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A UK consensus on the administration of aripiprazole for the treatment of mania

Sullivan, G.; Aitchison, K. J.; Bienroth, M.; Gray, Richard; Cookson, J.; Haddad, P. M.; Moore, B.; Sullivan, D; Ratna, L.; Taylor, D.; Taylor, M.; Goodwin, G. M.

Authors

G. Sullivan

K. J. Aitchison

M. Bienroth

Richard Gray

J. Cookson

P. M. Haddad

B. Moore

D Sullivan

L. Ratna

D. Taylor

M. Taylor

G. M. Goodwin



Abstract

Aripiprazole has recently received approval for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes in bipolar I disorder and prevention of new manic episodes in aripiprazole-responsive patients. Aripiprazole differs from other antipsychotics in its pharmacology, and the need for prescribing guidance in the UK was recently identified. A UK multidisciplinary panel was convened in November 2007. This report describes the consensus agreed during the meeting on the optimal approach to prescribing aripiprazole: how best to approach initiation of, and switching to, treatment with aripiprazole and management strategies for side effects. A literature review of the randomised controlled clinical trials of aripiprazole in mania supports these recommendations. Aripiprazole should be initiated at 15 mg/day (range 5-20 mg/day). If necessary, adjunctive medication should be used in early treatment to manage side effects or assist in management of symptoms such as agitation. When switching to aripiprazole, the therapeutic dose of current treatment should be maintained while adding aripiprazole 15 (5-20) mg/day. Only once an effective dose of aripiprazole is reached should previous medication be reduced. Nausea, insomnia and agitation typically resolve within days. Some principles for dosing and switching are provided to assist with a successful treatment outcome with aripiprazole in mania. © 2009 British Association for Psychopharmacology.

Citation

Sullivan, G., Aitchison, K. J., Bienroth, M., Cookson, J., Gray, R., Haddad, P. M., …Goodwin, G. M. (2009). A UK consensus on the administration of aripiprazole for the treatment of mania. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 23(3), 231-240. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881108098820

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date May 1, 2009
Journal Journal of Psychopharmacology
Print ISSN 0269-8811
Electronic ISSN 1461-7285
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 23
Issue 3
Pages 231-240
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881108098820
Keywords bipolar disorder/drug therapy, mania, antipsychotic agents/therapeuticuse, antipsychotic agents/administration and dosage, guideline, algorithms
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/996271
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881108098820
Additional Information Additional Information : Published online before print November 14, 2008


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