Aripiprazole for anxiety & depression.

SGAs like aripiprazole help balance the dopamine and serotonin levels in your brain—a healthy balance of dopamine and serotonin can improve your mood, thinking, and behavior.

Serotonin and dopamine are major chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) used to carry a signal from one brain cell to another. Scientists believe that high levels of dopamine in the brain may cause symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Meanwhile, increasing serotonin levels can help produce a feeling of mental wellbeing and help maintain mental balance.

Aripiprazole is a medication we may prescribe to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder. Aripiprazole may also be used in combination with other medications to treat depression—particularly if your depression isn’t controlled well by an antidepressant alone.

If you’re new to this medication or medical treatment for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, don’t worry—your Brightside provider will stay with you through every step to make sure the treatment is a good fit.

Symptoms of depression can include:

• Difficulty concentrating 
• Eating more than usual
• Fatigue
• Feeling bad about yourself 
• Feeling hopeless, worthless, or helpless
• Little interest in activities you usually enjoy
• Restlessness 
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Suicidal thoughts or ideas of self-harm

Making sense of different medications, their uses, benefits, and side effects can be challenging. That’s where we can help. Brightside providers have an in-depth knowledge of the strengths and drawbacks of each medication. You’ll get all the information you need to make an informed choice about your treatment.

It may take several weeks or months before you see the full benefit of aripiprazole.
Before starting a new medication like aripiprazole, it’s important to get a comprehensive health assessment from a provider who understands your health history. You should only take aripiprazole if a physician or other qualified psychiatric provider prescribed it for you.

Studies have shown that there are benefits to long-term treatment with antipsychotic medications like aripiprazole. Although more studies are needed, the research says it’s often best to stay on a low dose of medication long-term rather than stopping treatment altogether.

Your Brightside provider will work with you to determine what course of treatment is best for your specific needs. Most importantly, we recommend that you keep taking your medication until your provider says it’s time to stop—even after you start to feel better.

To get the best results with medication, it’s important to consistently measure progress during treatment. This is known as Measurement Based Care, and it’s the approach we use at Brightside. It’s common to adjust the dose and/or medication when starting an antipsychotic until you find just the right fit.

A 2013 review of antipsychotic drug clinical trials showed that aripiprazole was the ninth most effective drug for treating schizophrenia when compared to 14 others.

Side effects from aripiprazole are usually temporary, but talk to your provider if any of these symptoms become severe or don’t go away:

• Appetite changes
• Constipation 
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Heartburn
• Increased saliva production
• Nervousness
• Pain in arms, legs, back, and joints 
• Restlessness
• Stomach pain
• Tiredness
• Weight gain

Antipsychotic drugs like aripiprazole can also cause metabolic syndrome, which includes weight gain, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. Your provider may ask you to provide a blood sample before and during treatment with aripiprazole to help track these numbers and avoid any serious health problems. Your Brightside provider can also offer advice on healthy lifestyle changes you can make to prevent any health problems from these side effects.

In rare cases, aripiprazole can also cause severe symptoms. Call a provider right away if you experience:

• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing 
• Excess sweating
• Falling
• Fast or irregular heartbeat 
• Fever
• Hives
• Itching
• Rash
• Seizures
• Stiff muscles
• Swelling in the face, glands, arms, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Tightening of the throat or neck muscles
• Unusual, uncontrollable movements in your body or face 
• Vision changes

Some patients using aripiprazole have reported an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if you experience thoughts of suicide or self-harm while taking an antipsychotic medication.

At Brightside, your health and safety are our highest priorities. We make sure you get individual attention and guidance to make you feel your best.

Antipsychotics can also cause discontinuation syndrome if stopped abruptly. Discontinuation syndrome can include a range of symptoms that may occur in patients who suddenly stop their antipsychotics. These are the most common symptoms of antipsychotic discontinuation syndrome:

• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Feeling anxious
• Feelings of vertigo or dizziness
• Muscle pain, tension, or uncontrollable muscle movements 
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain
• Restlessness
• Trouble sleeping

Make sure to talk to your provider before stopping or changing how you take your medication so they can create a plan that gives your body enough time to adjust. This will keep you feeling well and prevent symptoms from returning.

A review of aripiprazole safety data suggests the benefits of staying on this medication during pregnancy for the treatment of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may outweigh the potential risks.

SGAs like aripiprazole can pass into breast milk. Infants may need to be monitored for symptoms of exposure, which can include appetite changes, insomnia, irritability, or lethargy. Talk to your healthcare provider about your breastfeeding questions.