Cariprazine: uses and side effects of this psychotropic drug

This drug is widely used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Psychotic disorders, with schizophrenia as the main and most recognized representative, are one of the types of mental disorders that generate the greatest amount of suffering and functional alteration in the lives of the people who suffer from it.

Finding a treatment to alleviate the symptoms and maintain stability in these subjects has been the objective of a great deal of research from different disciplines. Pharmacology is one of them, having synthesized different substances that reduce or temporarily eliminate psychotic symptoms. We are talking about antipsychotics. One of them, approved in 2015, is cariprazine.

Cariprazine as an antipsychotic

Cariprazine is a substance developed and approved by the FDA in 2015, classified as an atypical antipsychotic.. It is a substance with high effectiveness and elaborated with the purpose of suppressing or reducing psychotic symptomatology, both at the level of symptoms that increase activity or add elements to the patient's usual functionality (called positive symptoms), such as hallucinations, delusions, restlessness or thought destructuring.

However, this drug seems to be more effective than other drugs such as risperidone in the treatment of negative symptomatology. Thus, it has a greater effect on those symptoms that reduce the patient's level of activation, such as alogia or poverty.such as alogia or poverty of thought or abulia and anhedonia or inability to motivate oneself or feel pleasure.

Mechanism of action

Cariprazine is considered an atypical or second generation antipsychotic. As such, it affects brain neurochemistry by altering the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. Unlike most antipsychotics, which block brain dopamine, cariprazine is considered a partial agonist of this neurotransmitter. a partial agonist of this neurotransmitter (i.e., they (i.e., it generates an effect similar to that of endogenous dopamine), which has been associated with an improvement in the negative symptomatology generated by the deficit of this hormone at mesocortical level.

Likewise, at the serotonin level, we find that it exerts different roles depending on the receptor in question. It acts as a partial agonist of the 5-HT1a receptor, which influences the reduction of dopamine synthesis in some brain areas, while it acts as an antagonist of the 5-HT2a and 5-HT2b receptors (which on the other hand generates an increase in dopamine levels in the mesocortical pathway). It also affects the noradrenergic and histaminergic system, although to a much lesser extent.which may have an influence on the generation of side effects.

Main uses

The main indication for cariprazine is schizophrenia.in which it seems to have a high level of effectiveness in the treatment of both positive and negative symptomatology. It is also commonly used in other psychotic disorders, especially those with delirium, agitation and hallucinations.

It has also been indicated for some cases of bipolar disorder. Specifically, it has been approved for use in the presence of acute manic or mixed episodes, helping to reduce the current level of hyperarousal and excessively expansive mood.

Although it does not yet have such action, the possible application of this drug in cases of depression (both unipolar and in the (both unipolar and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder) or even in autism, similar to what happens with aripiprazole and risperidone.

Side effects and contraindications.

Although highly effective in the treatment of different mental conditions and alterations, cariprazine is a substance that can also generate different side effects and even be totally contraindicated (or require extreme regulation) for some specific types of population.

As far as side effects are concerned, it is usual that it generates somnolence and weight gainbeing the most frequent and well known symptoms. However, it can also cause agitation, dizziness, problems urinating or defecating, stomach problems such as indigestion, hypersalivation or blurred vision. In addition, other more serious problems that may require medical attention are the possible experience of convulsions, muscle weakness, dark coloration of urine (due to urination problems), loss of facial expression, falls, hyperthermia or alterations of consciousness, tachycardia, hyperglycemia and hypotension.

Some motor symptoms such as tremors and involuntary movements (as in dyskinesia) are also possible. As with all other antipsychotics or neuroleptics, caution should also be exercised with the caution should be exercised with the possible occurrence of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.with lethal potential.

As for contraindications, as with many other antipsychotics, people receiving other pharmacological treatments should be especially cautious with this drug, especially in the case of antidepressants, since there are a large number of drug substances that can interact with cariprazine. Diabetics should be especially careful, since it is common for this drug to generate elevations in Blood sugar that lead to hyperglycemia.

Likewise Patients with cardiovascular disorders should also avoid it.patients who have had a stroke or have dementia (multiplying in this case the risk of mortality) should also avoid taking it. Its consumption should also be avoided during pregnancy, requiring a consultation with the physician to evaluate alternatives, since it may be a risk for the appearance of malformations or alterations in the fetus.