Aripiprazole possibly worsens psychosis.
Aripirazole is a novel antipsychotic that functions as a partial agonist at the dopamine D2 receptor and, thus, might theoretically worsen psychosis. We report a series of four clinical cases of exacerbation of psychosis related to initiation of aripiprazole therapy. Cases 1 and 2 demonstrated the worsening of psychosis following initiation of aripiprazole (15-30 mg daily) while tapering off the previous atypical antipsychotic. Cases 3 and 4 demonstrated worsening of psychosis following the addition of aripiprazole (15-30 mg daily) to an atypical antipsychotic. In two out of the four cases, discontinuation of arpiprazole resulted in improvement of psychotic symptoms. Although the cases presented are suggestive of a relationship between initiation of aripiprazole therapy and worsening of psychosis, further research is needed to clarify any potential association.
Ramaswamy
Sriram
S
Creighton University/University of Nebraska Psychiatry Residency Program, 3528 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68131, USA. sriramrr@rocketmail.com
Vijay
Dewan
D
William
Marcil
M
Sattar
S Pirzada
SP
Praveen
Fernandes
F
Petty
Frederick
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000819:agonists*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D000068180:Aripiprazole