Cariprazine

Cariprazine belongs to a class of medications known as atypical (second-generation) antipsychotics. It is used to treat and prevent the return of symptoms in Schizophrenia and other mental health related conditions such as:

• Hearing, seeing or sensing things that are not real
• Having mistaken beliefs
• Uncontrolled anger
• Being overly suspicious

It can be used to treat symptoms in bipolar disorder such as:

• Very high mood
• Irritability
• Increased activity and energy
• Depression/low mood

Cariprazine may be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

• Take your medication according to the instructions stated on the medication label.
• Cariprazine may be taken with or without food.
• Do not stop taking or adjust the dose of this medication without checking with your doctor.
• Cariprazine needs to be taken regularly for a few weeks before you can feel its full benefits. You should not stop taking this medication even if you do not feel better at the beginning. Continue to take this medication even after you feel better to prevent your symptoms from returning.
• Do check with your doctor on how long you will have to be on this medication.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if more than half of the time to the next dose has passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your usual timing.
• For example, for a medication to be taken two times daily at 8am and 8pm, and you missed your first dose at 8am, skip the first dose if it is after 2pm, and take your second dose at the usual timing at 8pm. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
• You are taking any other medications (including those that can be bought without a prescription), supplements, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal products. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
• You have diabetes. Cariprazine may sometimes worsen blood sugar control in diabetes. Maintain regular check-ups with your doctor.
• You have or have ever had:
  • Other drug allergies
  • Medical conditions such as:
    • Blood disorders, kidney or liver disease, heart diseases, stroke, history of blood clots, high or low blood pressure
    • Visual problems, dementia, seizures (fits), Parkinson’s disease, swallowing difficulties

The mentioned side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.

• Nausea, vomiting
  • Take the medication with or after food
  • Take small but more frequent meals, and avoid fatty or spicy food
• Constipation
  • Drink more water (if you do not have any fluid restriction), eat more high-fibre foods, and exercise regularly
  • Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need medication to help with your constipation
• Drowsiness or feeling tired
  • Avoid driving or taking part in activities that require concentration
  • Discuss with your doctor if you can take your medication at a different time of the day
• Difficulty sleeping
  • Discuss with your doctor if you can take your medication at a different time of the day
  • Listen to relaxing music at bedtime
  • Avoid eating or drinking too much before bedtime
  • Limit your caffeine intake (such as coffee, tea or energy drinks) at least 8 hours before bedtime
• Dizziness
  • Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position
• Increase in appetite, weight gain
  • Exercise regularly and eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Uncontrollable shaking of limbs (tremors) and/or restlessness or need to keep moving constantly (akathisia)

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if any of them continues, worsens or affects your daily life.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Rarely this medication may cause:

• Confusion, high fever, severe muscle stiffness, irregular blood pressure (signs and symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
• Muscle movement side effects (extrapyramidal side effects):
  • Muscle stiffness and spasms (such as in the face, neck and back), twitching or difficulty in speaking or swallowing (dystonia)
  • Uncontrollable movements (such as in the face, tongue, jaw or other parts of the body) (tardive dyskinesia)
• Seizures (fits)
• Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting episodes (signs and symptoms of an abnormal heart beating rhythm (prolonged QTc interval))
• Severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe pain or swelling in either of the legs (symptoms of venous thromboembolism)
• Fever, chills, sore throat and/or mouth ulcers that do not go away (symptoms of blood dyscrasias)
• Changes in vision or sensitivity to bright lights

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Cariprazine as it can cause excessive sleepiness.

Avoid grapefruit juice/products while taking Cariprazine, as the amount of Cariprazine in the body may be increased.

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

Pack this medication into a trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.