SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) This article is sponsored by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck, for which Dr. Gus Alva is a paid consultant.
For the about 4.8 million Americans living with bipolar I disorder and the approximately 2.8 million Americans living with schizophrenia, minimizing social stigmas and finding the right treatment options to manage their illnesses can be challenging. While society has come a long way in prioritizing these mental health conversations in the last few years, there’s still work to be done.
“When both patients and loved ones feel empowered to have an active voice in their mental health management, we can create productive treatment strategies that positively impact their daily lives,” said Dr. Gus Alva, a Board-Certified psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. “Recognizing key symptoms and speaking with your healthcare provider is the first step in managing your condition.”
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual changes in mood and behavior. It is estimated that 2.1% of Americans live with bipolar I disorder. Bipolar I disorder is specifically defined by high-energy manic episodes followed by depressive episodes of low energy and social withdrawal. Many people living with bipolar I disorder have reported feeling isolated and misunderstood.
Schizophrenia is typically characterized by acute episodes of psychotic behaviors which often make it difficult for a person to distinguish between real and unreal experiences. It is a severely debilitating mental illness that is commonly associated with delusions, hallucinations and the sense of losing touch with reality. Medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia is generally poor.
Fortunately, there are a variety of strategies that can be combined to create a comprehensive symptom management plan. Treatment options, such as counseling, psychotherapy and prescribed medication; and daily habits, such as engaging in relaxing activities and adhering to a regular daily schedule, can all be critical elements to a person's mental health.
“It’s important to take an individualized approach to treating mental health illnesses,” said Dr. Alva. “For patients who are already stable on their oral medication, a long-acting injectable, or LAI, may be appropriate as an alternative to a daily pill.”
LAIs have the ability to provide continuous delivery of antipsychotic medication.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved ABILIFY ASIMTUFII (aripiprazole), an extended-release injectable suspension for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults or alone as maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults. Administered by a healthcare professional, to appropriate patients, it is given only in your buttock one time every two months.
ABILIFY ASIMTUFII may cause serious side effects, including an increase in the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). ABILIFY ASIMTUFII is not for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis. Please see IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION below.
The efficacy and safety of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII is based on the pivotal studies of ABILIFY MAINTENA. To learn more about the pivotal studies of ABILIFY MAINTENA, visit abilifymaintena.com. It’s important to note that individual experiences may vary.
Dr. Alva also advises patients to engage their healthcare team if they have any concerns or notice any changes in their mental health.
INDICATIONS and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for
ABILIFY ASIMTUFII® (aripiprazole) and ABILIFY MAINTENA® (aripiprazole)
INDICATIONS:
ABILIFY ASIMTUFII is a prescription medicine given by injection by a healthcare professional:
• for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults
• alone as maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults
ABILIFY MAINTENA is a prescription medicine given by injection by a healthcare professional:
• for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults
• alone as maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults
It is not known if ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
Increased risk of death in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA increase the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA are not for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis.
Do not receive ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.
ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA may cause serious side effects, including:
• Increased risk of stroke and ministroke has been reported in clinical studies with oral aripiprazole of elderly people with dementia-related psychosis and can lead to death.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a serious condition that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you have some or all of the following signs and symptoms of NMS: high fever, confusion, changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure, stiff muscles, and increased sweating.
• Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia). ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA may cause movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.
• Problems with your metabolism such as:
• High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and diabetes: Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who are treated with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes, your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA, and during treatment.
Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA:
• feel very thirsty
• need to urinate more than usual
• feel very hungry
• feel weak or tired
• feel sick to your stomach
• feel confused, or your breath smells fruity
• Increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood.
• Weight gain. You and your healthcare provider should check your weight regularly during treatment.
• Unusual and uncontrollable (compulsive) urges. Some people receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA have had unusual strong urges, to gamble and gambling that cannot be controlled (compulsive gambling). Other compulsive urges include sexual urges, shopping, and eating or binge eating. If you or your family members notice that you are having unusual urges or behaviors, talk to your healthcare provider.
• Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). You may feel lightheaded or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position.
• Falls. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA may make you sleepy or dizzy, may cause a decrease in your blood pressure when changing position (orthostatic hypotension), and can slow your thinking and motor skills which may lead to falls that can cause fractures or other injuries
• Low white blood cell count. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests during the first few months of treatment.
• Seizures (convulsions)
• Sleepiness, drowsiness, feeling tired, difficulty thinking and doing normal activities. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA affects you. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA may make you feel drowsy and affect your judgement, thinking, or motor skills.
• Problems controlling your body temperature so that you feel too warm. Do not become too hot or dehydrated during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. Do not exercise too much. In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible. Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much clothing or heavy clothing. Drink plenty of water.
• Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.
Do not drink alcohol during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.
Before receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
• have never taken aripiprazole before
• have or had diabetes or high blood sugar or a family history of diabetes or high blood sugar. Your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA and during your treatment.
• have or had high levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglycerides, or low levels of HDL cholesterol
• have or had low or high blood pressure
• have or had heart problems or a stroke
• have or had a low white blood cell count
• have or had seizures (convulsions)
• have problems that may affect you receiving an injection in your buttocks (ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA) or arm (ABILIFY MAINTENA)
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA, talk to your healthcare provider about the risk to your unborn baby and about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. You can register by calling 1-866-961-2388 or visit http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA can pass into your milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicine and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA and other medicines may affect each other causing possible serious side effects. Do not start or stop any medicines during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA without talking to your healthcare provider first.
The most common side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA include: weight gain, restlessness or feeling like you need to move (akathisia), injection site pain, or sleepiness (sedation).
It is important to contact your healthcare provider if you experience prolonged, abnormal muscle spasms or contractions, which may be signs of a condition called dystonia.
These are not all the possible side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.
If you have any questions about your health or medicines, talk to your healthcare provider.
You are encouraged to report side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA.
Please contact Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1‑800‑438‑9927 or FDA at 1‑800‑FDA-1088 (www.fda.gov/medwatch).
Please see FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including BOXED WARNING, and MEDICATION GUIDE for ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA.
MAY 2023 23US23EXC0019
