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Published on: November 21, 2013
A case of Aripiprazole and extra pyramidal side effects
Alberto Salmoiraghi1, Mahesh Odiyoor
1Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK. a.Salmoiraghi@liverpool.ac.uk
Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|January 13, 2006
Summary
This case report details a patient experiencing severe extra-pyramidal side effects from Aripiprazole, a common antipsychotic. The authors suggest slow titration of Aripiprazole to mitigate these risks in schizophrenia treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder often treated with antipsychotic medications.
- Aripiprazole is a widely used atypical antipsychotic known for its efficacy and generally favorable side effect profile.
Observation:
- A 56-year-old female patient with schizophrenia presented with positive and negative symptoms.
- She was initiated on Aripiprazole monotherapy and developed significant extra-pyramidal side effects (EPS) within 5 weeks.
- These side effects resolved rapidly upon Aripiprazole discontinuation.
Findings:
- This report describes the first documented case of disabling EPS in a patient treated with Aripiprazole as a first-line antipsychotic.
- The patient had no prior exposure to other antipsychotics and no relevant medical comorbidities.
- The findings suggest a potential idiosyncratic reaction to Aripiprazole in this specific patient profile.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider the possibility of Aripiprazole-induced EPS even in treatment-naive patients.
- Slow dose titration of Aripiprazole may be a prudent strategy to minimize the risk of adverse events.
- Further research into risk factors for Aripiprazole-induced EPS is warranted.
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