Abilify Tablet/Abilify Discmelt Patient Counseling Information

Discuss the following issues with patients prescribed Aripiprazole (Abilify): Clinical Worsening of Depression and Suicide Risk: Patients, their families, and their caregivers should be encouraged to be alert to the emergence of anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, mania, other unusual changes in behavior, worsening of depression, and suicidal ideation, especially early during antidepressant treatment and when the dose is adjusted up or down. Families and caregivers of patients should be advised to look for the emergence of such symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient's prescriber or health professional, especially if they are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms. Symptoms such as these may be associated with an increased risk for suicidal thinking and behavior and indicate a need for very close monitoring and possibly changes in the medication [see Precautions].
Prescribers or other health professionals should inform patients, their families, and their caregivers about the benefits and risks associated with treatment with Aripiprazole (Abilify) and should counsel them in its appropriate use. A patient Medication Guide including information about "Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and other Serious Mental Illness, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions" is available for Aripiprazole (Abilify). The prescriber or health professional should instruct patients, their families, and their caregivers to read the Medication Guide and should assist them in understanding its contents. Patients should be given the opportunity to discuss the contents of the Medication Guide and to obtain answers to any questions they may have. It should be noted that Aripiprazole (Abilify) is not approved as a single agent for treatment of depression and has not been evaluated in pediatric major depressive disorder.
Pathological Gambling and Other Compulsive Behaviors: Advise patients and their caregivers of the possibility that they may experience compulsive urges to shop, intense urges to gamble, compulsive sexual urges, binge eating and/or other compulsive urges and the inability to control these urges while taking aripiprazole. In some cases, but not all, the urges were reported to have stopped when the dose was reduced or stopped [see Precautions].
Use of Orally Disintegrating Tablet: Do not open the blister until ready to administer. For single tablet removal, open the package and peel back the foil on the blister to expose the tablet. Do not push the tablet through the foil because this could damage the tablet. Immediately upon opening the blister, using dry hands, remove the tablet and place the entire Aripiprazole (Abilify Discmelt) Orally Disintegrating Tablet on the tongue. Tablet disintegration occurs rapidly in saliva. It is recommended that Aripiprazole (Abilify Discmelt) be taken without liquid. However, if needed, it can be taken with liquid. Do not attempt to split the tablet.
Interference with Cognitive and Motor Performance: Because Aripiprazole (Abilify) may have the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills, patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that Aripiprazole (Abilify) therapy does not affect them adversely [see Precautions].
Nursing: Advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended with Aripiprazole (Abilify) treatment because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a nursing infant [see Use in Pregnancy & Lactation].
Concomitant Medication: Patients should be advised to inform their physicians if they are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, since there is a potential for interactions [see Interactions].
Heat Exposure and Dehydration: Patients should be advised regarding appropriate care in avoiding overheating and dehydration [see Precautions].
Sugar Content: Patients should be advised that each mL of Aripiprazole (Abilify) Oral Solution contains 400 mg of sucrose and 200 mg of fructose.
Phenylketonurics: Phenylalanine is a component of aspartame. Each Aripiprazole (Abilify Discmelt) Orally Disintegrating Tablet contains the following amounts: 10 mg, 1.12 mg phenylalanine and 15 mg, 1.68 mg phenylalanine.