aripiprazole tablets, orodisperible tablets and oral solution (Abilify)

following an abbreviated submission

aripiprazole tablets, orodisperible tablets and oral solution  (Abilify®) are accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland.

Indication under review: The treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents 15 years and older.

SMC restriction: Restricted to initiation and management under the supervision of a child/adolescent psychiatrist.

Aripiprazole has demonstrated short and long-term efficacy in adolescents in the 15 to 17 year old subgroup which is similar to that observed in the adult patient population.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has previously accepted this product for use in schizophrenia in adults.

Aripiprazole is one of several atypical antipsychotic medicines that improve symptoms of an acute relapse and reduce the risk of relapse comparable to a typical antipsychotic. The evidence of comparable efficacy to other atypical antipsychotics is limited.  It is associated with a lower incidence of extra-pyramidal side effects than typical antipsychotics, and comparable to other atypicals.  It is associated with less elevation of serum prolactin, less lipid abnormalities and less clinically significant weight gain over the short-term compared with other atypical antipsychotics.  It does not adversely effect blood glucose nor have a clinically significant advantage compared to other antipsychotics with respect to this.