Aripiprazole: characteristics and side effects of this drug

This psychopharmaceutical is part of the group of atypical antipsychotics.

The suffering of different mental disorders by the population has led to the search for different mechanisms and measures to be applied throughout history in order to treat such affections. Even in ancestral cultures and prehistory, rituals such as trepanation have been carried out for this purpose. But over the years, different methodologies have been refined that are highly effective in the treatment of such disorders.

Among them we find the synthesis of substances that eliminate or reduce symptoms: psychotropic drugs. As far as schizophrenia is concerned, pharmacological treatment is nowadays considered to be of great importance for the maintenance and stabilization of patients. Y Among the many existing psychotropic drugs we can find aripiprazole, which we are going to talk about in this article.of which we are going to speak in this article.

Aripiprazole: what is it?

Aripiprazole is a psychopharmaceutical classified as an antipsychotic or neuroleptic, drugs specially designed to produce a positive effect in the reduction and elimination of the symptoms of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, such as delusions, delusions of memory, andsuch as delusions and hallucinations and psychomotor agitation.

Within the antipsychotics it is classified as atypical.This is because its creation is based on the attempt to develop effective drugs in the treatment of these symptoms without producing the level of side effects that the typical or classic ones have, as well as to increase the effectiveness in the treatment of a type of symptomatology, the negative (those symptoms that reduce the functionality of the skills present in the patient, such as impoverished thinking and abulia), which the typical antipsychotics do not treat or can even harm.

And in this task it is particularly efficient, helping to fight both positive and negative symptomatology. In addition to this, it has the advantage of having the following advantages possible administration in the form of intramuscular injection in depot format (slow release) on a monthly basis, not being necessary in these cases to take the drug orally on a continuous basis.

Mechanism of action

Aripiprazole is, as we have said, an atypical antipsychotic. As with most of these types of neuroleptics, its effects are due to its action on two neurotransmitter systems: dopamine and serotonin. action on two neurotransmitter systems: dopamine and serotonin.. However, their mechanism of action is somewhat different from that of the other atypicals as far as dopamine is concerned.

Although most antipsychotics, both typical and atypical, usually work by blocking the brain's dopamine D2 receptors, this is not the case with aripiprazole. This drug is in fact a partial agonist of D2 receptors, in principle favoring their presence in the brain.. In principle, this would increase positive psychotic symptoms, but it actually reduces them.

This reduction is explained by the action on serotonin. The other atypicals decrease brain serotonin in such a way that it stops inhibiting dopamine in the areas that do not require a reduction of this, so that the blocking action that they generally produce has an effect on the mesolimbic pathway (positive symptoms such as hallucinations are produced by an excess in this pathway) but in the cortex this blocking effect is reduced and compensated by the inhibition of an inhibitor (serotonin).

In the case of aripiprazole this effect is partly present in some types of serotonin receptors, being blocked by the drug, while on the other hand it stimulates their synthesis as a partial agonist of the 5-HT1a receptors. This contributes to a decrease in the level of dopamine in some areas while at a general level it is increased in others.

Indications

The main indication for aripiprazole is the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. In this sense contributes to reduce or eliminate the positive symptomatology, whether in the form of hallucinationsIn this sense, it helps to reduce or eliminate the positive symptoms, whether in the form of hallucinations, agitation or behavioral alterations, while having positive effects on the negative ones (abulia, poor thinking and affective flattening, among others). It is also used to keep stable those suffering from these disorders, from fifteen years of age.

It has also been used effectively in the treatment of manic episodes in the context of bipolar disorder, from the age of thirteen. Not only in the treatment of acute crises, but also in the prevention of new episodes. However, in some subjects it is possible that the consumption of this drug triggers manic episodes..

In addition to the above indications, this drug is sometimes also used in the treatment of problems such as Tourette's disorder or autism, generally to control their clinical manifestations.

Side effects

Although very useful in many disorders, aripiprazole is a psychotropic drug that can cause numerous side effects of varying severity.

Among the most frequent we can find the presence of drowsiness and fatigue, weight gain, headache, increased appetite, nervousness, hypersalivation, hypersalivation, headache, pain and fatigue.hypersalivation, muscular pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea or constipation and balance problems. Insomnia and anxiety are common. Other more serious symptoms include alterations of consciousness, hyperglycemia, respiratory difficulty, muscular rigidity, visual disturbances, arrhythmias and dyskinesias, as well as suicidal thoughts. Unlike other antipsychotics, sexual or motor disturbances are not frequent.

In addition, it has been observed in recent years that the administration of this drug has been associated in some cases (although this is not common) with an increase in impulsivity, compulsive gambling, hyperphagia, increased libido impulsivity, pathological gambling, hyperphagia, increased libido and sexual and the search for sexual relations and the existence of compulsive behaviors such as shopping. In short, it has been associated in some people with the existence of loss of impulse control, something that can have various consequences for the person in question.

Contraindications and risks

Aripiprazole is a very potent drug that can generate diverse effects in the organism, and can pose a considerable risk and be contraindicated in different types of population.

Among those who should not take this drug are people who are allergic to it or to any of its components. This drug is also highly contraindicated for people suffering from dementia, increasing in these cases the risk of death of the subject. The presence of cardiopathies or Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases also make this drug contraindicated.

People with diabetes should avoid this drug, since its consumption can raise sugar levels to a great extent and lead to dangerous hyperglycemia. Those with liver or kidney disease should not use aripiprazole if their condition is severe, or at least should discuss the doses taken with a physician. Also, people with epilepsy are at risk of severe seizures if they take this drug. Another contraindication is in pregnant and breastfeeding women, since it increases the risk to the fetus and the drug is transmitted through the placenta and breast milk.

Aripiprazole can interact with different drugs, an interaction that can be harmful. Among these drugs are some of those used in the treatment of HIV, as well as antidepressants, antihypertensive drugs and some anticonvulsants. Nor should it be consumed together with alcohol or other drugs..

With regard to the loss of impulse control, special caution should be exercised by those who already suffer from a disorder of this type, subjects with substance dependence (whether or not they are already habit-free), bipolar disorder (even though it is a possible drug to be used for treatment) and obsessive-compulsive disorder.