Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole, which is also sold under the brand names Abilify and Aripiprazol, is an atypical antipsychotic drug and anti-inflammatory drug used for a number of different conditions including:

• Agitated state
• Autism
• Bipolar disorder (manic depression)
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
• Tourette's syndrome

Theory

One hypothesized theory of aripiprazole’s mode of action is that it may work as a biofilm disruptor and affect the gut-brain axis that way.

Costs and availability

Aripiprazole is not approved for use in ME/CFS, and no clinical trials have been conducted with ME/CFS patients. Aripiprazole is approved by the FDA, by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and UK's Medicines Agency for schizophrenia, manic episodes in bipolar I disorder, and for irritability associated with autistic disorders, and other uses. Aripiprazole is sometimes used as an add-on treatment together with an antidepressant.

Aripiprazole, including the brand name Abilify, is an inexpensive perscription-only drug, available as an oral solution, tablet, disolvable powder, and as a powder for injections.

Patient group statements

• ME Association statement on Aripiprazole (Abilify) for ME/CFS (2021)
• Responding to questions about Ability - Action for ME (2021)
• What is M.E.? | FAQ - Australia and New Zealand ME Association (2021)

Talks, presentations and videos

• Case Presentation: Treating ME/CFS with Aripiprazole. IACFS/ME Conference 2021 - Hector Bonilla
• 2021, The Impact of Aripiprazole on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Hector Bonilla

Notable studies

• 2012, The role of Antipsychotics in the Management of Fibromyalgia - (Abstract)
• 2018, Low dose of aripiprazole advanced sleep rhythm and reduced nocturnal sleep time in the patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome: an open-labeled clinical observation (Full text)
• 2019, Aripiprazole repurposed as an inhibitor of biofilm formation and sterol biosynthesis in multidrug-resistant Candida albicans
• 2021, Off label use of Aripiprazole shows promise as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a retrospective study of 101 patients treated with a low dose of Aripiprazole (Full text)

correction

• 2021, Extremely Severe ME/CFS—A Personal Account (Full text)

Articles and blogs

• 2021, Abilify shows promise in retrospective Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) study - Cort Johnson, Health Rising

Blogs

• Oct 2020,Celebrating Whitney's Dafoe and his "Awakening" on his 37th birthday - Health Rising

See also

• Fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia drugs
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis
• Whitney Dafoe

Learn more

• Aripiprazole - Drugs.com

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

central nervous system (CNS) - One of the two parts of the human nervous system, the other part being the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system consists of nerves that travel from the central nervous system into the various organs and tissues of the body.