Frequently asked questions

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Search the topics below to find answers to some of the most common questions about ABILIFY ASIMTUFII® (aripiprazole) and ABILIFY MAINTENA® (aripiprazole).

About ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA are both long-lasting treatments for schizophrenia. They are given as an injection by your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist:

  • ABILIFY ASIMTUFII is given once every 2 months*
  • ABILIFY MAINTENA is given once monthly*

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA are also used alone as maintenance treatments for bipolar I disorder.

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

*Work with your healthcare provider to make sure you can tolerate aripiprazole prior to starting treatment.

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alone as treatments for schizophrenia in adults:

  • ABILIFY ASIMTUFII was approved on April 27, 2023
  • ABILIFY MAINTENA was approved on February 28, 2013

Before Starting

If you are currently taking the pill form of aripiprazole or have taken it in the past, tell your doctor. If your body has tolerated it, you won’t need to take it before starting ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. If you are currently taking the pill form of aripiprazole, you should continue to take it for 2 weeks after your first injection of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.

If you aren’t currently taking the pill form of aripiprazole, you will likely need to take it for 2 weeks before getting your first ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA injection. This is so your doctor can see how well your body tolerates the medicine.

If you are taking the pill form of aripiprazole, you should continue to take this medication for 2 weeks after your first injection of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA. This helps keep a consistent level of medication in your body.

If you are taking another oral antipsychotic medicine and have taken aripiprazole in the past and tolerated it, you will continue to take your current medication for 2 weeks after starting ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.

If you are taking another oral antipsychotic medication and haven’t previously taken the pill form of aripiprazole, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need to take aripiprazole tablets for up to 2 weeks before starting ABILIFY MAINTENA or ABILIFY ASIMTUFII to see how well your body tolerates the medicine.

If you are receiving once-monthly ABILIFY MAINTENA and want to transition to once every-2-months ABILIFY ASIMTUFII, let your doctor know. You can receive ABILIFY ASIMTUFII in place of your next scheduled injection of ABILIFY MAINTENA. Then ABILIFY ASIMTUFII should be given once every 2 months after that.

If you are taking the pill form of ABILIFY, you and your doctor may choose to start ABILIFY MAINTENA or ABILIFY ASIMTUFII when you are ready to do so. Once you start your LAI, you should continue to take ABILIFY tablets for 2 weeks after your first injection. This helps keep a consistent level of medication in your body. After that, you will receive your injection once monthly or once every 2 months, depending on your treatment.

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

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA could interact with other medicines you take, causing possible serious side effects. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA work.

Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to receive ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicines during treatment with ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Receiving Treatment

No. ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA injections are only given by a doctor or nurse. This can be done in your doctor’s office or at a Local Care Center (LCC) in your area.

LCCs may be a more convenient option for you depending on your schedule or commute. They can be retail pharmacies, urgent care clinics, or infusion centers.

ABILIFY ASIMTUFII is given just below the waistline in your gluteal muscle. This is a common site for this type of injection.

ABILIFY MAINTENA can be given in your shoulder, or just below the waistline in your gluteal muscle. Your doctor will determine which area is right for you.

In the study, about 4 out of 5 people receiving ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and 9 out of 10 people receiving ABILIFY MAINTENA did not report feeling pain during the injection.



Those who did report feeling pain rated the pain as less than 4 on a scale from 0 to 100.

The most common side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA include:

  • weight gain
  • inner sense of restlessness such as feeling like you need to move
  • injection site pain
  • sleepiness (sedation)

These are not all of the possible side effects of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII and ABILIFY MAINTENA. Please see Important Safety Information for more information about side effects.

You should call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

You may receive your injection of ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA at your doctor's office or at a Local Care Center (LCC).

LLCs can be retail pharmacies, urgent care clinics, or infusion centers where a healthcare provider can give you your injection.

Financial Assistance Options

If you don’t have health insurance or can’t afford your ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA injections, there may be help available. The Otsuka Patient Assistance Foundation (OPAF) might be able to help you get your ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA medicine for free.*

If you have commercial insurance and are 18 years of age or older, you may be eligible to save on your prescription with a Savings Card.

*Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. does not control or influence how the Otsuka Patient Assistance Foundation distributes funds.

You can find out if you are eligible for financial assistance, whether you have insurance or not. Call the Otsuka Patient Assistance Foundation at 1-855-727-6274 to see if you qualify for financial assistance.

Savings Cards

With the Savings Card* for ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA, eligible patients may pay as little as $0 per prescription, with an annual maximum benefit of $8,000.

*Conditions apply. See conditions for ABILIFY ASIMTUFII or ABILIFY MAINTENA.

In order to be eligible, you must have commercial health insurance and be 18 years of age or older. The Savings Card is not valid for prescriptions reimbursed in whole or in part under any federal or state health programs, including, but not limited to, Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, DOD, and the VA. Other conditions apply.

There is currently no expiration date for using this card. Please keep in mind that Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. has the right to change or end this program at any time without notice.

If you change your pharmacy where you get your injection, you’ll need to present your Savings Card again with a valid prescription. If you change your healthcare provider, you'll need to present them with your Savings Card so they can call in your prescription with the Savings Card. If you no longer have your card, download another Savings Card.

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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.