Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole)

Abilify Maintena generic

Abilify Maintena is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. To learn more about the cost of Abilify Maintena, see the “Abilify Maintena cost and coupons” section.

Abilify Maintena dosage

The Abilify Maintena dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• the severity of the condition you’re receiving Abilify Maintena to treat
• any side effects you may have
• other medications you may be taking
• genetic (inherited) factors that affect how well your body breaks down Abilify Maintena

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Note: Depending on your situation, your doctor may temporarily prescribe oral aripiprazole (Abilify) or another oral antipsychotic drug with Abilify Maintena. (Abilify Maintena is an antipsychotic and aripiprazole is its active ingredient.) They’ll do this to see how well your body tolerates the drug and to make sure your condition is well managed until Abilify Maintena reaches a steady level in your body.

Drug forms and strengths

Abilify Maintena comes as a powder in single-use vials and syringes. It’s available in two strengths: 300 milligrams (mg) and 400 mg.

A healthcare professional mixes the powder with liquid to form an extended-release suspension. (Extended release means the drug releases slowly into your body over a long period of time.)

Abilify Maintena is given as an intramuscular injection by a healthcare professional. They’ll inject the suspension into the muscle of your upper arm or buttock. You’ll receive Abilify Maintena injections at a doctor’s office, clinic, or pharmacy.

If you have other questions about receiving Abilify Maintena, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the Abilify Maintena injection instructions for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

Dosage for schizophrenia

Abilify Maintena is prescribed to treat schizophrenia in adults. For this purpose, the typical dose is 400 mg per injection. You’ll receive one injection of Abilify Maintena every month.

Your doctor may prescribe a different dosage based on the factors listed earlier (just below “Abilify Maintena dosage”). If you have questions about the dosage that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Dosage for bipolar I disorder

Abilify Maintena is also prescribed to treat bipolar I disorder in adults. For this purpose, the typical dose is 400 mg per injection. You’ll receive one injection of Abilify Maintena every month.

Your prescribed dosage may be different based on the factors listed above. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the dosage they recommend.

About receiving Abilify Maintena

Below you’ll find information about key dosage issues:

• When to receive: You’ll receive one injection of Abilify Maintena each month.
• If you miss a dose: What you’ll do about a missed dose of Abilify Maintena depends on certain factors. These include how many doses you’ve received and how many weeks have passed since your last injection. If you miss an appointment to receive your Abilify Maintena injection, call your healthcare professional. They’ll help you reschedule your appointment and recommend next steps.
• Length of treatment: Abilify Maintena is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Abilify Maintena is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely receive it long term.
• Length of time to work: Abilify Maintena starts working after the first dose. However, it may take a few weeks for the drug to reach a steady level in your body and fully work for your condition. For this reason, your doctor may also prescribe an oral antipsychotic for a few weeks after your first dose.

Abilify Maintena side effects

Abilify Maintena can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur during Abilify Maintena treatment. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Abilify Maintena, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that concern or bother you.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Abilify Maintena, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Abilify Maintena. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Abilify Maintena can include:

• back, muscle, or joint pain
• digestive issues, including:
  • abdominal pain
  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• pain around the injection site
• sleepiness
• upper respiratory infection
• weight changes

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Abilify Maintena aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a rare but life threatening reaction to antipsychotic drugs), which may include symptoms such as:
  • changes in heart rate or blood pressure
  • fever
  • muscle stiffness
• difficulty managing your body temperature, which may include symptoms such as:
  • dehydration
  • nausea
  • sweating
• difficulty swallowing, which may include symptoms such as:
  • choking, coughing, or gagging when swallowing
  • drooling
  • feeling as though food is stuck in the throat or chest
• orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure upon sitting up or standing), which may lead to falls and include symptoms such as:
  • blurred vision
  • dizziness
  • lightheadedness
• changes in metabolism, which may lead to:
  • high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes
  • high cholesterol or triglyceride levels
  • weight gain
• extrapyramidal symptoms (a group of movement disorders), which may include:
  • akathisia (feeling restless or an urgency to move)
  • tardive dyskinesia (uncontrollable muscle movements, typically in the face)
  • tremor
• uncontrollable urges to do certain activities, such as:
  • eating
  • gambling
  • sexual activity
  • shopping
• difficulty with thinking or movement, which may affect your ability to drive
• low white blood cell level, which may not cause symptoms but can be detected with a blood test
• increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis (see “Note”)

Note: Abilify Maintena has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Abilify Maintena precautions” section.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Abilify Maintena can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Abilify Maintena injection, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

Abilify Maintena uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Abilify Maintena to treat certain conditions. Abilify Maintena may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Abilify Maintena for schizophrenia

Abilify Maintena is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults.

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects emotions, thoughts, and speech. Symptoms may include:

• delusions
• difficulty concentrating
• hallucinations
• lack of facial expressions

Abilify Maintena for bipolar I disorder

Abilify Maintena is approved to treat bipolar I disorder in adults.

Bipolar I disorder is a mental health condition that affects behavior, energy, and mood. This condition typically causes episodes of mania (extremely high energy and excitement) lasting at least 1 week. Other symptoms may include racing thoughts, irritability, and sleeping less than usual.

You can visit our mental health hub to learn more about schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, and other conditions.

Abilify Maintena and children

Abilify Maintena is not FDA approved for use in children. It’s not known for sure whether the drug is safe or effective for children.

Abilify Maintena interactions

Abilify Maintena can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.

Before starting Abilify Maintena treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, supplements, and herbs you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with medications, supplements, and foods

Below is a list of medications, supplements, and foods that can interact with Abilify Maintena. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Abilify Maintena. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Your doctor may advise you not to consume alcohol during treatment with Abilify Maintena. This is because alcohol may worsen certain side effects of Abilify Maintena. Examples include dizziness, sleepiness, and difficulty with thinking or movement.

If you have questions about the safety of drinking alcohol while receiving Abilify Maintena, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Abilify Maintena cost and coupons

As with all medications, the cost of Abilify Maintena can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan (if you have one) and your location.

Drug coupons: You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Abilify Maintena. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Abilify Maintena, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

A program called Abilify Maintena Savings is available. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, visit the program website.

Generic version: Abilify Maintena is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Similar drugs

Other injectable drugs are available that can treat schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. Examples include aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada) and risperidone (Risperdal Consta, Rykindo).

Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Abilify Maintena, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other injectable medications that may work well for you.

Things to consider when taking Abilify Maintena

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Abilify Maintena and pregnancy

It’s not known whether Abilify Maintena should be received during pregnancy. When taken during the last 3 months of pregnancy, antipsychotic drugs have been reported to cause side effects in infants after birth. (Abilify Maintena is an antipsychotic.) A few examples include agitation, difficulty feeding, and tremor.

If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before receiving this medication.

If you’re prescribed Abilify Maintena during pregnancy, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry helps collect information about pregnancy-related issues that may occur during Abilify Maintena treatment. To learn more, talk with your doctor or call 866-961-2388.

Abilify Maintena and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Abilify Maintena should be received while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before receiving this medication.