Arifil

Generic composition: Aripiprazole

General description

ARIFIL is an  antipsychotic primarily used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Therapeutic category

• Atypical anti-psychotics

Dosage forms available

• ARIFIL 10mg Tablets
• ARIFIL 15mg Tablets

 Uses

• Schizophrenia
• Manic and Mixed Episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder
• Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adults
• Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder
• Tourette’s Disorder

Dose

• Adult: 10-15mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals
• Adolescent: 2mg/day initial dose, increased to 10mg/day, maximum to 30mg/day
• No dosage adjustment in renal and hepatic impairment

Mechanism of action

Aripiprazole is partial agonist of dopamine receptor and antagonist of Serotonin receptor. Aripiprazole is associated with minimal weight gain in the course of therapy.

 Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Bioavailability of the oral tablets is about 90%; peak plasma concentration reaches in 3-5 hours

Distribution: Volume of distribution is 404L or 4.9L/kg

Metabolism: undergoes extensive hepatic metabolization by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and CYP2D6

Elimination: excreted via feces and urine.

Half-life: half life of aripiprazole is 75 hours and half life of the active metabolite is 94 hours

When dosed daily, brain concentrations of Aripiprazole will increase for a period of 10–14 days, before reaching stable constant levels

Side-effects

Headache, agitation or anxiety, insomnia, orthostatic hypotension, gastro-intestinal effects like nausea and constipation, lightheadedness, sleepiness, increased appetite, and stuffy nose

 Contraindications

Patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to Aripiprazole or any excipients

Precautions

• Pregnancy category C
• In patients with Parkinson’s Disease, cardiovascular disease and pneumonia

Interactions

• Alcohol and other centrally affecting drugs
• Antihypertensive
• Interaction of Aripiprazole with inhibitors or inducers of CYP enzymes or other factors like smoking is unlikely