Abilify 15 mg orodispersible tablets

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

ABILIFY 10mg orodispersible tablets

ABILIFY 15mg orodispersible tablets

ABILIFY 30mg orodispersible tablets

aripiprazole

Read the entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only, and you should not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you, because it may harm them.
• If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet contents

1. What ABILIFY is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before taking ABILIFY
3. How to take ABILIFY
4. Possible adverse effects
5. How to store ABILIFY
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What ABILIFY is and what it is used for

ABILIFY contains the active substance aripiprazole and belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics. It is used to treat adults and adolescents aged 15 years or older who have an illness characterized by symptoms such as hearing, seeing, or sensing things that do not exist, mistrust, false beliefs, incoherent speech, and emotional and behavioral flatness. People in this condition may also feel depressed, guilty, restless, or tense.

ABILIFY is used to treat adults and adolescents aged 13 years or older who have a disorder characterized by symptoms such as feeling euphoric, having excessive energy, needing much less sleep than usual, speaking very rapidly with racing thoughts, and sometimes severe irritability. In adults, it also prevents recurrence of this condition in patients who have responded to treatment with ABILIFY.

2. What you need to know before taking ABILIFY

Do not take ABILIFY

• if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor before starting to take ABILIFY.

Cases of patients experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors have been reported during treatment with this medicine. Inform your doctor immediately if you have thoughts or feelings of harming yourself, either before or after starting ABILIFY.

Before starting treatment with ABILIFY, tell your doctor if you have:

• high blood sugar levels (characterized by symptoms such as excessive thirst, increased urination, increased appetite, and feeling weak) or a family history of diabetes;
• seizures, as your doctor may wish to monitor you more closely;
• irregular and involuntary muscle movements, especially in the face;
• cardiovascular diseases (heart and circulation problems), family history of cardiovascular disease, stroke or mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack), or abnormal blood pressure;
• a history of blood clots or a family history of blood clots, as antipsychotics have been associated with blood clot formation;
• a history of gambling addiction.

If you notice that you are gaining weight, developing unusual movements, experiencing drowsiness that interferes with your normal daily activities, having difficulty swallowing, or showing allergic symptoms, please inform your doctor.

If you suffer from dementia (loss of memory and other mental abilities), you or your caregiver or family member should inform your doctor if you have ever had a stroke or "mini" stroke.

Speak to your doctor immediately if you experience thoughts or feelings of harming yourself. Cases of patients experiencing suicidal thoughts and behavior have been reported during treatment with aripiprazole.

Speak to your doctor immediately if you notice muscle stiffness or numbness, high fever, sweating, altered mental state, or very rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Inform your doctor if you, your family, or caregiver notice that you are developing impulses or urges to behave in unusual ways that you cannot resist—the impulse, instinct, or temptation to carry out certain activities that could harm you or others. This is known as impulse control disorder and may include behaviors such as gambling addiction, excessive eating or spending, abnormally increased sex drive, or preoccupation with increased sexual thoughts and feelings.

Your doctor may consider adjusting or stopping your dose.

This medicine may cause drowsiness, low blood pressure upon standing, dizziness, and changes in motor function and balance, which could lead to falls. Caution is advised, especially if you are elderly or have any degree of physical weakness.

Children and adolescents

Do not use this medicine in children and adolescents under 13 years of age. It is not known whether it is safe and effective in these patients.

Other medicines and ABILIFY

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines.

Medicines that lower blood pressure: ABILIFY may enhance the effect of medicines used to lower blood pressure. Make sure to inform your doctor if you are taking any medicine to control blood pressure.

If you are taking ABILIFY together with any other medicine, your doctor may need to adjust the dose of ABILIFY or the other medicines. It is especially important to tell your doctor if you are taking:

• medicines to correct heart rhythm (such as quinidine, amiodarone, flecainide);
• antidepressants or herbal medicines used to treat depression and anxiety (such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, St. John’s wort);
• antifungal medicines used to treat fungal infections (such as itraconazole);
• ketoconazole (used to treat Cushing's syndrome when the body produces excess cortisol);
• certain medicines used to treat HIV infection (such as efavirenz, nevirapine, and protease inhibitors like indinavir, ritonavir);
• anticonvulsants used to treat epilepsy (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital);
• certain antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis (rifabutin, rifampicin).

These medicines may increase the risk of side effects or reduce the effectiveness of ABILIFY. If you notice any unusual symptoms while taking any of these medicines together with ABILIFY, you must inform your doctor.

Medicines that increase serotonin levels are commonly used for conditions including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia, migraine, and pain:

• triptans, tramadol, and tryptophan used for conditions such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, social phobia, migraine, and pain;
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (such as paroxetine and fluoxetine) used for depression, OCD, panic, and anxiety;
• other antidepressants (such as venlafaxine and tryptophan) used in severe depression;
• tricyclic antidepressants (such as clomipramine and amitriptiline) used in depressive disorders;
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), a herbal medicine used for mild depression;
• painkillers (such as tramadol and pethidine) used to relieve pain;
• triptans (such as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan) used to treat migraine.

These medicines may increase the risk of side effects; if you notice any unusual symptoms while taking any of these medicines together with ABILIFY, you must inform your doctor.

Taking ABILIFY with food, drinks, and alcohol

This medicine can be taken regardless of meals.

Alcohol consumption should be avoided.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.

The following symptoms may occur in newborn babies whose mothers have been treated with ABILIFY during the third trimester of pregnancy (last three months of pregnancy): tremors, muscle stiffness and/or weakness, drowsiness, agitation, breathing difficulties, and feeding problems. If your baby develops any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.

If you are taking ABILIFY, your doctor will discuss with you whether you should breastfeed, considering the benefit of treatment for you and the benefit of breastfeeding for your baby. If you are being treated with ABILIFY, you should not breastfeed. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby while taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Dizziness and vision problems (see section 4) may occur during treatment with this medicine. This should be taken into account when maximum attention is required, for example, when driving or operating machinery.

ABILIFY contains aspartame

ABILIFY 10 mg orodispersible tablets: This medicine contains 2 mg of aspartame per tablet.

ABILIFY 15 mg orodispersible tablets: This medicine contains 3 mg of aspartame per tablet.

ABILIFY 30 mg orodispersible tablets: This medicine contains 6 mg of aspartame per tablet.

Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine, which may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine accumulates because the body cannot eliminate it properly.

ABILIFY contains lactose

If your doctor has informed you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with your doctor before taking this medicine.

ABILIFY contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet; therefore, it is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take ABILIFY

Follow exactly the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist for taking this medicine. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

The recommended dose for adults is 15 mg once daily. However, your doctor may prescribe lower or higher doses, up to a maximum of 30 mg once daily.

Use in children and adolescents

This medicine should be initiated with the oral solution (liquid) at a low dose.

The dose may gradually be increased to the recommended dose for adolescents of 10 mg once daily. However, your doctor may prescribe lower or higher doses, up to a maximum of 30 mg once daily.

If you feel that the effect of ABILIFY is too strong or too weak, inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Try to take ABILIFY at the same time each day. It does not matter whether you take it with or without food.

Do not open the blister pack until you are ready to take the tablet. To take a tablet, open the packaging and peel back the aluminum foil from the blister so that the tablet becomes visible. Do not push the tablet through the aluminum foil, as this may damage it. Once the blister is opened, with dry hands, take the orodispersible tablet and place the entire tablet on your tongue. The tablet will rapidly disintegrate with saliva. The orodispersible tablet can be taken with or without liquid.

Alternatively, you may dissolve the tablet in water and drink the resulting suspension.

Even if you feel better, do not change or stop your daily dose of ABILIFY without first consulting your doctor.

If you take more ABILIFY than you should

If you realize that you have taken more ABILIFY than your doctor has prescribed (or if someone else has taken part of your ABILIFY), contact your doctor immediately. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to the nearest hospital and take the packaging with you.

Patients who have taken an excessive amount of this medicine have experienced the following symptoms:

• rapid heartbeat, agitation/aggression, speech difficulties.
• unusual movements (especially of the face or tongue), and decreased level of consciousness.

Other symptoms may include:

• acute confusion, seizures (epilepsy), coma, a combination of fever, rapid breathing, sweating;
• muscle rigidity and drowsiness, slowed breathing, suffocation, high or low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms.

Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital immediately if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.

If you forget to take ABILIFY

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

If you stop taking ABILIFY

Do not stop your treatment just because you feel better. It is important that you continue taking ABILIFY for as long as your doctor has instructed.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Frequent adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients):

• diabetes mellitus;
• sleep disturbances;
• anxiety;
• restlessness and inability to remain still, difficulty staying seated;
• akathisia (a distressing sensation of inner restlessness and an overwhelming urge to keep moving);
• uncontrolled twisting, writhing, or spasmodic movements;
• tremor;
• headache;
• fatigue;
• drowsiness;
• dizziness;
• shakiness and blurred vision;
• difficulty passing stools or reduced frequency of bowel movements (constipation);
• indigestion;
• nausea;
• increased saliva production;
• vomiting;
• feeling of tiredness.

Uncommon adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients):

• increased or decreased levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood;
• excessively high blood sugar levels;
• depression;
• altered or increased sex drive;
• uncontrolled movements of the mouth, tongue, and limbs (tardive dyskinesia);
• muscle disorder causing twisting movements (dystonia);
• restless legs;
• double vision;
• eye photosensitivity;
• rapid heartbeat;
• drop in blood pressure upon standing, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting;
• hiccups.

The following adverse effects have been reported during the post-marketing phase of oral aripiprazole, but their frequency is unknown:

• low white blood cell count;
• low platelet count;
• allergic reaction (e.g., swelling of the mouth, tongue, face, and throat, itching, and redness);
• onset or worsening of diabetes, ketoacidosis (ketones in blood and urine), or coma;
• high blood sugar;
• low sodium levels in the blood;
• loss of appetite (anorexia);
• weight loss;
• weight gain;
• suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, and suicide;
• aggression;
• agitation;
• nervousness;
• combination of fever, muscle rigidity, rapid breathing, sweating, decreased consciousness, sudden changes in blood pressure and heart rate, and fainting (neuroleptic malignant syndrome);
• seizures;
• serotonin syndrome (a reaction that may cause intense feelings of well-being, drowsiness, clumsiness, restlessness, feeling drunk, fever, sweating, or muscle stiffness);
• speech disorder;
• fixed eye position;
• unexplained sudden death;
• potentially life-threatening irregular heartbeat;
• heart attack;
• slower heartbeat;
• blood clots in the veins, especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the leg), which may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty breathing (if you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately);
• high blood pressure;
• fainting;
• accidental inhalation of food with risk of pneumonia (lung infection);
• muscle spasms around the glottis (a part of the larynx);
• inflammation of the pancreas;
• difficulty swallowing;
• diarrhoea;
• abdominal discomfort;
• stomach upset;
• liver failure;
• inflammation of the liver;
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes;
• abnormal liver function test results;
• rash;
• skin photosensitivity;
• hair loss;
• excessive sweating;
• severe allergic reactions such as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome). DRESS syndrome initially presents as flu-like symptoms with a facial rash, followed later by generalized skin rash, high fever, enlarged lymph nodes, increased liver enzyme concentrations observed in blood tests, and increased levels of a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia);
• abnormal muscle breakdown that may lead to kidney problems;
• muscle pain;
• stiffness;
• involuntary loss of urine (incontinence);
• difficulty urinating;
• withdrawal symptoms in newborns due to exposure to medicines during pregnancy;
• prolonged and/or painful erection;
• difficulty controlling core body temperature or overheating;
• chest pain;
• swollen hands, ankles, or feet;
• in blood tests: increased or fluctuating blood sugar levels, increased glycated haemoglobin;
• inability to resist the impulse, instinct, or temptation to perform an action that may be harmful to you or others, which may include:
  • strong urge to gamble excessively despite serious personal or family consequences;
  • altered or increased sexual interest and behaviour that is concerning to you or others, for example, increased sex drive;
  • uncontrollable excessive shopping;
  • binge eating (consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time) or compulsive eating (eating more food than normal and more than needed to satisfy hunger);
  • tendency to wander.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these behaviours; they will explain how to manage or reduce the symptoms.

In elderly patients with dementia, an increased number of fatal cases have been reported while taking aripiprazole. Additionally, cases of stroke or "mini" strokes have been reported.

Other adverse effects in children and adolescents

Adolescents aged 13 years and older experienced adverse effects similar in frequency and type to those in adults, except for drowsiness, uncontrolled spasms or contractions, restlessness, and fatigue, which were very common (affects more than 1 in 10 patients), and upper abdominal pain, dry mouth, increased heart rate, weight gain, increased appetite, muscle fasciculations, involuntary limb movements, and dizziness—especially when standing up after lying down or sitting—which were common (affects up to 1 in 10 patients).

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You may also report them directly through the national reporting system included in Appendix V. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of ABILIFY

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month indicated.

Store in the original packaging to protect from moisture.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines and packaging that you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of ABILIFY

• The active substance is aripiprazole.

Each orodispersible tablet contains 10 mg of aripiprazole.

Each orodispersible tablet contains 15 mg of aripiprazole.

Each orodispersible tablet contains 30 mg of aripiprazole.

• The other components are calcium silicate, sodium croscarmellose, crospovidone, silica, xylitol, microcrystalline cellulose, aspartame, potassium acesulfame, vanilla flavour (contains lactose), tartaric acid, magnesium stearate.

Tablet coating

ABILIFY 10 mg orodispersible tablets: red iron oxide (E 172)

ABILIFY 15 mg orodispersible tablets: yellow iron oxide (E 172)

ABILIFY 30 mg orodispersible tablets: red iron oxide (E 172)

Appearance of ABILIFY and contents of the pack

ABILIFY 10 mg orodispersible tablets are round, pink in colour, marked with ""A" over "640"" on one side and “10” on the other.

ABILIFY 15 mg orodispersible tablets are round, yellow in colour, marked with ""A" over "641"" on one side and “15” on the other.

ABILIFY 30 mg orodispersible tablets are round, pink in colour, marked with ""A" over "643"" on one side and “30” on the other.

ABILIFY orodispersible tablets are available in unit dose blisters packed in cartons containing 14 × 1, 28 × 1 or 49 × 1 orodispersible tablets.

Only certain pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Netherlands B.V.

Herikerbergweg 292

1101 CT, Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Manufacturer

Elaiapharm

2881 Route des Crêtes, Z.I. Les Bouilides-Sophia Antipolis,

06560 Valbonne

France

Further information on this medicinal product is available from the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.

Date of the most recent review of this leaflet: (MM/YYYY)

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency: https://www.ema.europa.eu.