Aripiprazole 5mg

General Information

What is Aripiprazole 5mg used for?

Aripiprazole tablets 5mg belong to a group of medicines called antipsychotic agents which improve the symptoms of certain types of mental illness. Aripiprazole is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia. Aripiprazole tablet 5mg may be given to treat acute episodes of sustained upward mood swings (mania) in adult patients with Bipolar 1 Disorder. 

During mania, patients experience episodes of overactivity, elation or irritability. Schizophrenia is a mental illness with disturbances in thinking, feelings and behaviour. Bipolar disorder is a condition with symptoms such as feeling "high", having excessive amounts of energy, needing much less sleep than usual, talking very quickly with racing ideas and sometimes severe irritability.

Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Aripiprazole tablet 5mg against the benefits it is expected to have for you. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor may have prescribed Aripiprazole tablets 5mg for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Aripiprazole tablets 5mg has been prescribed for you. There is no evidence that Aripiprazole tablets 5mg is addictive.

Aripiprazole tablets 5mg is not recommended for use in children under the age of 18, as safety and efficacy have not been established in this age group.

How does Aripiprazole 5mg work?

Aripiprazole tablet 5mg works by modulating dopamine and serotonin activity in the brain and it belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotic agents

What does Aripiprazole 5mg contain?

Aripiprazole tablet 5mg contains 5mg aripiprazole

Other ingredients:

lactose, starch - maize, cellulose - microcrystalline, hydroxypropylcellulose and magnesium stearate. The following colorants are also present in the tablets: · 5mg tablets - indigo carmine CI73015 aluminium lake

Aripiprazole tablet 5mg does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Treating symptoms of schizophrenia and acute episodes of mood swings (mania)

 belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotic agents which improve the symptoms of certain types of mental illness. Aripiprazole is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia. Aripiprazole may be given to treat acute episodes of sustained upward mood swings (mania) in adult patients with Bipolar 1 Disorder. 

During mania, patients experience episodes of overactivity, elation or irritability. Schizophrenia is a mental illness with disturbances in thinking, feelings and behaviour. Bipolar disorder is a condition with symptoms such as feeling "high", having excessive amounts of energy, needing much less sleep than usual, talking very quickly with racing ideas and sometimes severe irritability.

Your doctor may have prescribed Aripiprazole tablet 5mg for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Aripiprazole tablet 5mg has been prescribed for you. There is no evidence that Aripiprazole tablet 5mg is addictive.

What are the side effects of Aripiprazole 5mg?

Make sure that you know how you react to Aripiprazole tablet 5mg before you drive a car, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light headed or not alert. Aripiprazole tablet 5mg may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally or cause lightheadedness, dizziness or tiredness. If this occurs do not undertake the activity.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects and they worry you:

• headache

• indigestion

• nausea
• vomiting
• insomnia

• constipation
• light-headedness
• drowsiness
• agitation
• anxiety
• inability to sit or stand still; restless movement of the arms and legs such as tapping, marching in places, rocking, crossing and uncrossing the legs. These are the more common side effects of Aripiprazole tablets 5mg.

When should Aripiprazole 5mg not be used?

You should not take Aripiprazole tablet 5mg :

• if you have an allergy to Aripiprazole
• if you have an allergy to any of the other ingredients in Aripirazole tablet 5mg which include lactose, starch - maize, cellulose - microcrystalline, hydroxypropylcellulose and magnesium stearate. The following colorants are also present in the tablets:  indigo carmine CI73015 aluminium lake
• after the expiry or use by date printed on the pack. If you take this medicine after this date has passed, it may not work as well.
• If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
• It is recommended that you do not breast-feed while taking Aripiprazole tablet 5mg, as it may pass into breast milk and therefore there is a possibility that the breast-fed baby may be affected.

Tell your doctor if you have, or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:

• a reaction to some medicines with a sudden increase in body temperature, sweating, fast heart- beat, muscle stiffness and fluctuating blood pressure, which may lead to coma. This reaction is called neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
• a reaction to some medicines with abnormal movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks or jaw which may progress to the arms and legs. This reaction is called tardive dyskinesia.
• low blood pressure · problems with your heart or blood vessels
• epilepsy, seizures or fits
• problems with your oesophagus (food pipe) such as difficulty in swallowing.
• high blood sugar or diabetes mellitus
• Alzheimer's disease or dementia
• alcohol or drug abuse or dependence or a history of one of these
• venous thromboembolism or are at risk of venous thromboembolism
• have a history of or are at risk of sleep apnea (a sleep disorder where your breathing is interrupted during sleep)
• lactose intolerance 
• If you drink alcohol. Your doctor may advise you to avoid alcohol as it can magnify the side effects of this medicine. Aripiprazole tablet 5mg may cause sleepiness, fall in blood pressure when standing up, dizziness and changes in your ability to move and balance, which may lead to falls. Caution should be taken.

What medications interact with Apiprazole 5mg?

These include:

• medicines used to treat brain disorders such as, anxiety, depression, mood swings, epilepsy or seizures, Parkinson's disease or insomnia
• medicines used to treat high blood pressure
• medicines used to treat fungal infections
• medicines used to treat heart rhythm disturbances
• medicines used to treat bacterial or viral infections · a medicine called cyclosporin (Neoral®; Sandimmun®)
• a medicine called cimetidine (Tagamet®).These medicines may be affected by Aripiprazole tablet 5mg, or may affect how well it works

Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may affect how Aripiprazole tablet 5mg works.

How should Aripiprazole 5mg be taken?

Aripiprazole tablets 5mg should be swallowed whole and washed down with a glass of water. Take Aripiprazole tablets 5mg at about the same time each day. It does not matter whether you take Aripiprazole tablets 5mg with or without food.

How long should you take Aripiprazole 5mg

Continue taking Aripiprazole tablets 5mg for as long as your doctor tells you. Aripiprazole tablets 5mg helps to control your condition but does not cure it. Therefore you must take Aripiprazole tablets 5mg every day. Improvement in symptoms may take several days to some weeks to occur.

Missed dose of Aripiprazole 5mg

If you miss a dose of Aripiprazole tablets 5mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Aripiprazole 5mg be stored?

Store Aripiprazole tablets 5mg in a cool place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Keep it where young children cannot reach it.