7.5 mg / ml injection solution
aripiprazole
1. What ABILIFY is and what it is used for
ABILIFY contains the active substance aripiprazole and belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotic medicines. ABILIFY is used to quickly treat symptoms of anxiety and upset behavior, which can occur in a disease that is characterized, among other things, by the person:
- hears, sees, or experiences things that are not there, is suspicious, believes wrong things, speaks and behaves inconsistently, and shows a lack of emotion. People in this condition may also feel depressed, guilty, anxious, or tense.
- feels “high”, has excess energy, needs much less sleep than usual, speaks very fast and with a fast flow of ideas, and is sometimes very irritated.
ABILIFY is given when oral dosage forms are not suitable. As soon as it is appropriate, your doctor will change your treatment to an oral dosage form of ABILIFY.
2. What you need to know before you receive ABILIFY
You should not receive ABILIFY
- if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and cautions
Talk to your doctor before receiving ABILIFY.
Suicidal ideation and suicidal ideation have been reported during treatment with aripiprazole. Tell your doctor immediately if you have thoughts or a feeling of wanting to hurt yourself.
Before receiving treatment with ABILIFY, tell your doctor if you have
- high blood sugar (which can cause symptoms such as excessive thirst, large amounts of urine, increased appetite, and feeling weak) or if diabetes is in the family
- seizures (seizures) because your doctor may want to monitor you more closely
- involuntary, irregular muscle movements, especially of the face
- cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular disease in the family, stroke or “mini-stroke”, abnormal blood pressure
- blood clots, or blood clots in the family, because an association between antipsychotic drugs and the formation of blood clots has been seen
- former game mania
Tell your doctor if you notice that you are gaining weight, develop an abnormal movement pattern, experience fatigue that affects normal daily activities, experience difficulty swallowing, or have allergic symptoms.
If you are elderly and suffer from dementia (have memory loss or suffer from any other mental disorders), you or a relative/guardian should tell your doctor if you have ever had a stroke or transient, mild stroke.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel dizzy or faint after injection. You probably need to lie down until you feel better. Your doctor may also want to measure your blood pressure and your heart rate.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have thoughts or a feeling of wanting to hurt yourself. Suicidal ideation and suicidal ideation have been reported during aripiprazole treatment.
Tell your doctor immediately if you suffer from muscle stiffness or immobility with high fever, sweating, altered state of mind, or very fast or irregular heartbeat.
Tell a doctor if you or your family/caregiver notices that you are developing impulses or requests to behave in a way that is unusual for you and that you cannot resist the impulse, the drive, or the temptation to perform activities that may harm yourself or others. This is called disturbed impulse control. It may include behavior such as gambling addiction, excessive eating or buying behavior, abnormally high sex drive, or increased preoccupation with constant thoughts of sex or sexual feelings.
Your doctor may need to adjust your dose or stop your medication.
Aripiprazole can cause drowsiness, drops in blood pressure that occurs when you get up, dizziness and changes in mobility, and the ability to keep your balance, which can lead to falls. Caution should be exercised, especially if you are an elderly or debilitated patient.
Children and young people
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age should not use this medicine. It is not known if it is safe and effective for these patients.
Other medicines and ABILIFY
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.
Antihypertensive drugs: ABILIFY may increase the effect of drugs used to lower blood pressure. Therefore, tell your doctor if you are taking any medicine to keep your blood pressure under control.
When ABILIFY is given with certain medicines, your doctor may need to change the dose of one of ABILIFY or the other medicines. It is especially important to mention the following to your doctor:
- drugs to correct the heart rhythm (such as quinidine, amiodarone, flecainide )
- antidepressants or herbal remedies used to treat depression and anxiety, (such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, St. John’s wort )
- medicines for fungal infections (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- certain drugs for the treatment of HIV – infection (as efavirenz, nevirapine, and protease inhibitors such as indinavir, ritonavir)
- antispasmodics used to treat epilepsy (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital)
- certain antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis (rifabutin, rifampicin)
These medicines may increase the risk of side effects or reduce the effect of ABILIFY. If you get any unusual symptoms while taking any of these medicines with ABILIFY, you must consult a doctor.
Drugs that increase serotonin levels are mainly used in diseases such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and social phobia, as well as migraines and pain
- triptans, tramadol, and tryptophan used in diseases such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social phobia as well as migraines and pain
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) (such as paroxetine and fluoxetine) used in depression, OCD, panic disorder, and anxiety
- other antidepressant drugs (such as venlafaxine and tryptophan) used in major depression
- tricyclic antidepressants (such as clomipramine and amitriptyline) used in depression
- St. John’s wort ( Hypericum perforatum ) used as a natural remedy for mild depression
- painkillers (such as tramadol and pethidine) used to relieve pain
- triptans (such as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan) used to treat migraines
These medicines may increase the risk of side effects. If you get any unusual symptoms while taking any of these medicines with ABILIFY, you must consult a doctor.
A combination of ABILIFY with anti-anxiety medication can make you feel sleepy or dizzy. While you are taking ABILIFY, you should only use other medicines if your doctor tells you that you can.
ABILIFY with food, drink, and alcohol
This medicine can be given independently of meals.
Alcohol should be avoided.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
In newborns whose mothers have used ABILIFY during the last trimester (the last three months of pregnancy), the following symptoms may occur: tremors, stiff and/or weak muscles, drowsiness, agitation, difficulty breathing, and difficulty eating. If your child gets any of these symptoms, you may need to contact your doctor.
If you are receiving ABILIFY, your doctor and you will discuss whether or not to breast-feed. You should then consider what benefit the treatment has for you compared to what benefit the child has from breastfeeding. You must not both breast-feed and receive the medicine at the same time. If you are taking this medicine, talk to your doctor about the best way to give your child food.
Driving and using machines
Dizziness and vision problems may occur during treatment with this medicine (see section 4). This should be taken into account in cases where full attention is required, e.g. when driving or handling machines.
ABILIFY contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per dose unit, ie essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. How ABILIFY is given
Your doctor will decide how much ABILIFY you need and for how long you need it. The recommended dose is 9.75 mg (1.3 ml) for the first injection. Up to three injections can be given within 24 hours. The total dose of one of ABILIFY (all dosage forms) should not exceed 30 mg/day.
ABILIFY is ready to use. The right amount of solution will be injected into your muscle by your doctor or nurse.
If you receive more ABILIFY than you need
You are receiving this medicine under medical supervision, so it is unlikely that you will receive too much. If you see more than one doctor, remember to tell them that you are receiving ABILIFY.
Patients who have received too much aripiprazole have experienced the following symptoms:
- rapid heartbeat, anxiety/aggression, speech difficulties.
- unusual movements (especially of the face or tongue) and decreased level of consciousness.
Other symptoms may include:
- acute confusion, seizures ( epilepsy ), coma, a combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating.
- muscle stiffness and drowsiness or drowsiness, slower breathing, suffocation, high or low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm.
Contact a doctor or hospital immediately if you experience any of the symptoms described above.
If you miss an injection of ABILIFY
It is important that you do not miss your dose. If you miss an injection, contact your doctor so that you can get the next injection as soon as possible.
If you stop taking ABILIFY
Do not stop treatment just to make you feel better. It is important that you continue to receive ABILIFY for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- diabetes mellitus,
- difficulty sleeping,
- anxiety,
- the feeling of restlessness and inability to be still, difficulty sitting still,
- akathisia (an unpleasant feeling of inner restlessness and a strong need to move constantly),
- uncontrollable jerking, jerking or twisting movements,
- shaking,
- headache,
- fatigue,
- somnolence,
- fainting,
- tremors and blurred vision,
- decreased bowel movements or difficulty in bowel movements,
- indigestion,
- nausea,
- abnormally high saliva in the mouth,
- vomiting,
- feeling tired.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- increased levels of the hormone et prolactin in the blood,
- too much sugar in the blood,
- Depression,
- altered or increased sexual interest,
- uncontrollable movements of the mouth, tongue, arms, and legs ( tardive dyskinesia ),
- muscle disease that causes twisting movements ( dystonia ),
- restless legs,
- double vision,
- photosensitive eyes,
- high heart rate,
- increased diastolic blood pressure,
- a drop in blood pressure that occurs when you get up, which causes dizziness, fainting or fainting,
- hiccup,
- dry mouth.
The following adverse reactions have been reported following the introduction of oral aripiprazole, but their frequency is unknown:
- low levels of white blood cells,
- low levels of platelets,
- allergic reactions (eg swelling of the mouth, tongue, face, and throat, itching, rash),
- onset or worsening of diabetes, ketoacidosis (ketones in the blood and urine) or coma,
- high blood sugar,
- insufficient level of sodium in the blood,
- loss of appetite ( anorexia ),
- weight loss,
- weight gain,
- suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide,
- aggressiveness,
- agitation,
- concern,
- a combination of fever, muscle stiffness, faster breathing, sweating, decreased consciousness and sudden changes in blood pressure and heart rate, fainting (malignant neuroleptic syndrome),
- seizures,
- serotonergic syndrome (a reaction that can cause happiness, drowsiness, clumsiness, restlessness, intoxication, fever, sweating, or stiff muscles),
- speech changes,
- that the eyeballs are fixed in one position,
- sudden unexplained death,
- life-threatening irregular heartbeat,
- heart attack,
- slower heart rate,
- blood clots in the veins, especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness of the bone), which can be transported through the blood vessels to the lungs and cause chest pain and difficulty breathing (if you notice any of these symptoms you must seek medical help immediately),
- high blood pressure,
- fainting,
- unintentional inhalation of food with a risk of pneumonia,
- spasm in the muscles around the larynx,
- inflammation of the pancreas,
- difficulty swallowing,
- diarrhea,
- the feeling of discomfort in the abdomen,
- stomach upset,
- liver failure,
- inflammation of the liver,
- yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes,
- reports of abnormal liver values,
- rash,
- photosensitive skin,
- hair loss,
- heavy sweating,
- severe allergic reactions such as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). DRESS initially appears as flu-like symptoms with rash on the face and then widespread skin rash, high body temperature, enlarged lymph nodes, elevated levels of liver enzymes detected by blood tests and an elevated number of a certain type of white blood cell ( eosinophilia ),
- abnormal muscle breakdown which can lead to kidney problems,
- muscle pain,
- stiffness,
- involuntary urination ( incontinence ),
- difficulty urinating,
- withdrawal symptoms in newborns after exposure during pregnancy,
- persistent and/or painful erection,
- disorders of body temperature regulation (eg fever),
- chest pain,
- swelling of hands, ankles, or feet,
- in blood tests: rising and falling blood sugar, increase in glycosylated hemoglobin.
- inability to resist the impulse, drive, or desire to perform an act that may be harmful to yourself and others, which may include:
- a strong impulse to play excessively much despite serious personal or family consequences,
- altered or increased sexual interest and behavior, of significant inconvenience to you or others, such as increased sexual drive
- uncontrollable excessive buying behavior or wasting money,
- binge eating (eating large amounts of food for a short time) or compulsive eating (eating larger amounts of food than normal and more than is needed to satisfy hunger),
- a tendency to wander awayTell your doctor if you experience any of the above behaviors. He or she will discuss how to manage or reduce the symptoms.
In elderly patients with dementia, more deaths have been reported among those treated with aripiprazole. Furthermore, strokes or transient, mild strokes have been reported.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly to the Medical Products Agency, www.lakemedelsverket.se. By reporting side effects, you can help increase drug safety information.
5. How to store ABILIFY
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the vial after EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the specified month
Keep the vial in the outer carton. Sensitive to light.
The medicine should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the packaging and other information
Content declaration
- The active substance is aripiprazole.
Each ml contains 7.5 mg of aripiprazole.
One vial contains 9.75 mg (1.3 ml) of aripiprazole. - The other ingredients are sulfonyl ether β-cyclodextrin (SBECD), tartaric acid, sodium hydroxide, and water for injections.
What the medicine looks like and the contents of the pack
ABILIFY solution for injection is a clear, colorless, and watery solution.
Each package includes a vial for single-use type I glass with a butyl rubber stopper and an aluminum flip-off seal.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Netherlands BV
Herikerbergweg 292
1101 CT, Amsterdam
Netherlands
Manufacturer
Zambon SpA
Via Della Chimica, 9
I-36100 Vicenza (VI)
Italy
Contact the representative of the marketing authorization holder to find out more about this medicine:
| Belgium / Belgique / BelgienOtsuka Pharmaceutical Netherlands BVTel: +31 (0) 20 85 46 555 | LithuaniaOtsuka Pharmaceutical Netherlands BVTel: +31 (0) 20 85 46 555 |
| BulgariaOtsuka Pharmaceutical Netherlands BVTel: +31 (0) 20 85 46 555 | Luxembourg / LuxemburgOtsuka Pharmaceutical Netherlands BVTel: +31 (0) 20 85 46 555 |
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| LatviaOtsuka Pharmaceutical Netherlands BVTel: +31 (0) 20 85 46 555 | United KingdomOtsuka Pharmaceuticals (UK) Ltd.Tel: +44 (0) 203 747 5300 |
This leaflet was last modified 09/2020.
Other sources of information
Further information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency.