Aripiprazole (Cont.)

How Does Aripiprazole Work?

Aripiprazole belongs to a group of medications called atypical (or second-generation) antipsychotic medications. It is not entirely clear how aripiprazole works for the treatment of schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder. However, it is known that the drug blocks or lessens the effects of several chemicals in the brain. These brain chemicals (such as dopamine and serotonin) may be elevated in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression).
 
Aripiprazole is not a cure for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depression. It only helps to control symptoms (see Symptoms of Depression, Symptoms of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder Symptoms).
 

Aripiprazole Effects

In previous clinical studies on aripiprazole for the treatment of schizophrenia, people taking the medication experienced improvements in their schizophrenia symptoms (including hallucinations and suspiciousness) compared to those not taking aripiprazole. Longer studies also showed that aripiprazole can help keep symptoms from returning.
 
Previous clinical studies have also shown aripiprazole to be effective for bipolar disorder treatment. In these studies, aripiprazole was effective at treating episodes of mania or mixed episodes (involving both mania and depression). The medicine also helped prevent bipolar disorder symptoms from returning.
 

Aripiprazole has also been studied for treating major depression (when used along with antidepressants). These studies evaluated people who had not responded adequately to antidepressants alone. Adding aripiprazole significantly reduced depression symptoms, compared to adding a placebo (a “sugar pill” with no active ingredient).

 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;