About Aristada: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Aripiprazole lauroxil is a long-acting injectable antipsychotic drug used to treat adult schizophrenia under the brand name Aristada. A mental illness called schizophrenia affects a person's thoughts, feelings, and actions. Hallucinations, delusions, slurred speech, and other symptoms that affect daily functioning can occur in people with schizophrenia.

How does Aristada function?

Aristada is a prodrug of aripiprazole, which means that following injection, it is transformed into aripiprazole in the body. Atypical antipsychotics, of which aripiprazole is a member, function by influencing the activity of specific neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. It is believed that aripiprazole balances the amounts of these neurotransmitters and lessens schizophrenic symptoms.

Where can I buy Aristada?

A healthcare practitioner administers Aristada as an intramuscular injection once every four to eight weeks, depending on the dosage and the doctor's suggestion. The buttocks or the arm can get the injection. There are four dosing options for Aristada: 441 mg, 662 mg, 882 mg, or 1064 mg2.

Patients may need to take oral aripiprazole pills for up to two weeks prior to commencing Aristada in order to achieve acceptable blood levels of the drug. As an alternative, patients may be given oral aripiprazole coupled with a reduced dose of aripiprazole lauroxil and a single injection of Aristada Initio on the same day as the initial Aristada injection. This enables flexible dosing and a quicker beginning of action.

What potential negative effects might Aristada have?

Aristada may cause negative effects in some people, just like any medicine does. Aristada's typical side effects include the following:

Reactions at the injection site, such as ache, swelling, redness, or itching

gaining weight

Headache

Feeling uneasy or restless

Anxiety

insomnia or trouble falling asleep

sluggishness or exhaustion

nausea or diarrhoea

Constipation

indigestion or abdominal pain

Aristada's harmful side effects can include the following:

issues with the brain's arteries, as the potentially fatal transient ischemia attack (TIA) or stroke. These are more common in elderly individuals with psychosis associated to dementia. Aristada is not recommended for usage in this demographic and has not been authorised for this condition.

A potentially fatal reaction known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) can result in high temperature, tight muscles, disorientation, perspiration, changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure. Aristada must be stopped and prompt medical assistance must be given.

Tardive dyskinesia is the term for uncontrollable body movements that can affect the face, tongue, or other body parts. Even after stopping Aristada, these motions might persist permanently. Longer use and larger doses of Aristada increase the risk of tardive dyskinesia.

issues with metabolism, such as hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or triglycerides), or diabetes. These can raise the risk of heart attack or stroke-related cardiovascular problems. While taking Aristada, patients should have regular blood sugar and cholesterol levels checked. In order to avoid weight gain and metabolic issues, patients should also adhere to a healthy diet and exercise routine.

unusual and uncontrollable desires (issues with impulse control), such as those to gamble, engage in sexual activity, shop, consume food, or binge. These have the potential to be upsetting and hinder social and professional performance. Any new or worsened urges should be reported to the doctor by the patient. With these issues, lowering the dosage or quitting Aristada might be helpful.

Low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension), which can make you feel faint or lightheaded if you stand up too soon from a laying or sitting posture. Falls and injuries may become more likely as a result. While using Aristada, patients should rise gently, refrain from alcohol use, and stay hydrated.

Agranulocytosis, a low white blood cell count, can make people more susceptible to infections. While using Aristada, patients should have their blood counts checked and notify their doctor if they experience any infection-related symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms.

Conclusion

Often known as seizures, can happen to those who have had them before or who are at risk of having them. Patients taking Aristada should avoid situations that could cause seizures, such as flashing lights, and should let their doctor know if they experience seizures while taking the medication.

body temperature control issues, which can lead to hypothermia or overheating. While using Aristada, patients should keep away from severe temperatures and intense activity and consume lots of fluids to stay hydrated.

The side effects listed here are not all of them. Patients should speak with their doctor or chemist or read the Aristada drug guide for more information.

What are the Aristada precautions and contraindications?

Patients must disclose the following to their doctor before beginning Aristada:

Any allergies to the active components in Aristada, including aripiprazole lauroxil and aripiprazole.

Any medical disorders, including neuroleptic malignant syndrome, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, seizures, liver illness, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high blood cholesterol

Any history of alcohol or drug misuse, suicidal ideas or actions, or issues with impulse control

any ancestry with diabetes, dementia, heart disease, stroke, or breast cancer

any woman who is pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or nursing a child. Aristada can enter breast milk or harm an unborn child. While taking Aristada, patients should utilise reliable birth control, and they should also discuss with their doctor the advantages and disadvantages of taking Aristada while expecting or nursing a baby.

Other drugs, vitamins, supplements, and herbal items may interact with aristada. The following medicines are a few that could alter how Aristada functions:

Antidepressants like venlafaxine (Effexor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and fluoxetine (Prozac)

Antifungal medications including voriconazole (Vfend), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)

Antibiotics like rifampin (Rifadin), erythromycin (Erythrocin), and clarithromycin (Biaxin)

Anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine (Tegretol), or phenytoin (Dilantin)

Antihistamines like hydroxyzine (Vistaril) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Antihypertensives like propranolol (Inderal) and clonidine (Catapres)

Anti-Parkinson's medications like ropinirole (Requip) and levodopa (Sinemet)

mood stabilisers, such as valproic acid (Depakote) or lithium (Lithobid)

Codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin), and tramadol (Ultram) are examples of opioids.

Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), zolpidem (Ambien), or eszopiclone (Lunesta) are examples of sedatives.

Prescription medications that lower stomach acid include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), omeprazole (Prilosec), and esomeprazole (Nexium).