Abilify Maintena Dosage, Uses & Side Effect

Abilify Maintena: Dosage, Uses and Side Effects

Introduction

Abilify Maintena is a medication that belongs to the class of atypical antipsychotics. It is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults. It is given as an injection into the muscle of the arm or buttock by a healthcare professional once a month.

How it works

Abilify Maintena works by affecting the levels of certain chemicals in the brain called dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are involved in regulating mood, thinking and behavior.

Side effects

Some of the common side effects of Abilify Maintena include weight gain, headache, insomnia, anxiety, akathisia (restlessness), injection site pain and nausea.
Some serious side effects include increased risk of death in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis, increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels, low white blood cell count, seizures, low blood pressure, heart problems, stroke and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a life-threatening reaction).

Precautions and interactions

•  Abilify Maintena should not be used by people who are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in the medication.
• It should also be used with caution by people who have diabetes, seizures, heart problems, low or high blood pressure or low white blood cell count.
• Abilify Maintena may interact with other medications that affect the activity of certain enzymes in the liver called CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. These include some antibiotics, antifungals, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and herbal products. The dose of Abilify Maintena may need to be adjusted depending on the use of these medications.

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Dosage and administration

• Before starting Abilify Maintena, patients should establish tolerability with oral aripiprazole for up to 2 weeks.
• After the first injection of Abilify Maintena, patients should continue taking oral aripiprazole or their current oral antipsychotic for 14 days to maintain adequate levels of the medication in the body.
• If a dose of Abilify Maintena is missed, patients should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule the injection.

Conclusion

Abilify Maintena is a medication that can help people with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder manage their symptoms. It has some benefits such as being given once a month and having fewer side effects than some other antipsychotics. However, it also has some risks such as causing serious health problems and interacting with other medications. Therefore, patients should follow their healthcare provider's instructions carefully and report any adverse reactions or concerns.