cariprazine
What is the most important information I should know about cariprazine?
Cariprazine is not approved for use in older adults with dementia-related psychosis.
What is cariprazine?
Cariprazine is an antipsychotic medicine that is used to treat schizophrenia in adults.
Cariprazine is also used to treat manic or mixed episodes in adults with bipolar disorder type I.
Cariprazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cariprazine?
You should not use cariprazine if you are allergic to it.
Cariprazine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
Cariprazine may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis and is not approved for this use.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease, high blood pressure;
- a stroke or blood clot;
- high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);
- liver or kidney disease;
- diabetes; or
- if you are dehydrated.
Taking antipsychotic medicine in the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, feeding problems, fussiness, tremors, and limp or stiff muscles in the newborn. If you get pregnant, tell your doctor right away. Do not stop taking cariprazine without your doctor's advice.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of cariprazine on the baby.
It may not be safe to breast-feed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
How should I take cariprazine?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
High doses or long-term use of cariprazine can cause a serious movement disorder that may not be reversible. The longer you use cariprazine, the more likely you are to develop this disorder, especially if you are an older adult. Symptoms of this disorder include tremors or other uncontrollable muscle movements.
You may take cariprazine with or without food.
It may take several weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.
Tell your doctor if you have any changes in weight while taking this medicine.
Your blood pressure and heart rate will need to be checked often. You may also need frequent blood tests.
Store this medicine in its original packaging at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking cariprazine?
Avoid drinking alcohol. Dangerous side effects could occur.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.
While you are taking cariprazine, you may be more sensitive to temperature extremes such as very hot conditions. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise.
What are the possible side effects of cariprazine?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body);
- problems with vision or speech,
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- severe distress or agitation;
- a seizure;
- uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement);
- trouble swallowing, or accidentally inhaling food or drink;
- low white blood cell counts --fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, skin sores, sore throat, cough, trouble breathing, feeling light-headed;
- high blood sugar --increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor; or
- severe nervous system reaction --very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.
Cariprazine can have long lasting effects on your body. Some side effects could occur for several weeks after you stop using this medicine. You may also have new side effects whenever your dose is changed.
Common side effects may include:
- involuntary muscle movements;
- upset stomach, vomiting;
- drowsiness; or
- feeling restless.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect cariprazine?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Taking cariprazine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.
Many drugs can affect cariprazine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.02. Revision date: 2/5/2020.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.