroxetine CR (37.5 or 50 mg/day), or sertraline (100 or 150 mg/day) dosed to steady-state. The steady-state plasma concentrations of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine increased by about 18% and 36%, respectively, and concentrations of paroxetine decreased by about 27%. The steady-state plasma concentrations of sertraline and desmethylsertraline were not substantially changed when these antidepressant therapies were coadministered with aripiprazole. Figure 3: The Effect of Aripiprazole on Pharmacokinetics of Other Drugs Effect of Aripiprazole on Other Drugs
Specific Populations
Exposure of aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole in specific populations are summarized in Figure 4 and Figure 5, respectively. In addition, in pediatric patients (10 to 17 years of age) administered with aripiprazole (20 mg to 30 mg), the body weight corrected aripiprazole clearance was similar to the adults.
Figure 4: Effect of Intrinsic Factors on Aripiprazole Pharmacokinetics
Special Populations Figure 5: Effect of Intrinsic Factors on Dehydro-Aripiprazole Pharmacokinetics
13 Nonclinical Toxicology
13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Carcinogenesis Lifetime carcinogenicity studies were conducted in ICR mice, F344 rats, and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Aripiprazole was administered for 2 years in the diet at doses of 1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day to ICR mice and 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg/day to F344 rats (0.2, 0.5, 2 and 5 times and 0.3, 1 and 3 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area, respectively). In addition, SD rats were dosed orally for 2 years at 10, 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg/day, which are 3, 6, 13 and 19 times the MRHD based on mg/m2 body surface area. Aripiprazole did not induce tumors in male mice or male rats. In female mice, the incidences of pituitary gland adenomas and mammary gland adenocarcinomas and adenoacanthomas were increased at dietary doses of 3 to 30 mg/kg/day (0.5 to 5 times the MRHD). In female rats, the incidence of mammary gland fibroadenomas was increased at a dietary dose of 10 mg/kg/day (3 times the MRHD); and the incidences of adrenocortical carcinomas and combined adrenocortical adenomas/carcinomas were increased at an oral dose of 60 mg/kg/day (19 times the MRHD).
An increase in mammary, pituitary, and endocrine pancreas neoplasms has been found in rodents after chronic administration of other antipsychotic drugs and is considered to be mediated by prolonged dopamine D2-receptor antagonism and hyperprolactinemia. Serum prolactin was not measured in the aripiprazole carcinogenicity studies. However, increases in serum prolactin levels were observed in female mice in a 13 week dietary study at the doses associated with mammary gland and pituitary tumors. Serum prolactin was not increased in female rats in 4 week and 13 week dietary studies at the dose associated with mammary gland tumors. The relevance for human risk of the findings of prolactin-mediated endocrine tumors in rodents is unclear.
Mutagenesis
The mutagenic potential of aripiprazole was tested in the in vitro bacterial reverse-mutation assay, the in vitro bacterial DNA repair assay, the in vitro forward gene mutation assay in mouse lymphoma cells, the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, the in vivo micronucleus assay in mice, and the unscheduled DNA synthesis assay in rats. Aripiprazole and a metabolite (2,3-DCPP) were clastogenic in the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay in CHL cells with and without metabolic activation. The metabolite, 2,3-DCPP, increased numerical aberrations in the in vitro assay in CHL cells in the absence of metabolic activation. A positive response was obtained in the in vivo micronucleus assay in mice; however, the response was due to a mechanism not considered relevant to humans.
Impairment of Fertility
Female rats were treated orally with aripiprazole from 2 weeks prior to mating through gestation Day 7 at doses of 2, 6, and 20 mg/kg/day, which are 0.6, 2, and 6 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area. Estrus cycle irregularities and increased corpora lutea were seen at all doses, but no impairment of fertility was seen. Increased pre-implantation loss was seen at 2 and 6 times the MRHD, and decreased fetal weight was seen at 6 times the MRHD.
Male rats were treated orally with aripiprazole from 9 weeks prior to mating through mating at doses of 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg/day, which are 6, 13, and 19 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area. Disturbances in spermatogenesis were seen at 19 times the MRHD and prostate atrophy was seen at 13 and 19 times the MRHD without impairment of fertility.
13.2 Animal Toxicology and/ or Pharmacology
Aripiprazole produced retinal degeneration in albino rats in a 26 week chronic toxicity study at a dose of 60 mg/kg/day and in a 2 year carcinogenicity study at doses of 40 and 60 mg/kg/day which are 13 and 19 times the MRHD of 30 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area. Evaluation of the retinas of albino mice and of monkeys did not reveal evidence of retinal degeneration. Additional studies to further evaluate the mechanism have not been performed. The relevance of this finding to human risk is unknown.
14 Clinical Studies
Efficacy of the oral formulations of aripiprazole was established in the following adequate and well-controlled trials:
- Four short-term trials and one maintenance trial in adult patients and one short-term trial in adolescents (ages 13 to 17 years) with schizophrenia [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]
- Four short-term monotherapy trials and one 6 week adjunctive trial in adult patients and one short-term monotherapy trial in pediatric patients (ages 10 to 17 years) with manic or mixed episodes [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]
- One maintenance monotherapy trial and one maintenance adjunctive trial in adult patients with bipolar I disorder [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]
- Two short-term trials in adult patients with MDD who had an inadequate response to antidepressant therapy during the current episode [see Clinical Studies (14.3)]
- Two short-term trials in pediatric patients (ages 6 to 17 years) for the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder [see Clinical Studies (14.4)]
- Two short-term trials in pediatric patients (ages 6 to 18 years) with Tourette’s disorder [see Clinical Studies (14.5)]
14.1 Schizophrenia
Adults The efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of schizophrenia was evaluated in five short-term (4 week and 6 week), placebo-controlled trials of acutely relapsed inpatients who predominantly met DSM-III/IV criteria for schizophrenia. Four of the five trials were able to distinguish aripiprazole from placebo, but one study, the smallest, did not. Three of these studies also included an active control group consisting of either risperidone (one trial) or haloperidol (two trials), but they were not designed to allow for a comparison of aripiprazole and the active comparators.In the four positive trials for aripiprazole, four primary measures were used for assessing psychiatric signs and symptoms. Efficacy was evaluated using the total score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The PANSS is a 30 li scale that measures positive symptoms of schizophrenia (7 lis), negative symptoms of schizophrenia (7 lis), and general psychopathology (16 lis), each rated on a scale of 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme); total PANSS scores range from 30 to 210. The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) assessment reflects the impression of a skilled observer, fully familiar with the manifestations of schizophrenia, about the overall clinical state of the patient.In a 4 week trial (n=414) comparing two fixed doses of aripiprazole (15 or 30 mg/day) to placebo, both doses of aripiprazole were superior to placebo in the PANSS total score (Study 1 in Table 26), PANSS positive subscale, and CGI-severity score. In addition, the 15 mg dose was superior to placebo in the PANSS negative subscale. In a 4 week trial (n=404) comparing two fixed doses of aripiprazole (20 or 30 mg/day) to placebo, both doses of aripiprazole were superior to placebo in the PANSS total score (Study 2 in Table 26), PANSS positive subscale, PANSS negative subscale, and CGI-severity score.In a 6 week trial (n=420) comparing three fixed doses of aripiprazole (10, 15, or 20 mg/day) to placebo, all three doses of aripiprazole were superior to placebo in the PANSS total score (Study 3 in Table 26), PANSS positive subscale, and the PANSS negative subscale.In a 6 week trial (n=367) comparing three fixed doses of aripiprazole (2, 5, or 10 mg/day) to placebo, the 10 mg dose of aripiprazole was superior to placebo in the PANSS total score (Study 4 in Table 26), the primary outcome measure of the study. The 2 and 5 mg doses did not demonstrate superiority to placebo on the primary outcome measure. Thus, the efficacy of 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg daily doses was established in two studies for each dose. Among these doses, there was no evidence that the higher dose groups offered any advantage over the lowest dose group of these studies.An examination of population subgroups did not reveal any clear evidence of differential responsiveness on the basis of age, gender, or race.A longer-term trial enrolled 310 inpatients or outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia who were, by history, symptomatically stable on other antipsychotic medications for periods of 3 months or longer. These patients were discontinued from their antipsychotic medications and randomized to aripiprazole 15 mg/day or placebo for up to 26 weeks of observation for relapse. Relapse during the double-blind phase was defined as CGI-Improvement score of ≥5 (minimally worse), scores ≥5 (moderately severe) on the hostility or uncooperativeness lis of the PANSS, or ≥20% increase in the PANSS total score. Patients receiving aripiprazole 15 mg/day experienced a significantly longer time to relapse over the subsequent 26 weeks compared to those receiving placebo (Study 5 in Figure 6). Pediatric Patients The efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of schizophrenia in pediatric patients (13 to 17 years of age) was evaluated in one 6-week, placebo-controlled trial of outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and had a PANSS score ≥70 at baseline. In this trial (n=302) comparing two fixed doses of aripiprazole (10 or 30 mg/day) to placebo, aripiprazole was titrated starting from 2 mg/day to the target dose in 5 days in the 10 mg/day treatment arm and in 11 days in the 30 mg/day treatment arm. Both doses of aripiprazole were superior to placebo in the PANSS total score (Study 6 in Table 26), the primary outcome measure of the study. The 30 mg/day dosage was not shown to be more efficacious than the 10 mg/day dose. Although maintenance efficacy in pediatric patients has not been systematically evaluated, maintenance efficacy can be extrapolated from adult data along with comparisons of aripiprazole pharmacokinetic parameters in adult and pediatric patients. Table 26: Schizophrenia Studies
Study Number Treatment Group Primary Efficacy Measure: PANSS Mean Baseline Score (SD) LS Mean Change from Baseline (SE) Placebo-subtracted Difference* (95% CI) Study 1 Aripiprazole (15 mg/day)† 98.5 (17.2) -15.5 (2.40) -12.6 (-18.9, -6.2) Aripiprazole (30 mg/day)† 99.0 (19.2) -11.4 (2.39) -8.5 (-14.8, -2.1) Placebo 100.2 (16.5) -2.9 (2.36) -- Study 2 Aripiprazole (20 mg/day)† 92.6 (19.5) -14.5 (2.23) -9.6 (-15.4, -3.8) Aripiprazole (30 mg/day)† 94.2 (18.5) -13.9 (2.24) -9.0 (-14.8, -3.1) Placebo 94.3 (18.5) -5.0 (2.17) -- Study 3 Aripiprazole (10 mg/day)† 92.7 (19.5) -15.0 (2.38) -12.7 (-19.00, -6.41) Aripiprazole (15 mg/day)† 93.2 (21.6) -11.7 (2.38) -9.4 (-15.71, -3.08) Aripiprazole (20 mg/day)† 92.5 (20.9) -14.4 (2.45) -12.1 (-18.53, -5.68) Placebo 92.3 (21.8) -2.3 (2.35) -- Study 4 Aripiprazole (2 mg/day) 90.7 (14.5) -8.2 (1.90) -2.9 (-8.29, 2.47) Aripiprazole (5 mg/day) 92.0 (12.6) -10.6 (1.93) -5.2 (-10.7, 0.19) Aripiprazole (10 mg/day)† 90.0 (11.9) -11.3 (1.88) -5.9 (-11.3, -0.58) Placebo 90.8 (13.3) -5.3 (1.97) -- Study 6(Pediatric,13 to 17years) Aripiprazole (10 mg/day)† 93.6 (15.7) -26.7 (1.91) -5.5 (-10.7, -0.21) Aripiprazole (30 mg/day)† 94.0 (16.1) -28.6 (1.92) -7.4 (-12.7, -2.13) Placebo 94.6 (15.6) -21.2 (1.93) --
SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted confidence interval.* Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline. † Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo. Figure 6: Kaplan-Meier Estimation of Cumulative Proportion of Patients with Relapse (Schizophrenia Study 5)
14.2 Bipolar Disorder
Acute Treatment of Manic and Mixed Episodes
Adults
Monotherapy
The efficacy of aripiprazole as monotherapy in the acute treatment of manic episodes was established in four 3 week, placebo-controlled trials in hospitalized patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I disorder with manic or mixed episodes. These studies included patients with or without psychotic features and two of the studies also included patients with or without a rapid-cycling course.
The primary instrument used for assessing manic symptoms was the Young Mania Rating Scale (Y-MRS), an 11 li clinician-rated scale traditionally used to assess the degree of manic symptomatology in a range from 0 (no manic features) to 60 (maximum score). A key secondary instrument included the Clinical Global Impression-Bipolar (CGI-BP) Scale.
In the four positive, 3 week, placebo-controlled trials (n=268; n=248; n=480; n=485) which evaluated aripiprazole in a range of 15 mg to 30 mg, once daily (with a starting dose of 30 mg/day in two studies and 15 mg/day in two studies), aripiprazole was superior to placebo in the reduction of Y-MRS total score (Studies 1 to 4 in Table 27) and CGI-BP Severity of Illness score (mania). In the two studies with a starting dose of 15 mg/day, 48% and 44% of patients were on 15 mg/day at endpoint. In the two studies with a starting dose of 30 mg/day, 86% and 85% of patients were on 30 mg/day at endpoint.
Adjunctive Therapy
The efficacy of adjunctive aripiprazole with concomitant lithium or valproate in the treatment of manic or mixed episodes was established in a 6 week, placebo-controlled study (n=384) with a 2 week lead-in mood stabilizer monotherapy phase in adult patients who met DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I disorder. This study included patients with manic or mixed episodes and with or without psychotic features.
Patients were initiated on open-label lithium (0.6 to 1.0 mEq/L) or valproate (50 to 125 mcg/mL) at therapeutic serum levels and remained on stable doses for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, patients demonstrating inadequate response (Y-MRS total score ≥16 and ≤25% improvement on the Y-MRS total score) to lithium or valproate were randomized to receive either aripiprazole (15 mg/day or an increase to 30 mg/day as early as Day 7) or placebo as adjunctive therapy with open-label lithium or valproate. In the 6 week, placebo-controlled phase, adjunctive aripiprazole starting at 15 mg/day with concomitant lithium or valproate (in a therapeutic range of 0.6 to 1.0 mEq/L or 50 to 125 mcg/mL, respectively) was superior to lithium or valproate with adjunctive placebo in the reduction of the Y-MRS total score (Study 5 in Table 27) and CGI-BP Severity of Illness score (mania). Seventy-one percent of the patients coadministered valproate and 62% of the patients coadministered lithium were on 15 mg/day at 6 week endpoint.
Pediatric Patients
The efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of bipolar I disorder in pediatric patients (10 to 17 years of age) was evaluated in one 4 week, placebo-controlled trial (n=296) of outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I disorder manic or mixed episodes with or without psychotic features and had a Y-MRS score ≥20 at baseline. This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial compared two fixed doses of aripiprazole (10 or 30 mg/day) to placebo. The aripiprazole dose was started at 2 mg/day, which was titrated to 5 mg/day after 2 days, and to the target dose in 5 days in the 10 mg/day treatment arm, and in 13 days in the 30 mg/day treatment arm. Both doses of aripiprazole were superior to placebo in change from baseline to Week 4 on the Y-MRS total score (Study 6 in Table 27).
Table 27: Bipolar Studies
Study Number Treatment Group Primary Efficacy Measure: Y-MRS Mean Baseline Score (SD) LS Mean Change from Baseline (SE) Placebo-subtracted Difference * (95% CI) Study 1 Aripiprazole (30 / 15 mg/day)† Placebo 29.0 (5.9)28.5 (4.6) -12.52 (1.05)-7.19 (1.07) -5.33 (-7.90, -2.76)-- Study 2 Aripiprazole (30 / 15 mg/day) † Placebo 27.8 (5.7)29.1 (6.9) -8.15 (1.23)-3.35 (1.22) -4.80 (-7.80, -1.80)-- Study 3 Aripiprazole (15 to 30 mg/day) † Placebo 28.5 (5.6)28.9 (5.9) -12.64 (0.84)9.01 (0.81) -3.63 (-5.75 , -1.51)-- Study 4 Aripiprazole (15 to 30 mg/day) † Placebo 28.0 (5.8)28.3 (5.8) -11.98 (0.80)-9.70 (0.83) -2.28 (-4.44 , -0.11)-- Study 5 Aripiprazole (15 or 30 mg/day)† + Lithium/ValproatePlacebo + Lithium/Valproate 23.2 (5.7) 23.0 (4.9) -13.31 (0.50) -10.70 (0.69) -2.62 (-4.29 , -0.95) -- Study 6 (Pediatric,10 to 17 years) Aripiprazole (10 mg/day) †Aripiprazole (30 mg/day) † Placebo 29.8 (6.5)29.5 (6.3)30.7 (6.8) -14.2 (0.89)-16.5 (0.87)-8.2 (0.91) -5.99 (-8.49, -3.50)-8.26 (-10.7, -5.77)--
SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted confidence interval.
*Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline.
† Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo.
Maintenance Treatment of Bipolar I Disorder Monotherapy Maintenance Therapy A maintenance trial was conducted in adult patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I disorder with a recent manic or mixed episode who had been stabilized on open-label aripiprazole and who had maintained a clinical response for at least 6 weeks. The first phase of this trial was an open-label stabilization period in which inpatients and outpatients were clinically stabilized and then maintained on open-label aripiprazole (15 or 30 mg/day, with a starting dose of 30 mg/day) for at least 6 consecutive weeks. One hundred sixty-one outpatients were then randomized in a double-blind fashion, to either the same dose of aripiprazole they were on at the end of the stabilization and maintenance period or placebo and were then monitored for manic or depressive relapse. During the randomization phase, aripiprazole was superior to placebo on time to the number of combined affective relapses (manic plus depressive), the primary outcome measure for this study (Study 7 in Figure 7). A total of 55 mood events were observed during the double-blind treatment phase. Nineteen were from the aripiprazole group and 36 were from the placebo group. The number of observed manic episodes in the aripiprazole group (6) were fewer than that in the placebo group (19), while the number of depressive episodes in the aripiprazole group (9) was similar to that in the placebo group (11). An examination of population subgroups did not reveal any clear evidence of differential responsiveness on the basis of age and gender; however, there were insufficient numbers of patients in each of the ethnic groups to adequately assess inter-group differences. Figure 7: Kaplan-Meier Estimation of Cumulative Proportion of Patients with Relapse (Bipolar Study 7)
Adjunctive Maintenance Therapy An adjunctive maintenance trial was conducted in adult patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I disorder with a recent manic or mixed episode. Patients were initiated on open-label lithium (0.6 to 1.0 mEq/L) or valproate (50 to 125 mcg/mL) at therapeutic serum levels and remained on stable doses for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, patients demonstrating inadequate response (Y-MRS total score ≥16 and ≤35% improvement on the Y-MRS total score) to lithium or valproate received aripiprazole with a starting dose of 15 mg/day with the option to increase to 30 mg or reduce to 10 mg as early as Day 4, as adjunctive therapy with open-label lithium or valproate. Prior to randomization, patients on the combination of single-blind aripiprazole and lithium or valproate were required to maintain stability (Y-MRS and MADRS total scores ≤12) for 12 consecutive weeks. Three hundred thirty-seven patients were then randomized in a double-blind fashion, to either the same dose of aripiprazole they were on at the end of the stabilization period or placebo plus lithium or valproate and were then monitored for manic, mixed, or depressive relapse for a maximum of 52 weeks. Aripiprazole was superior to placebo on the primary endpoint, time from randomization to relapse to any mood event (Study 8 in Figure 8). A mood event was defined as hospitalization for a manic, mixed, or depressive episode, study discontinuation due to lack of efficacy accompanied by Y-MRS score >16 and/or a MADRS >16, or an SAE of worsening disease accompanied by Y-MRS score >16 and/or a MADRS >16. A total of 68 mood events were observed during the double-blind treatment phase. Twenty-five were from the aripiprazole group and 43 were from the placebo group. The number of observed manic episodes in the aripiprazole group (7) were fewer than that in the placebo group (19), while the number of depressive episodes in the aripiprazole group (14) was similar to that in the placebo group (18). The Kaplan-Meier curves of the time from randomization to relapse to any mood event during the 52 week, double-blind treatment phase for aripiprazole and placebo groups are shown in Figure 8.
An examination of population subgroups did not reveal any clear evidence of differential responsiveness on the basis of age and gender; however, there were insufficient numbers of patients in each of the ethnic groups to adequately assess inter-group differences.
Figure 8: Kaplan-Meier Estimation of Cumulative Proportion of Patients with Relapse to Any Mood Event (Bipolar Study 8)
14.3 Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Adults
The efficacy of aripiprazole in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) was demonstrated in two short-term (6 week), placebo-controlled trials of adult patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD who had had an inadequate response to prior antidepressant therapy (1 to 3 courses) in the current episode and who had also demonstrated an inadequate response to 8 weeks of prospective antidepressant therapy (paroxetine controlled-release, venlafaxine extended-release, fluoxetine, escitalopram, or sertraline). Inadequate response for prospective treatment was defined as less than 50% improvement on the 17 li version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17), minimal HAMD17 score of 14, and a Clinical Global Impressions Improvement rating of no better than minimal improvement. Inadequate response to prior treatment was defined as less than 50% improvement as perceived by the patient after a minimum of 6 weeks of antidepressant therapy at or above the minimal effective dose.
The primary instrument used for assessing depressive symptoms was the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), a 10 li clinician-rated scale used to assess the degree of depressive symptomatology. The key secondary instrument was the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), a 3 li self-rated instrument used to assess the impact of depression on three domains of functioning with each li scored from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extreme).
In the two trials (n=381, n=362), aripiprazole was superior to placebo in reducing mean MADRS total scores (Studies 1, 2 in Table 28). In one study, aripiprazole was also superior to placebo in reducing the mean SDS score.
In both trials, patients received aripiprazole adjunctive to antidepressants at a dose of 5 mg/day. Based on tolerability and efficacy, doses could be adjusted by 5 mg increments, one week apart. Allowable doses were: 2, 5, 10, 15 mg/day, and for patients who were not on potent CYP2D6 inhibitors fluoxetine and paroxetine, 20 mg/day. The mean final dose at the end point for the two trials was 10.7 and 11.4 mg/day.
An examination of population subgroups did not reveal evidence of differential response based on age, choice of prospective antidepressant, or race. With regard to gender, a smaller mean reduction on the MADRS total score was seen in males than in females.
Table 28: Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder Studies
Study Number Treatment Group Primary Efficacy Measure : MADRS Mean Baseline Score (SD) LS Mean Change from Baseline (SE) Placebo-subtracted Difference * (95% CI) Study 1 Aripiprazole (5 to 20mg/day)† +Antidepressant 25.2(6.2) -8.49 (0.66) -2.84 (-4.53, -1.15) Placebo +Antidepressant 27.0 (5.5) -5.65 (0.64) -- Study 2 Aripiprazole (5 to 20mg/day)† +Antidepressant 26.0 (6.0) -8.78 (0.63) -3.01 (-4.66, -1.37) Placebo +Antidepressant 26.0 (6.5) -5.77 (0.67) --
SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted confidence interval.
* Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline.
† Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo.
14.4 Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder
Pediatric Patients
The efficacy of aripiprazole (aripiprazole) in the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder was established in two 8 week, placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients (6 to 17 years of age) who met the DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder and demonstrated behaviors such as tantrums, aggression, self-injurious behavior, or a combination of these problems. Over 75% of these patients were under 13 years of age.
Efficacy was evaluated using two assessment scales: The Aberrant Behavior Checkul (ABC) and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. The primary outcome measure in both trials was the change from baseline to endpoint in the Irritability subscale of the ABC (ABC-I). The ABC-I subscale measured symptoms of irritability in autistic disorder.
The results of these trials are as follows:
In one of the 8 week, placebo-controlled trials, children and adolescents with autistic disorder (n=98), aged 6 to 17 years, received daily doses of placebo or aripiprazole 2 to 15 mg/day. aripiprazole, starting at 2 mg/day with increases allowed up to 15 mg/day based on clinical response, significantly improved scores on the ABC-I subscale and on the CGI-I scale compared with placebo. The mean daily dose of aripiprazole at the end of 8 week treatment was 8.6 mg/day (Study 1 in Table 29).
In the other 8 week, placebo-controlled trial in children and adolescents with autistic disorder (n=218), aged 6 to 17 years, three fixed doses of aripiprazole (5 mg/day, 10 mg/day, or 15 mg/day) were compared to placebo. aripiprazole dosing started at 2 mg/day and was increased to 5 mg/day after one week. After a second week, it was increased to 10 mg/day for patients in the 10 and 15 mg dose arms, and after a third week, it was increased to 15 mg/day in the 15 mg/day treatment arm (Study 2 in Table 29). All three doses of aripiprazole significantly improved scores on the ABC-I subscale compared with placebo.
Table 29: Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder Studies (Pediatric)
Study Number Treatment Group Primary Efficacy Measure: ABC-I Mean Baseline Score (SD) LS Mean Change from Baseline (SE) Placebo-subtracted Difference * (95% CI) Study 1 Aripiprazole (2 to 15 mg/day)† 29.6 (6.37) -12.9 (1.44) -7.9 (-11.7, -4.1) Placebo 30.2 (6.52) -5.0 (1.43) -- Study 2 Aripiprazole (5 mg/day)† 28.6 (7.56) -12.4 (1.36) -4.0 (-7.7, -0.4) Aripiprazole (10 mg/day)† 28.2 (7.36) -13.2 (1.25) -4.8 (-8.4, -1.3) Aripiprazole (15 mg/day) 28.9 (6.41) -14.4 (1.31) -6.0 (-9.6, -2.3) Placebo 28.0 (6.89) -8.4 (1.39) --
SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted confidence interval.
*Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline.
† Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo.
14.5 Tourettes Disorder
Pediatric Patients
The efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of Tourette’s disorder was established in one 8 week (7 to 17 years of age) and one 10 week (6 to 18 years of age), placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients (6 to 18 years of age) who met the DSM-IV criteria for Tourette’s disorder and had a Total Tic score (TTS) ≥ 20 to 22 on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS). The YGTSS is a fully validated scale designed to measure current tic severity.
Efficacy was evaluated using two assessment scales: 1) the Total Tic score (TTS) of the YGTSS and 2) the Clinical Global Impressions Scale for Tourette’s Syndrome (CGI-TS), a clinician-determined summary measure that takes into account all available patient information. Over 65% of these patients were under 13 years of age.
The primary outcome measure in both trials was the change from baseline to endpoint in the TTS of the YGTSS. Ratings for the TTS are made along 5 different dimensions on a scale of 0 to 5 for motor and vocal tics each. Summation of these 10 scores provides a TTS (i.e., 0 to 50).
The results of these trials are as follows:
In the 8 week, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose trial, children and adolescents with Tourette’s disorder (n=133), aged 7 to 17 years, were randomized 1:1:1 to low dose aripiprazole, high dose aripiprazole, or placebo. The target doses for the low and high dose aripiprazole groups were based on weight. Patients less than 50 kg in the low dose aripiprazole group started at 2 mg per day with a target dose of 5mg per day after 2 days. Patients ≥ 50 kg in the low dose aripiprazole group, started at 2 mg per day increased to 5 mg per day after 2 days, with a subsequent increase to a target dose of 10 mg per day at Day 7. Patients <50 kg in the high dose aripiprazole group started at 2 mg per day increased to 5 mg per day after 2 days, with a subsequent increase to a target dose of 10 mg per day at Day 7. Patients ≥ 50 kg in the high dose aripiprazole group, started at 2 mg per day increased to 5 mg per day after 2 days, with a subsequent increase to a dose of 10 mg per day at Day 7 and were allowed weekly increases of 5 mg per day up to a target dose 20 mg per day at Day 21. aripiprazole (both high and low dose groups) demonstrated statistically significantly improved scores on the YGTSS TTS (Study 1 in Table 30) and on the CGI-TS scale compared with placebo. The estimated improvements on the YGTSS TTS over the course of the study are displayed in Figure 9.
Figure 9: Least Square Means of Change from Baseline in YGTSS TTS by Week (Tourette’s Disorder Study 1)
In the 10 week, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose trial in children and adolescents with Tourette’s disorder (n=61), aged 6 to 18 years, patients received daily doses of placebo or aripiprazole, starting at 2 mg/day with increases allowed up to 20 mg/day based on clinical response. aripiprazole demonstrated statistically significantly improved scores on the YGTSS TTS scale compared with placebo (Study 2 in Table 30). The mean daily dose of aripiprazole at the end of 10 week treatment was 6.54 mg/day.
Table 30: Tourette’s Disorder Studies (Pediatric)
Study Number Treatment Group Primary Efficacy Measure: YGTSS TTS Mean Baseline Score (SD) LS Mean Change from Baseline (SE) Placebo-subtracted Differenc e* (95% CI) Study 1 Aripiprazole (low dose) † 29.2 (5.63) -13.4 (1.59) -6.3 (-10.2, -2.3) Aripiprazole (high dose) † 31.2 (6.40) -16.9 (1.61) -9.9 (-13.8, -5.9) Placebo 30.7 (5.95) -7.1 (1.55) -- Study 2 Aripiprazole (2 to 20 mg/day) † 28.3 (5.51) -15.0 (1.51) -5.3 (-9.8, -0.9) Placebo 29.5 (5.60) -9.6 (1.64) --
SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted
confidence interval.
*Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline.
†Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo.
16 How Supplied/storage And Handling
16.1 How Supplied
Aripiprazole Tablets, USP have markings on one side and are available in the strengths and packages uled in Table 32. Table 32: Aripiprazole Tablets, USP Presentations
Tablet Strength Tablet Color/Shape Tablet Markings Pack Size NDC Code 2 mg greenmodified rectangle “ARI”and “2” 30’s HDPE Container 67877-430-03 100’s HDPE Container 67877-430-01 500’s HDPE Container 67877-430-05 10’s buler pack 67877-430-33 Carton pack of 100 tablets (10 × 10’s buler pack) 67877-430-38 7’s buler pack 67877-430-32 Carton pack of 7 tablets (1 × 7’s buler pack) 67877-430-32 5 mg bluemodified rectangle “ARI”and “5” 30’s HDPE Container 67877-431-03 100’s HDPE Container 67877-431-01 500’s HDPE Container 67877-431-05 10’s buler pack 67877-431-33 Carton pack of 100 tablets (10 × 10’s buler pack) 67877-431-38 7’s buler pack 67877-431-32 Carton pack of 7 tablets (1 × 7’s buler pack) 67877-431-32 10 mg pinkmodified rectangle “ARI”and “10” 30’s HDPE Container 67877-432-03 100’s HDPE Container 67877-432-01 500’s HDPE Container 67877-432-05 10’s buler pack 67877-432-33 Carton pack of 100 tablets (10 × 10’s buler pack) 67877-432-38 7’s buler pack 67877-432-32 Carton pack of 7 tablets (1 × 7’s buler pack) 67877-432-32 15 mg yellowround “ARI”and “15” 30’s HDPE Container 67877-433-03 100’s HDPE Container 67877-433-01 500’s HDPE Container 67877-433-05 10’s buler pack 67877-433-33 Carton pack of 100 tablets (10 × 10’s buler pack) 67877-433-38 7’s buler pack 67877-433-32 Carton pack of 7 tablets (1 × 7’s buler pack) 67877-433-32 20 mg White to off-whiteround “ARI”and “20” 30’s HDPE Container 67877-434-03 100’s HDPE Container 67877-434-01 500’s HDPE Container 67877-434-05 10’s buler pack 67877-434-33 Carton pack of 100 tablets (10 × 10’s buler pack) 67877-434-38 30 mg pinkround “ARI”and “30” 30’s HDPE Container 67877-435-03 100’s HDPE Container 67877-435-01 500’s HDPE Container 67877-435-05 10’s buler pack 67877-435-33 Carton pack of 100 tablets (10 × 10’s buler pack) 67877-435-38 16.2 Storage
Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].
17 Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Discuss the following issues with patients prescribed aripiprazole:
Clinical Worsening of Depression and Suicide Risk
Patients, their families, and their caregivers should be encouraged to be alert to the emergence of anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, mania, other unusual changes in behavior, worsening of depression, and suicidal ideation, especially early during antidepressant treatment and when the dose is adjusted up or down. Families and caregivers of patients should be advised to look for the emergence of such symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s prescriber or health professional, especially if they are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms. Symptoms such as these may be associated with an increased risk for suicidal thinking and behavior and indicate a need for very close monitoring and possibly changes in the medication [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Prescribers or other health professionals should inform patients, their families, and their caregivers about the benefits and risks associated with treatment with aripiprazole and should counsel them in its appropriate use. A patient Medication Guide including information about “Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and other Serious Mental Illness, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions” is available for aripiprazole. The prescriber or health professional should instruct patients, their families, and their caregivers to read the Medication Guide and should assist them in understanding its contents. Patients should be given the opportunity to discuss the contents of the Medication Guide and to obtain answers to any questions they may have. It should be noted that aripiprazole is not approved as a single agent for treatment of depression and has not been evaluated in pediatric major depressive disorder.
Pathological Gambling and Other Compulsive Behaviors
Advise patients and their caregivers of the possibility that they may experience compulsive urges to shop, intense urges to gamble, compulsive sexual urges, binge eating and/or other compulsive urges and the inability to control these urges while taking aripiprazole. In some cases, but not all, the urges were reported to have stopped when the dose was reduced or stopped [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)].
Interference with Cognitive and Motor Performance
Because aripiprazole may have the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills, patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that aripiprazole therapy does not affect them adversely [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12)].
Concomitant Medication
Patients should be advised to inform their physicians if they are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, since there is a potential for interactions [see Drug Interactions (7)].
Heat Exposure and Dehydration
Patients should be advised regarding appropriate care in avoiding overheating and dehydration [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13)].
Pregnancy
Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during treatment with aripiprazole. Advise patients that aripiprazole may cause extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms (agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress, and feeding disorder) in a neonate. Advise patients that there is a pregnancy registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to aripiprazole during pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].
Manufactured by:
Alkem Laboratories Ltd.,
INDIA.
Distributed by:
Ascend Laboratories, LLC
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Revised: December 2023
For Medication Guide, please visit:http://www.ascendlaboratories.com/mg/aripiprazoletab.pdf
Medication Guide
Aripiprazole Tablets, USP (AR i PIP ra zole)
What is the most important information I should know about Aripiprazole Tablets?
(For other side effects, also see “What are the possible side effects of Aripiprazole Tablets?")
Serious side effects may happen when you take aripiprazole tablets, including:
- Increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis: Medicines like aripiprazole tablets can raise the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). Aripiprazole tablets is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.
- Risk of suicidal thoughts or actions: Antidepressant medicines, depression and other serious mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts or actions:
- Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment.
- Depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Some people may have a particularly high risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions
. These include people who have (or have a family history of) bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions.
- How can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal thoughts and actions in myself or a family member?
- Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed.
- Call the healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings.
- Keep all follow-up visits with the healthcare provider as scheduled. Call the healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you have concerns about symptoms.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
- thoughts about suicide or dying
- attempts to commit suicide
- new or worse depression
- new or worse anxiety
- feeling very agitated or restless
- panic attacks
- trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- new or worse irritability
- acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
- acting on dangerous impulses
- an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
- other unusual changes in behavior or mood
What else do I need to know about antidepressant medicines?
- Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms.
- Antidepressants are medicines used to treat depression and other illnesses. It is important to discuss all the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. Patients and their families or other caregivers should discuss all treatment choices with the healthcare provider, not just the use of antidepressants.
- Antidepressant medicines have other side effects. Talk to the healthcare provider about the side effects of the medicine prescribed for you or your family member.
- Antidepressant medicines can interact with other medicines. Know all of the medicines that you or your family member take. Keep a ul of all medicines to show the healthcare provider. Do not start new medicines without first checking with your healthcare provider.
- Not all antidepressant medicines prescribed for children are FDA approved for use in children. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider for more information.
What is Aripiprazole Tablets?
- Aripiprazole Tablets is a prescription medicine used to treat:
- schizophrenia
- manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder
- major depressive disorder (MDD) when aripiprazole is used with antidepressant medicines
- irritability associated with autistic disorder
- Tourette’s disorder
It is not known if Aripiprazole is safe or effective in children:
- under 13 years of age with schizophrenia
under 10 years of age with bipolar I disorder
under 6 years of age with irritability associated with autistic disorder
under 6 years of age with Tourette’s disorder
Do not take aripiprazole if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in aripiprazole tablets. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete ul of ingredients in aripiprazole tablets, USP.
Before taking aripiprazole tablets, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have or had:
- diabetes or high blood sugar in you or your family; your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start aripiprazole tablets and also during therapy.
- seizures (convulsions).
- low or high blood pressure.
- heart problems or stroke.
- pregnancy or plans to become pregnant. It is not known if aripiprazole tablets will harm your unborn baby.
- If you become pregnant while receiving aripiprazole tablets, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. You can register by calling 1-866-961-2388 or go to http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/
- breast-feeding or plans to breast-feed. Aripiprazole passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive aripiprazole tablets.
- low white blood cell count.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Aripiprazole Tablets and other medicines may affect each other causing possible serious side effects. Aripiprazole Tablets may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how aripiprazole tablets works.
Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take aripiprazole tablets with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicines while taking aripiprazole tablets without talking to your healthcare provider first. Know the medicines you take. Keep a ul of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take Aripiprazole Tablets?
- Take aripiprazole tablets exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change the dose or stop taking aripiprazole tablets yourself.
- Aripiprazole Tablets can be taken with or without food.
- Aripiprazole tablets should be swallowed whole.
- If you miss a dose of aripiprazole tablets, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of aripiprazole tablets at the same time.
- If you take too much aripiprazole tablets, call your healthcare provider or poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
What should I avoid while taking Aripiprazole Tablets?
- Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how aripiprazole tablets affects you. Aripiprazole tablets may make you drowsy.
- Avoid getting over-heated or dehydrated.
- Do not over-exercise.
- In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible.
- Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much or heavy clothing.
- Drink plenty of water.
What are the possible side effects of Aripiprazole Tablets? Aripiprazole Tablets may cause serious side effects, including:
- See “What is the most important information I should know about Aripiprazole Tablets ?”
- Stroke in elderly people (cerebrovascular problems) that can lead to death
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms: high fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure. These may be symptoms of a rare and serious condition that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.
• Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia). Aripiprazole may cause movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop receiving aripiprazole. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop receiving aripiprazole.• Problems with your metabolism such as: • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and diabetes. Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who take aripiprazole tablets. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes (such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes), your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start aripiprazole tablets and during your treatment. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar while receiving aripiprazole tablets: • feel very thirsty• need to urinate more than usual• feel very hungry• feel weak or tired• feel sick to your stomach• feel confused, or your breath smells fruity
• Increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood.
• Weight gain. You and your healthcare provider should check your weight regularly.
• Unusual urges. Some people taking aripiprazole have had unusual urges, such as gambling, binge eating or eating that you cannot control (compulsive), compulsive shopping and sexual urges.If you or your family members notice that you are having unusual urges or behaviors, talk to your healthcare provider.
• Orthostatic hypotension (decreased blood pressure).
Lightheadedness or fainting may happen when rising too quickly from a sitting or lying position.• Falls. Aripiprazole may make you sleepy or dizzy, may cause a decrease in your blood pressure when changing position and can slow your thinking and motor skills which may lead to falls that can cause fractures or other injuries. • Low white blood cell count • Seizures (convulsions)
- Problems with control of your body temperature especially when you exercise a lot or are in an area that is very hot. It is important for you to drink water to avoid dehydration. See “What should I avoid while receiving aripiprazole?”
- D ifficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.
The most common side effects of aripiprazole tablets in adults include:
• nausea • dizziness
• vomiting • anxiety
• constipation • insomnia
• headache • restlessness
• blurred vision • inner sense of restlessness/need to move (akathisia)
• upper respiratory illness
The most common side effects of aripiprazole tablets in children include:
• feeling sleepy • insomnia
• headache • nausea
• vomiting • stuffy nose
• fatigue • weight gain
• increased or decreased appetite • uncontrolled movement such as restlessness, tremor
• increased saliva or drooling • muscle stiffness
These are not all the possible side effects of aripiprazole tablets. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. How should I store Aripiprazole Tablets, USP? • Store aripiprazole tablets, USP at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Keep aripiprazole tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of Aripiprazole Tablets
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those uled in a Medication Guide. Do not use aripiprazole tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give aripiprazole tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about aripiprazole tablets that was written for healthcare professionals.
What are the ingredients in Aripiprazole Tablets, USP?
Active ingredient: Aripiprazole, USP
Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, corn starch, hydroxyl propyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose 101, magnesium stearate. Colorants include FD&C blue #2/indigo carmine AL11-14%, yellow ferric oxide, red ferric oxide.
For more information call 1-877-272-7901.
Manufactured by:
Alkem Laboratories Ltd.,
INDIA.
Distributed by:
Ascend Laboratories, LLC
Parsippany, NJ 07054
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Revised: December 2023
PT2165-08
Package Label.principal Display Panel
NDC 67877-430-03Aripiprazole Tablets, USP 2 mg Rx Only 30 TabletsNDC 67877-431-01A ripiprazole Tablets, USP 5 mg Rx Only 100 Tablets
NDC 67877-432-05A ripiprazole Tablets, USP 10 mg Rx Only 500 Tablets
NDC 67877-433-03A ripiprazole Tablets, USP 15 mg Rx Only 30 Tablets
NDC 67877-434-01A ripiprazole Tablets, USP 20 mg Rx Only 100 Tablets
NDC 67877-435-05A ripiprazole Tablets, USP 30 mg Rx Only 500 Tablets
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