We report a case of a female patient, 48yo, medicated for depressive features with Clomipramine 75mg 1id and Bromazepam 6mg 3id, with the recent addition (8 weeks at admission time) of Aripiprazole 10mg 1id. She started experiencing fatigue, tachycardia, and paleness (symptoms suggestive of anemia) as well as weight loss and dark coloured urine. She presented with macrocytic anemia (Hb 7.7 g/dL, MGV 108.1 fL), leucocytosis (17.160/L), thrombocytosis (612 x109/L) and hyperbilirubinemia (total 1.86mg/dL, direct 0.46mg/dL). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Schizophrenia and major depression are associated with alterations in peripheral inflammatory markers, and anti-inflammatory therapy has been proposed as a promising add-on approach in the pharmacologic treatment of both disorders. Second-generation atypical antipsychotics are currently first-line drugs in the treatment of schizophrenia and are also used as augmentation strategies in treatment-resistant major depression. Furthermore, these drugs have been reported to exhibit distinct metabolic side effects and to influence inflammatory processes. In this study, we used ex vivo stimulation of primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy blood donors with atypical antipsychotics olanzapine or aripiprazole to examine effects on cytokine production independent from metabolic side effects and disease status. Both olanzapine and aripiprazole stimulation decreased mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and resulted in diminished protein concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α in conditioned medium of stimulated PBMC. A multiplex approach revealed additional downregulation of IL-2; MIP-1β and IP-10 secretion. Similarly, olanzapine and aripiprazole stimulation of the human monocytic cell line THP-1 resulted in a significant decrease in expression and secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α. Our results suggest that atypical antipsychotics directly influence immune cell function and thereby highlight the importance to factor in potential side effects of drugs routinely used in treatment of schizophrenia and major depression on inflammatory processes when considering anti-inflammatory drug therapy as an additional treatment option.

Hyperprolactinemia is a common side effect of antipsychotic drugs. Although changes of antipsychotic drugs or reduction of their doses can solve this problem, a modification of the treatment regimen can lead to instability in patients. Herein, we followed up a patient with elevated prolactin caused by paliperidone and found that the prolactin level was decreased after the administration of a combination with a low-dose aripiprazole. In addition, we summarized and analyzed the findings from the case and the literature review conducted.

In this review, we have attempted to share our 10 years' clinical experience with aripiprazole use and switching from other antipsychotics to aripiprazole. There are various reasons for switching, including a partial or complete lack of efficacy, adverse side effects, and partial or noncompliance with medication. Aripiprazole has some unique receptor-binding qualities that provides some advantages over other antipsychotics in certain clinical situations. We have covered potential clinical scenarios for aripiprazole use as a single agent and switching from other agents in inpatient and outpatient settings. Patients switched from other antipsychotics to aripiprazole have been shown to benefit from significant improvements in clinical response and tolerability. This review examines the strategies for switching patients from antipsychotic drugs to aripiprazole.

Oral formulations of the antipsychotics aripiprazole, asenapine, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, and risperidone are indicated for use in pediatrics for several diagnoses. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are of interest in this special population because they may be used due to convenience and desire to improve adherence, despite limited support in the literature. The primary intent of this study is to provide descriptive information on the use of paliperidone palmitate, risperidone microspheres, aripiprazole extended-release injection, and olanzapine pamoate in pediatric patients within Indiana Medicaid.