Caring for someone with schizophrenia

Caring support
Caring support

Caregivers play a crucial role in supporting their loved one with schizophrenia. That can mean being an advocate and a cheerleader, a confidante and a friend, through the good days as well as the bad. The information below may help you and your loved one better navigate living with schizophrenia.

Focusing where it counts

Here are 3 areas that can empower you and your loved one on the journey ahead:

icon talk

Talk with them. Encourage your loved one to express their feelings and concerns, and help them communicate openly with their care team.

icon book

Educate yourself. Learn about schizophrenia, treatment options, and available resources to better understand and support your loved one’s needs.

icon-Calendar-thin stroke

Stay on a schedule. Help your loved one maintain routines, including medication doses and follow-up appointments, to support treatment success.

Luke Silo

Supporting treatment decisions

Getting on a treatment that works for your loved one’s schizophrenia and their lifestyle can be an important step in reducing the risk of future relapses. If you and your loved one feel ABILIFY ASIMTUFII® (aripiprazole) or
ABILIFY MAINTENA® (aripiprazole) may be right for them, here are some ways you can help navigate conversations with their care team:

  • Prepare together: Help your loved one write down questions and concerns before appointments
  • Take notes: Attend appointments when possible and take notes to help remember important information
  • Clarify information: Ask the care team to explain medical terms or treatment options in simple language
  • Support decision-making: Discuss treatment choices together, respecting your loved one’s preferences and values
  • Follow up: Help track treatment progress and remind your loved one about follow-up appointments and medication schedules

a real difference

Your involvement can make a real difference and help your loved one feel more confident and engaged in their care.

Caring for yourself

When caring for someone else, it can be easy to overlook your own needs. The more support you have, the better you'll be able to care for the ones you love.

give yourself a credit

Caring for someone living with schizophrenia is a meaningful role. Remember—what you do each day is important and makes a difference.

focus on wellness

It's OK to set aside time for yourself. Here are some ways you can better manage your day-to-day and maintain your well-being:

  • Socialize with friends and family
  • Use stress-management techniques, like deep breathing and meditation
  • Eat foods that provide you with energy
  • Try and keep your body moving
watch out of stress

If you are experiencing signs of stress such as exhaustion, feeling depressed, irritability, or changes in eating or sleeping habits, reach out for help.

ask for help

The more support you have for yourself, the better you will be able to provide quality care for your loved one.

  • Join a support group with other people who are caregivers
  • Get in touch with a therapist
  • Contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for programs to support caregivers of people with mental illness

treatment team

Your loved one's treatment team can be a good source of emotional and practical support.

give yourself a credit

Caring for someone living with schizophrenia is a meaningful role. Remember—what you do each day is important and makes a difference.

focus on wellness

It's OK to set aside time for yourself. Here are some ways you can better manage your day-to-day and maintain your well-being:

  • Socialize with friends and family
  • Use stress-management techniques, like deep breathing and meditation
  • Eat foods that provide you with energy
  • Try and keep your body moving

watch out of stress

If you are experiencing signs of stress such as exhaustion, feeling depressed, irritability, or changes in eating or sleeping habits, reach out for help.

ask for help

The more support you have for yourself, the better you will be able to provide quality care for your loved one.

  • Join a support group with other people who are caregivers
  • Get in touch with a therapist
  • Contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for programs to support caregivers of people with mental illness

treatment team

Your loved one's treatment team can be a good source of emotional and practical support.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION and INDICATIONS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Increased risk of death in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA increase the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA are not for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis.

Do not receive ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Increased risk of stroke and ministroke has been reported in clinical studies with oral aripiprazole of elderly people with dementia-related psychosis and can lead to death.
  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a serious condition that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you have some or all of the following signs and symptoms of NMS: high fever, confusion, changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure, stiff muscles, and increased sweating.
  • Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia). ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA may cause movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.
  • Problems with your metabolism such as:

    • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and diabetes: Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who are treated with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes, your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA, and during treatment.

    Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA:

  • feel very thirsty

  • need to urinate more than usual

  • feel very hungry

  • feel weak or tired

  • feel sick to your stomach

  • feel confused, or your breath smells fruity

  • Increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood.
  • Weight gain. You and your healthcare provider should check your weight regularly during treatment.
  • Unusual and uncontrollable (compulsive) urges. Some people receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA have had unusual strong urges to gamble and gambling that cannot be controlled (compulsive gambling). Other compulsive urges include sexual urges, shopping, and eating or binge eating. If you or your family members notice that you are having unusual urges or behaviors, talk to your healthcare provider.
  • Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). You may feel lightheaded or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position.
  • Falls. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA may make you sleepy or dizzy, may cause a decrease in your blood pressure when changing position (orthostatic hypotension), and can slow your thinking and motor skills, which may lead to falls that can cause fractures or other injuries.
  • Low white blood cell count. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests during the first few months of treatment.
  • Seizures (convulsions)
  • Sleepiness, drowsiness, feeling tired, difficulty thinking and doing normal activities. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA affects you. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA may make you feel drowsy and affect your judgement, thinking, or motor skills.
  • Problems controlling your body temperature so that you feel too warm. Do not become too hot or dehydrated during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. Do not exercise too much. In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible. Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much clothing or heavy clothing. Drink plenty of water.
  • Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.

Do not drink alcohol during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.

Before receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have never taken aripiprazole before

  • have or had diabetes or high blood sugar or a family history of diabetes or high blood sugar

  • have or had high levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglycerides, or low levels of HDL cholesterol

  • have or had low or high blood pressure

  • have or had heart problems or a stroke

  • have or had a low white blood cell count

  • have or had seizures (convulsions)

  • have problems that may affect you receiving an injection in your buttocks (ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA) or arm (ABILIFY MAINTENA)

  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA, talk to your healthcare provider about the risk to your unborn baby and about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. You can register by calling 1-866-961-2388 or visit http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA can pass into your milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA and other medicines may affect each other, causing possible serious side effects. Do not start or stop any medicines during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA without talking to your healthcare provider first.

The most common side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA include: weight gain, restlessness or feeling like you need to move (akathisia), injection site pain, or sleepiness (sedation).

It is important to contact your healthcare provider if you experience prolonged, abnormal muscle spasms or contractions, which may be signs of a condition called dystonia.

These are not all the possible side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.

If you have any questions about your health or medicines, talk to your healthcare provider.

You are encouraged to report side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA. Please contact Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1-800-438-9927 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (www.fda.gov/medwatch).

INDICATIONS:

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII is a prescription medicine given by injection by a healthcare professional:

  • for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults
  • alone as maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults

ABILIFY MAINTENA is a prescription medicine given by injection by a healthcare professional:

  • for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults
  • alone as maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults

It is not known if ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Please see FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including BOXED WARNING, for ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA, and MEDICATION GUIDE for ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Elderly people with psychosis related to dementia treated with antipsychotic medicines including ABILIFY, are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. ABILIFY is not approved for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis.

Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or behaviors in some children, teenagers, and young adults, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.

Depression and other serious mental illnesses are themselves associated with an increase in the risk of suicide. Patients on antidepressants and their families or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, or thoughts of suicide. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient's healthcare provider right away, especially if they are severe or occur suddenly. ABILIFY is not approved for use in pediatric patients with depression.

Do not take ABILIFY if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in ABILIFY. Allergic reactions have ranged from rash, hives, and itching to anaphylaxis, which may include difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, and swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.

ABILIFY may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Stroke in elderly people (cerebrovascular problems) that can lead to death
  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms: high fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure. These may be symptoms of a rare and serious condition that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.
  • Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia). ABILIFY may cause movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop receiving ABILIFY. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop receiving ABILIFY.
  • Problems with your metabolism such as:

    • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and diabetes. Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who take ABILIFY. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes (such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes), your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start ABILIFY and during your treatment.

    Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar while receiving ABILIFY:

  • feel very thirsty

  • need to urinate more than usual

  • feel very hungry

  • feel weak or tired

  • feel sick to your stomach

  • feel confused, or your breath smells fruity

  • Increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood.
  • Weight gain. You and your healthcare provider should check your weight regularly.
  • Unusual urges. Some people taking ABILIFY have had unusual urges, such as gambling, binge eating or eating that you cannot control (compulsive), compulsive shopping and sexual urges. If you or your family members notice that you are having unusual urges or behaviors, talk to your healthcare provider.
  • Orthostatic hypotension (decreased blood pressure). Lightheadedness or fainting may happen when rising too quickly from a sitting or lying position.
  • Falls. Taking ABILIFY may make you sleepy or dizzy, cause a decrease in your blood pressure when changing position, or slow your thinking and motor skills which may lead to falls that can cause fractures or other injuries.
  • Low white blood cell count
  • Seizures (convulsions)
  • Problems with control of your body temperature especially when you exercise a lot or are in an area that is very hot. It is important for you to drink water to avoid dehydration. Avoid getting over-heated or dehydrated. Do not over-exercise. In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible. Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much or heavy clothing. Drink plenty of water.
  • Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how ABILIFY affects you. ABILIFY may make you drowsy.

Before taking ABILIFY, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have or had:

  • diabetes or high blood sugar in you or your family; your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start ABILIFY and also during therapy.

  • seizures (convulsions).

  • low or high blood pressure.

  • heart problems or stroke.

  • pregnancy or plans to become pregnant. It is not known if ABILIFY will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking ABILIFY, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. You can register by calling 1-866-961-2388 or go to http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/

  • breast-feeding or plans to breast-feed. ABILIFY can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive ABILIFY.

  • low white blood cell count.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

ABILIFY and other medicines may affect each other causing possible serious side effects. ABILIFY may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how ABILIFY works. Do not start or stop any medicines while taking ABILIFY without talking to your healthcare provider first.

The most common side effects of ABILIFY in adults include: nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, blurred vision, upper respiratory illness, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, and inner sense of restlessness or need to move (akathisia).

The most common side effects of ABILIFY in children include: feeling sleepy, headache, vomiting, fatigue, increased or decreased appetite, increased saliva or drooling, insomnia, nausea, stuffy nose, weight gain, uncontrolled movement such as restlessness or tremor, and muscle stiffness.

It is important to contact your healthcare provider if you experience prolonged, abnormal muscle spasms or contractions, which may be signs of a condition called dystonia.

These are not all the possible side effects of ABILIFY.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

If you have any questions about your health or medicines, talk to your healthcare provider.

You are encouraged to report side effects of ABILIFY. Please contact Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1-800-438-9927 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

INDICATIONS:

ABILIFY is indicated for:

  • Treatment of Schizophrenia in adults and in adolescents 13 to 17 years of age
  • Treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder in adults and in pediatric patients 10 to 17 years of age
  • Use as an add-on treatment to an antidepressant for adults with Major Depressive Disorder who have had an inadequate response to antidepressant therapy
  • Treatment of irritability associated with Autistic Disorder in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years of age
  • Treatment of Tourette's Disorder in pediatric patients 6 to 18 years of age

Special Considerations for Pediatric Uses:

  • Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your child's healthcare provider. Treatment should be started only after a thorough diagnostic evaluation and as part of a total treatment program

Please see FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including BOXED WARNING, and MEDICATION GUIDE.