An Aripiprazole Discontinuation Syndrome

摘要

Major depression is a common and debilitating illness.Over recent years, new pharmacologic treatments havebeen approved for this disorder, including the atypicalantipsychotics. One of the benefits of these medicationsis their significant efficacy as augmenting agents for unipolar,nonpsychotic major depressive disorder (MDD).1Aripiprazole (marketed as Abilify, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka Pharmaceuticals) was the first medication of thisclass approved for adjunctive treatment of MDD, and isthe 5th most commonly prescribed medication in theUnited States in 2010.2 However, despite the frequencyof its use, little has been described regarding events surroundingaripiprazole discontinuation. Here I describewhat is, to my knowledge, the first reported case of anaripiprazole discontinuation syndrome. While directlyrelevant to psychiatrists and behavioral specialists, thesymptoms described here are pertinent for internists andneurologists who may encounter this medication in theirclinical practice.