Abilify Dosage
Abilify Dosage Recommendations
Aripiprazole, otherwise known as Abilify, is a drug meant to be taken by those with bipolar disorder along with an antidepressant. It also used as a treatment for the manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. It may be used along with antidepressants to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and to treat schizophrenia in adolescents over 13 and in adults. It should be used as a treatment for MDD only if the patient has not previously responded to treatment with an antidepressant alone. Abilify may also be used to treat irritability in autistic children over the age of six.
Dosage for Adults and Children
The recommended dosage of Abilify for adults suffering from MDD is between 2 and 5mg per day as the initial dose, this will be increased to 15mg per day after this in most cases. The maximum dosage of Abilify in MDD patients is 15mg per day. In patients suffering from bipolar disorder the initial dosage will be 15mg per day if Abilify is being used alone. If it is being used in conjunction with an antidepressant the dosage should be between 10 and 15mg per day for the initial treatment. The regular dosage will be 15mg per day whether it is being used as the only medication, or with the antidepressant. For schizophrenics the initial dosage will be between 10 and 15mg and continue at that dosage. When used as treatments for manic episodes, Abilify will be injected. The dosage in such cases will be 9.75mg.
In cases where the dosage is to be adjusted this is typically done very slowly and should ideally not be done before the first two weeks of use.
In bipolar children the initial dosage is 2mg per day regardless of whether they are also taking an antidepressant or not. The dosage will usually be moved up to the recommended dose, 10mg, but can go as high as 30mg. For autistic children the initial dosage is also 2mg per day, but the recommended dosage after that is between 5 and 10mg.The initial dosage for adolescent schizophrenics is 2mg per day, and the recommended dosage after that is 10mg per day.
How is Abilify to be taken?
Outside of treatment for manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, Abilify should be taken once per day and may be taken with or without food. In its liquid form it should be measured carefully in a dosage tool supplied by a pharmacist. If the oral disintegration tablets are being taken, the patient should be careful not to break the tablet. For example, they should avoid pushing it through the foil side of the blister pack. The tablet should not be chewed but rather it should be allowed to melt gradually in the mouth. The patient should swallow regularly and may drink water as needed.
