Aripiprazole

(ay ri PIP ray zole)

Dosage Forms

• This medicine is available as a liquid, a tablet, and an oral-disintegrating tablet.

Pharmacologic Category

• Antipsychotic Agent, Atypical

What key warnings should I know about before giving this medicine to my child?

• Watch your child closely for signs or symptoms of depression or a desire to harm him/herself. These feelings may last until the depression is completely treated. Ask your child to talk with you if he/she is planning to harm him/herself. Take your child to the nearest emergency room if he/she wants to harm him/herself. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Please read the medication guide.

Is it safe for my child to take this medicine?

• Not if your child has an allergy to aripiprazole or any other part of this medicine.
• Be sure to let healthcare provider know if your child has any allergies or reactions to medicine, food preservatives, or dyes. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected your child. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

Why does my child need this medicine?

• This medicine is used to treat schizophrenia. It may take 6 weeks to see the full effect.
• This medicine is used to treat manic depression.
• This medicine is used to treat mood disorders.
• This medicine is used to treat aggressive behavior.
• This medicine is used to treat Tourette's syndrome.
• This medicine is used to treat autism.

How does this medicine work?

• Aripiprazole helps clear your thinking.
• It works on improving social interactions, mood, expression of mood, as well as, delusions, paranoia, and appearance.
• It is a mood stabilizer.

How is this medicine given?

• Give this medicine with or without food. Give with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• A liquid (solution) is available if your child cannot swallow pills.
• Children who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.
• Measure liquid doses carefully. Use measuring device that comes with the medicine. If none is available, get an oral syringe, a medicine dropper, a medicine spoon, or a medicine cup (only for older children) from your pharmacist.
• Encourage your child to drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid every day unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.

How long does this medicine take to work?

• It may take 6 weeks to see the full effect.

What do I do if my child misses a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Give a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your child's regular schedule.
• Do not give a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop your child's medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What safety measures should I take while my child is using this medicine?

• If your child has diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.
• If your child has a family history of diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.
• If your child has heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If your child has PKU, talk with healthcare provider. Some products contain phenylalanine.
• If your child has seizures, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check your child's medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• This medicine may cause your child to be less alert. Have your child avoid tasks or activities that require alertness. These include playing (for example, riding a bicycle, rollerblading, contact sports) or using items that require concentration or coordination (for example, scissors, lawnmower, electric scooters, or toy cars). Your child's activities should be closely monitored until you see how this medicine affects him/her. School work may be more difficult for your child to focus on and complete.
• Avoid giving your child grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
• Avoid giving your child other medicines and natural products that slow actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.
• Be careful in hot weather. Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Have your child avoid tasks or activities that require alertness or clear vision until you see how this medicine affects him/her.
• Feeling dizzy. Rising slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position is recommended. Children should be extra careful climbing stairs.
• Headache.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals and frequent mouth care may help. Older children may suck hard, sugar-free candy.
• Weight gain.
• High blood sugar. Usually reverses when stopped.
• Nervous and excitable.
• An urgent need to move.
• Restlessness.
• Unable to sit still.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood sugar as directed by healthcare provider.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

• If any of this information causes you to be concerned, any of the common side effects occur, or if your child's symptoms do not improve after taking this medicine.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• If your child shows signs of a life-threatening reaction, call healthcare provider or emergency department immediately. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or if your child exhibits any other unusual behavior.
• If your child is planning to harm him/herself. If the desire to harm him/herself increases.
• If your child shows signs of severe dizziness or passes out.
• If your child has severe nausea or vomiting.
• If your child has a severe headache.
• If your child has significant change in balance.
• If your child is feeling very nervous and excitable.
• If your child is feeling extremely tired or weak.
• If your child has increased trips to the bathroom, increased thirst, or weight loss.
• If your child develops a rash.
• No improvement in condition or if you believe your child's condition is worse.

How should I store and/or dispose of this medicine?

• Store tablets at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Store liquid (solution) in a refrigerator. Throw away any unused portion after 6 months.
• Give oral-disintegrating tablet right after opening. Throw away any unused portion of opened pouch.

General statements

• If your child has a life-threatening allergy, he/she should wear allergy identification at all times.
• This medicine is available by prescription only. If there are refills, contact your pharmacy. If no refills remain, you may need to contact your child's healthcare provider.
• This medicine should be thrown out when your child no longer needs it or if the medicine becomes outdated.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Many medications interact with other medications. Keep a list of all your child's medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to your child's healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with your child's healthcare provider before giving him/her any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• Medicine can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Follow directions given by healthcare provider.

Copyright © 1978- Lexi-Comp Inc., The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO., and Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This information is protected under US and international copyright law. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited.

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