Aripiprazole belongs to the group of atypical neuroleptics. The drug is used to treat mental disorders in particular, such as schizophrenia and associated hallucinations or delusions, as well as bipolar disorder.
What is aripiprazole?
Aripiprazole belongs to the group of atypical neuroleptics. The drug is used to treat mental disorders in particular, such as schizophrenia and associated hallucinations or delusions, as well as bipolar disorder. Aripiprazole is a relatively easily tolerated drug that can inhibit the action of dopamine and serotonin in the central nervous system. This prevents these two neurotransmitters from having a negative impact on the patient’s psyche and suppresses the symptoms (but not the causes) of the disorder. Aripiprazole is often administered together with other neuroleptics. The sedative effect of aripiprazole is also suitable for effectively treating sleep disorders associated with the above-mentioned disorders. It is taken orally and, because of its long residence time in the body, is usually taken only once a day.
Pharmacological action
Because aripiprazole is an atypical neuroleptic, there is no question of a direct effect on organs or the body itself. Instead, the drug is part of the so-called 2nd generation of neuroleptics, which inhibit the receptors of dopamine and serotonin in the patient’s central nervous system. An imbalance of these two neurotransmitters, chemically speaking, leads to the buildup of the psychoses mentioned at the beginning of this article. By administering aripiprazole in the correct dose, the drug acts as an antagonist of the two neurotransmitters, thus preventing the influence of dopamine and serotonin on the patient’s psyche. The actual causes of the mental disorders are therefore not combated by aripiprazole; instead, it is a drug which only prevents the formation of the symptoms. In general, it is a drug that is rich in side effects. However, these rarely actually occur, which is why aripiprazole is considered an easily tolerated drug for organs and body. The effects on the extrapyramidal motor system are minor, which is why problems with the muscles are rare compared to other neuroleptics.
Medical application and use
Aripiprazole is used primarily in the treatment of various psychoses and bipolar disorder. In particular, the use of aripiprazole has been proven in the treatment of schizophrenia: There, among other things, the aforementioned psychoses as well as persistent delusions, mild to severe hallucinations and pronounced personality disorders are treated. Furthermore, the active ingredient aripiprazole in combination with other neuroleptics usually achieves visible success in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Besides the pure treatment of the symptoms and causes of the mentioned disorders, aripiprazole continues to have a sedative effect, which is useful for the patient in case of concomitant symptoms of the disorders (sleep disorders, restlessness). Aripiprazole must not be used for the treatment of the mentioned diseases if cardiac or circulatory diseases are indicated in the patient. Administration of aripiprazole should also be refrained from in case of known regular seizures. Elderly patients suffering from dementia should be excluded from treatment with aripiprazole or comparable neuroleptics, as the drug itself may exacerbate the adverse effects of dementia. Furthermore, treatment with aripiprazole must not be given if patients are already taking drugs containing inhibitors of enzymes from the cytochrome system. Aripiprazole has no other known uses in modern medicine.
Risks and side effects
Common side effects caused by aripiprazole and other atypical neuroleptics include persistent agitation and feelings of nausea, which are usually followed by vomiting. Furthermore, taking aripiprazole can cause constipation. The drug may cause sleep disturbances, a persistent feeling of dizziness accompanied by mild headache, as well as pronounced cardiac arrhythmias. In the latter case, an immediate visit to the doctor is advised. Some patients also report a temporary marked increase in salivation.In very rare cases, the drug can also lead to the formation of EPS. The so-called extrapyramidal syndrome leads to involuntary muscle movements, which is why the first use of aripiprazole is not recommended if heavy machinery such as motor vehicles are operated afterwards. All side effects listed affect people of all ages and genders.
Prevention of mental illness
In the case of psychosomatic disease patterns, quite different considerations are again appropriate. Here, mental and physical symptoms must be treated together. The physical symptoms are by no means imaginary, but certain illnesses can actually develop due to long-term mental stress, certain addictions, or wrong behaviors.
