Abilify Maintena (Aripiprazole)

Abilify Maintena Information:

Abilify Maintena (Aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic medicine that contains the active substance Aripiprazole. It is primarily used for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults. Abilify Maintena may be used alone or with other medications. Aripiprazole attaches to receptors in the brain for two substances (neurotransmitters) called dopamine and serotonin, which is believed to play a role in schizophrenia, thus, helps normalize the activity of the brain, reducing psychotic symptoms and preventing them from returning. It is a second-line treatment after risperidone for people between ages 15 and 17 who are having an acute exacerbation or recurrence of psychosis or schizophrenia. It is an effective add-on treatment for depressive disorder as it helps to decrease extreme changes in mood and help you feel less agitated. Abilify Maintena is also an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (that does not improve with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) alone).

Generic Abilify Maintena from Canada

Canada Drugs Online is proud to serve you the brand Abilify Maintena Intramuscular Injection from Canada manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical. The generic version is not available. Please call us toll-free at 1-877-900-3784 for details.

CanadaDrugsOnline.com also carries other Psychiatric medications such as Zyprexa and Seroquel.

Abilify Maintena Side Effects:

In adults, side effects with greater than 10% incidence include weight gain, headache, akathisia, inability to sleep and gastro-intestinal effects like nausea and constipation, and lightheadedness. Side effects in children are similar and include sleepiness, increased appetite, and a stuffy nose. A strong desire to gamble, binge eat, shop, and engage in sexual activity may also occur.

Common side effects include vomiting, constipation, sleepiness, dizziness, weight gain and movement disorders. Serious side effects may include neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tardive dyskinesia and anaphylaxis. It is not recommended for older people with dementia-related psychosis due to an increased risk of death. In pregnancy, there is evidence of possible harm to the baby. It is not recommended in women who are breastfeeding.

Symptoms of withdrawal commonly include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, restlessness, increased sweating, trouble sleeping, feeling of the world spinning, and/or muscle pains. Symptoms generally resolve after a short period.

These are not all the possible side effects of Abilify Maintena. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Abilify Maintena Directions:

Ability Maintena is given as an intramuscular injection by a healthcare professional. The recommended starting and maintenance dose of Abilify Maintena is 400 mg monthly (no sooner than 26 days after the previous injection). For patients who have never taken aripiprazole, establish tolerability with oral aripiprazole before initiating treatment with Abilify Maintena. Due to the half-life of oral aripiprazole, it may take up to 2 weeks to fully assess tolerability. After the first Abilify Maintena injection, administer oral aripiprazole (10 mg to 20 mg) for 14 consecutive days to achieve therapeutic aripiprazole concentrations during initiation of therapy. For patients already stable on another oral antipsychotic (and known to tolerate aripiprazole), after the first Abilify Maintena injection, continue treatment with tablets for 14 consecutive days to maintain therapeutic antipsychotic concentrations during initiation of therapy. If there are adverse reactions with the 400 mg dosage, consider reducing the dosage to 300 mg once monthly.

Abilify Maintena Precautions:

Before using aripiprazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems.

Talk to your doctor about your medical conditions and if you have or had;
• A movement disorder called Parkinsonism;
• High blood sugar or a family history of high blood sugar;
• Low or high blood pressure;
• Never taken Aripiprazole before;
• Problems that may affect you to receive an injection in your arm or buttocks;
• Seizures;
• Tardive dyskinesia, a disorder characterized by involuntary movements of the face, mouth and tongue

Do not drink alcohol or use illegal drugs while you are taking aripiprazole. They may decrease the benefits (e.g., worsen your confusion) and increase adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication will affect you; it may make you feel drowsy. Do not become too hot or dehydrated while you receive this medication. Inform your doctor about all the medications you take including prescription, OTC, herbal supplements and vitamins. There may be a drug interaction between Aripiprazole and other medications. This medication should not be used in children under 18 years of age. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC] medicines) and herbal or vitamin supplements. Do not change the dose or stop taking this medicine without checking with your doctor first.