Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole (brand name: Abilify^®) is one of the newer antipsychotic medications to hit the market. Like the other atypical antipsychotics, it has activity at dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain. It is used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

A warning has gone out recently because of this drug's name. The '-azole' ending of this drug name makes this drug sound like it is one of the proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole) which are used in treating peptic ulcer disease. However, aripiprazole and these drugs are in an entirely different class of drugs altogether and confusing the two can lead to some unnecessary side effects.

Aripiprazole was develeloped by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd and is manufactured by the Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY).

Aripiprazole was approved by the FDA on November 15, 2002.

Like most other antipsychotics, long term use of aripiprazole can lead to tardive dyskinesia.

External Links

• Aripiprazole Offers Hope for Schizophrenia
• Abilify - The Internet Drug Database
• " class="external">http://www.abilify.com/

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