New Warning For Aripiprazole

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning about possible impulse-control problems, such as compulsive or uncontrollable urges, tied to a particular antipsychotic.

That antipsychotic medication is aripiprazole, which can be found under the brand names Abilify, Abilify Maintena and Aristada.

Aripiprazole is used to treat multiple mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In some cases, aripiprazole can be given with other medications to treat depression that other medications have not effectively treated.

Impulse-control problems include compulsive or uncontrollable urges to gamble, binge eat, shop or have sex. When patients experiencing these problems stopped taking aripiprazole or their dose was reduced, these urges reportedly stopped, according to the FDA.

Although these impulse-control issues are considered rare, if they go unrecognized, they can be harmful. If you or a loved one notices new or increasing impulse-control problems, speak to your doctor.

The FDA does not recommend discontinuing the medication unless you have been instructed by a health care professional to do so.