Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic tablet for schizophrenia and bipolar mania, listed on PockDose as Abilify in 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg and 30mg strengths.
What aripiprazole is used for
Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic — a medicine that steadies disturbed thinking and mood. It treats schizophrenia, where thoughts, feelings and behaviour become disordered, and the manic episodes of bipolar disorder. It is also added to an antidepressant when depression has not fully responded, and it is used for the irritability that can come with autistic disorder and for Tourette's disorder, where tics are difficult to control.
How it works, and how long it takes
Dopamine and serotonin are chemical messengers that carry signals between nerve cells. Aripiprazole attaches to dopamine receptors and holds their activity on an even keel instead of switching them off: where signalling runs high it turns it down, and where it runs low it lifts it slightly. That is why the same medicine can quieten mania and psychosis and also ease the flat, withdrawn side of illness. It controls symptoms rather than curing them, and the benefit builds — two weeks or longer can pass before the full effect is felt.
Taking the tablets
People usually tie the tablet to breakfast or bedtime. Either works, and so does an empty stomach, because food does not affect absorption. It is one tablet a day, swallowed whole rather than halved or chewed.
Side effects and interactions
Restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, constipation and more saliva than usual are the complaints reported most often, along with a rise in appetite and weight. Most ease as the body adjusts. Movement problems are a different matter: a tremor, stiff or slow walking, or mouth and tongue movements you cannot control can develop, mostly with long use. High fever, rigid muscles and confusion together need urgent treatment. Aripiprazole is cleared by liver enzymes, so some antifungals, the antidepressants fluoxetine and paroxetine, and carbamazepine can change how much stays in the body. Alcohol piles on the drowsiness and dizziness.
Strengths on offer
PockDose lists one aripiprazole product, Abilify tablets, in 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg and 30mg — five strengths of the same ingredient, so a change of strength is a change of tablet, not of medicine. It sits in the mental health category with other medicines for mood and thought disorders.
Sources
- Aripiprazole: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Aripiprazole 5mg tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) | 7073 — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Is Aripiprazole available to order in Hong Kong?
Aripiprazole can be ordered online from PockDose with delivery to Hong Kong. The range covers generic Abilify, also sold as Aripiprazole tablets, in 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg and 30mg. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much do Aripiprazole products cost in Hong Kong?
The aripiprazole product has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Aripiprazole?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order aripiprazole. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for aripiprazole?
Abilify is a brand name of aripiprazole, which is also sold as Arip. Here, aripiprazole can be bought online as generic Abilify. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does aripiprazole take to work?
Two weeks is the usual wait for the full effect, sometimes longer, though a few people notice something in the first week. Dose changes during that time are common. The benefit lasts only while the tablets are taken, so aripiprazole is generally a medicine for the long haul.
Should I take aripiprazole with food?
No need. Take it however you like; the tablet works the same either way. The one habit that counts is the same time every day.
Can I drink alcohol with aripiprazole?
Small amounts are unlikely to cause trouble, but alcohol adds to the drowsiness, dizziness and unsteadiness that aripiprazole can bring, especially in the first weeks or after a dose change. If you do drink, keep it light and see how you feel.
Will aripiprazole make me gain weight?
It can happen. Appetite often goes up in the first months and some people put on weight, while others hardly change. A weigh-in at home once a month catches a trend early.
Can I stop aripiprazole once I feel better?
Aripiprazole is a long-term medicine: it keeps symptoms away while you take it, and they tend to return within weeks of stopping. When treatment is wound down, the dose is stepped down gradually rather than cut off, which is gentler on the body.