Evaluating aripiprazole as a potential bipolar disorder therapy for adults

Abstract

Compared with haloperidol, ARI shows fewer extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), but has a slightly lower efficacy in mania. It has a better metabolic parameter profile and fewer cardiovascular adverse events than other SGAs although the add-on treatment shows a higher risk of EPS. Presently, data doesn't support its use as a first choice maintenance monotherapy but it may be useful as a combination therapy for BD patients with comorbidities such as drug abuse and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Studies on ARI in bipolar depression are disappointing. However, future studies on the drug, at a low dose combined with a stabilizer or antidepressant may prove interesting.

Inhibitory Effects of Antidepressants on Acetylcholine-Induced Contractions in Isolated Guinea Pig Urinary Bladder Smooth Muscle

“…Against this background and to overcome the side effects of tricyclics and tetracyclics (especially the anticholinergic action-derived effects), a new generation of antidepressants possessing fewer antimuscarinic actions have been developed, and are currently the first choice for antidepressant pharmacotherapy. In Japan, clinically available post-tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) [4] , serotonin noradrenaline (norepinephrine) reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) [5] , noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants ( NaSSAs) [6] , and dopamine partial agonists (DPAs) [7] . However, against the new generation of antidepressantresistant depression, first-generation antidepressant tricyclics are still clinically prescribed.…”