title: Aripiprazole in children and adolescents: clinical experience.
abstract: Despite few supportive data, aripiprazole was being administered to children and adolescents for management of mood instability, aggression, and psychosis. Using a retrospective review (n = 11) and prospective recruitment (n = 6), 17 children and adolescents received aripiprazole 5 to 20 mg/day. Only 4 of 16 bipolar and autistic subjects (25%) demonstrated reduced aggression without adverse events, and the symptoms of 2 of 4 psychotic subjects improved. Coadministration of sedative medications (particularly guanfacine or clonidine) and weight < 58 kg increased the risk of adverse events, such as increased lability and aggression. All three children < 8.6 years old, all four children < 34 kg, and all five children receiving alpha2-agonists developed adverse events prior to clinical efficacy. Age > 11 years, weight > 58 kg, and absence of sedative medications were associated with a 56% (five of nine) success rate. Until larger, prospective studies are completed, caution is advised when considering aripiprazole for smaller children and children receiving sedative medications.
authors.affiliation: Children's Specialized Hospital, Toms River, NJ 08755, USA. trugino@childrens-specialized.org
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rugino
authors.forename: Yvette M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Janvier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016312:Treatment Refusal
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole