Abilify

[Guest guest]

FWIW.......This is one of the drugs, like Risperdal, that is showing

promising affects for autistic kids. Dr. Capone talked about it at the

workshop. It

is approved in a liquid form for those of you whose kids won't take pills.

Aripiprazole (Abilify) Extends Time to Relapse of Stabilized Bipolar

Disorder

On March 1, the FDA approved an expanded indication for aripiprazole tablets

and oral solution (Abilify, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Otsuka

Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.), allowing their use for maintaining efficacy in

patients with bipolar I disorder after a recent manic or mixed episode who have

been stabilized and maintained for at least six weeks.

The approval was based on the results of a randomized, double-blind,

multicenter trial involving 161 patients who had recently experienced a manic or

mixed episode and been stabilized with aripiprazole (15 or 30 mg/day) for a

minimum of six weeks. All patients had a Young Mania Rating Scale (Y-MRS) total

score of 10 or less and a Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)

score of 13 or less at baseline prior to randomization for further aripiprazole

therapy or placebo.

Results showed that treatment with aripiprazole significantly increased the

time to relapse (manic and depressive) compared with placebo (P = .020).

Relapses were also less frequent in the aripiprazole group compared with placebo

(25% vs 43%; P = .013).

The majority of relapses were due to manic, rather than depressive symptoms.

In a news release, the company notes that there is insufficient data to

demonstrate whether aripiprazole is effective in delaying time to depression in

patients with bipolar I disorder.

The FDA recommends that use of aripiprazole for extended periods of time (>6

weeks) be periodically evaluated in terms of an individualized patient

risk-benefit analysis.

Aripiprazole was approved in September 2004 for the treatment of acute

bipolar mania, including manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar

disorder. It is also indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ck,

Amen to this. Nice to hear what is working for Ian and prayers that

it continues as its nice to hear how well he is doing, thanks for

always sharing your updates. You've done good mom and I know this

was not easy for you on this decision but he can now connect to the

environment and be happy. No guilt at your end because I know he

looks forward to his family visits. Just hard to adapt to changes

when things happen all part of life when issues like this arises and

this I will never know when I'll cross this bridge and be in the

same boat. If this happens to us, I hope its a nice place like Ian

is at that shows caring, understanding and making him feel at home.

Hugs!

Irma,16,DS/ASD

> Abilify is the medication that changed Ian's life for the better

this past year. We consider it a miracle drug.

>

> CK,

> Mom to Ian (2/89),

> (9/90),

> and Rose (6/94)

>

>