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Aripiprazole

Abilify is the single aripiprazole product here, a tablet in 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg strengths for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

Abilify

Schizophrenia, Bipolar I Disorder

5mg · 10mg · 15mg · 20mg

Aripiprazole tablets for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It balances brain chemicals without the heavy sedation older antipsychotics cause.

From$0.90/ tabletView

Key points

  • Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic, a medicine class that treats psychosis and stabilises mood.
  • The label also covers adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder, alongside its primary roles.
  • A boxed warning states that elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis face an increased risk of death; aripiprazole is not approved for that condition.

How does aripiprazole work?

Aripiprazole acts as a partial agonist at dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Instead of blocking dopamine outright, it stimulates those receptors where activity is low and dampens them where it is high. This dual action is thought to ease psychotic and mood symptoms while carrying a lower risk of movement side effects than full dopamine antagonists. Within the Mental Health category, this partial-agonist profile sets aripiprazole apart from the older antipsychotics that preceded it.

Further reading