Patient Information Overview
Pronounced: a-BILL-i-fie
Generic name: Aripiprazole
Category: Antipsychotic Medication
Abilify Full Prescribing Information
Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and
other Serious Mental Illnesses, and
Suicidal Thoughts or Actions
Read the Medication Guide that comes with your or your
family member’s antidepressant medicine. This Medication Guide is only about the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions
with antidepressant medicines. Talk to your, or your family
member’s, healthcare provider about:
- all risks and benefits of treatment with antidepressant
medicines
- all treatment choices for depression or other serious
mental illness
What is the most important information I should know
about antidepressant medicines, depression and other
serious mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts or
actions?
1. Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal
thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and
young adults within the first few months of treatment.
2. Depression and other serious mental illnesses are the
most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Some people may have a particularly high risk of having
suicidal thoughts or actions. These include people who
have (or have a family history of) bipolar illness (also called
manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions.
3. How can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal
thoughts and actions in myself or a family member?
- Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden
changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This
is very important when an antidepressant medicine is
started or when the dose is changed.
- Call the healthcare provider right away to report new or
sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or
feelings.
- Keep all follow-up visits with the healthcare provider as
scheduled. Call the healthcare provider between visits
as needed, especially if you have concerns about
symptoms.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family
member has any of the following symptoms, especially if
they are new, worse, or worry you:
- thoughts about suicide or dying
- attempts to commit suicide
- new or worse depression
- new or worse anxiety
- feeling very agitated or restless
- panic attacks
- trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- new or worse irritability
- acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
- acting on dangerous impulses
- an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
- other unusual changes in behavior or mood
What else do I need to know about antidepressant
medicines?
- Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first
talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant
medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms.
- Antidepressants are medicines used to treat
depression and other illnesses. It is important to
discuss all the risks of treating depression and also the
risks of not treating it.
Patients and their families or other caregivers should
discuss all treatment choices with the healthcare
provider, not just the use of antidepressants.
- Antidepressant medicines have other side effects.
Talk to the healthcare provider about the side effects of
the medicine prescribed for you or your family member.
- Antidepressant medicines can interact with other
medicines. Know all of the medicines that you or your
family member takes. Keep a list of all medicines to show
the healthcare provider. Do not start new medicines
without first checking with your healthcare provider.
- Not all antidepressant medicines prescribed for
children are FDA approved for use in children. Talk to
your child’s healthcare provider for more information.
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration for all antidepressants.
It should be noted that ABILIFY (aripiprazole) is approved to be
added to an antidepressant when the response from the
antidepressant alone is not adequate. ABILIFY is not approved
for pediatric patients with depression.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may
report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
ABILIFY is a trademark of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company.
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Reviewed: 10/2008
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