How Does Aripiprazole Work?
Aripiprazole belongs to a group of medications called atypical (or second-generation)
antipsychotic medications. It is not entirely clear how the medication works for the treatment of
schizophrenia, major
depression, or
bipolar disorder. However, it is known to block or lessen the effects of several chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin, may be elevated in people with schizophrenia or
bipolar disorder (also known as
manic depression).
In 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 it. Longer studies also showed that the drug can help keep symptoms from returning.
Clinical studies have also shown aripiprazole to be effective for
bipolar disorder treatment. In these studies, the medication was effective at treating episodes of mania or mixed episodes (involving both mania and depression). It 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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