We aimed to review and synthesize results reporting on the maintenance efficacy of
Aripiprazole in adults with bipolar I disorder.
Aripiprazole is FDA approved for the acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder.
Aripiprazole's efficacy during the long-term treatment of
bipolar disorder is supported by extension of acute phase studies and long-term (ie, 100-week) double-blind placebo controlled recurrence prevention registration trials.
Aripiprazole is not established as efficacious in the acute or maintenance treatment of
bipolar depression. Moreover,
aripiprazole's efficacy during the acute or maintenance phase of bipolar II disorder has not been sufficiently studied.
Aripiprazole has a relatively lower hazard for metabolic disruption and change in body composition when compared to other atypical agents (eg,
olanzapine,
quetiapine). Moreover,
aripiprazole has minimal propensity for sedation,
somnolence and
prolactin elevation.
Aripiprazole is associated with extrapyramidal side effects, notably
akathisia, which in most cases is not severe or treatment limiting. Future research vistas are to explore
aripiprazole's efficacy in bipolar subgroups; recurrence prevention of
bipolar depression; and in combination with other mood
stabilizing agents.