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7 Interactions found for:

Abilify and Lexapro
Interactions Summary
  • 3 Major
  • 3 Moderate
  • 1 Minor
  • Abilify
  • Lexapro

Drug Interactions

Moderate
Lexapro + Abilify

The following applies to the ingredients: Escitalopram (found in Lexapro) and Aripiprazole (found in Abilify)

Using ARIPiprazole together with escitalopram can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether together or alone. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Food Interactions

Moderate
Lexapro + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Escitalopram (found in Lexapro)

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of escitalopram such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with escitalopram. Do not use more than the recommended dose of escitalopram, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Moderate
Abilify + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Aripiprazole (found in Abilify)

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of ARIPiprazole such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with ARIPiprazole. Do not use more than the recommended dose of ARIPiprazole, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Drug and Pregnancy Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Escitalopram (found in Lexapro)

Professional Content

This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus.

AU TGA Pregnancy Category: C
US FDA Pregnancy Category: C

Comments:
-Newborns should be monitored if the maternal use of this drug continues into the later stages of pregnancy, particularly, the third trimester.
-Abrupt discontinuation should be avoided during pregnancy.

Animal studies have revealed evidence of embryotoxicity (e.g., reduced fetal weight and reversible delay of ossification), offspring mortality, and delayed growth. Animal studies with racemic citalopram have revealed evidence of teratogenicity at doses greater than human therapeutic doses. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Human spontaneous abortion has been reported with racemic citalopram.

Neonates exposed to SSRIs late in the third trimester have uncommonly reported clinical findings including respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, and constant crying. These effects have mostly occurred either at birth or within a few days of birth. These features are consistent with either a direct toxic effect of SSRIs, or possibly a drug discontinuation syndrome; in some cases, the clinical picture is consistent with serotonin syndrome.

Epidemiological data have suggested that the use of SSRIs, particularly in late pregnancy, may increase the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn.

Data from animal studies has shown that escitalopram may affect sperm quality. Human case reports from some SSRIs have shown this effect to be reversible. As yet, the impact of this on human fertility has not been observed.

To monitor the outcomes of pregnant women exposed to antidepressants, a National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants has been established. Physicians are encouraged to register patients and pregnant women are encouraged to register themselves. For additional information: https://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants/

AU TGA pregnancy category C: Drugs which, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category C: Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

References

  1. "Product Information. Lexapro (escitalopram)." Forest Pharmaceuticals (2002):
  2. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ.. "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation." Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (2005):
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

The following applies to the ingredients: Aripiprazole (found in Abilify)

Professional Content

This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

AU TGA pregnancy category: C
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned.

Risk summary: There are insufficient data available on use of this drug in pregnant women to inform a drug-related risk.

Comments:
-A pregnancy exposure registry is available.
-If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential harm to the fetus.
-Neonates exposed to antipsychotic drugs during the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk for extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms following delivery.

Animal studies have revealed evidence of developmental toxicity, including possible teratogenic effects. Congenital anomalies have been reported; however, a causal relationship has not been established. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

There have been reports of agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress and feeding disorder in neonates exposed to antipsychotic drugs during the third trimester of pregnancy. These complications have varied in severity; while in some cases symptoms have been self-limited, in other cases neonates have required intensive care unit support and prolonged hospitalization.

To monitor the outcomes of pregnant women exposed to atypical antipsychotics, a National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics has been established. Physicians are encouraged to register patients and pregnant women are encouraged to register themselves. For additional information: http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/.

AU TGA pregnancy category C: Drugs which, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

References

  1. "Product Information. Abilify (aripiprazole)." Bristol-Myers Squibb (2002):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. "Product Information. Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole)." Otsuka American Pharmaceuticals Inc (2013):
  5. "Product Information. Aristada (aripiprazole)." Alkermes, Inc (2015):

Drug and Breastfeeding Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Aripiprazole (found in Abilify)

Professional Content

Use is not recommended; a decision should be made to discontinue breast-feeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comment: The effects on lactation and in the nursing infant are unknown.

Low levels of this drug have been detected in human milk; the maternal weight-adjusted dose calculated from 2 different women provide estimates of 0.7% and 8.3%. This drug is expected to have a minimal effect on serum prolactin levels, however 2 cases of galactorrhea have been reported.

References

  1. "Product Information. Abilify (aripiprazole)." Bristol-Myers Squibb (2002):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. "Product Information. Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole)." Otsuka American Pharmaceuticals Inc (2013):
  5. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):
  6. "Product Information. Aristada (aripiprazole)." Alkermes, Inc (2015):

The following applies to the ingredients: Escitalopram (found in Lexapro)

Professional Content

Use with caution; the benefit to the mother should outweigh the risk to the infant.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-Breastfed infants should be monitored for drowsiness and decreased feeding.
-Mothers taking an SSRI during pregnancy and postpartum may have difficulty breastfeeding and may require additional breastfeeding support.

Escitalopram is not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants, particularly in infants over 2 months of age. One case of necrotizing enterocolitis has been reported in a breastfed newborn whose mother was taking escitalopram during pregnancy and lactation; however, causality was not established.

Maternal doses of escitalopram up to 20 mg per day lead to low levels in milk, approximately 3.9% and 1.7% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose of escitalopram and desmethylcitalopram, respectively. Limited data suggest that escitalopram is preferable to racemic citalopram during breastfeeding due to lower dosage and milk levels, and general lack of side effects in breastfed infants.

References

  1. "Product Information. Lexapro (escitalopram)." Forest Pharmaceuticals (2002):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):

Therapeutic Duplication Warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

Switch to: Professional Interactions

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.

Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

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