Abilify, generic name aripiprazole, is classified as an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia. Like most mood-altering medications, Abilify has a number of potentially serious side effects. Abilify could increase your chances of developing high blood sugars, which can lead to diabetes. Your doctor might want to monitor your blood glucose levels closely while you take this medication.
Causes
The causes of increased blood sugar levels in people taking Abilify is not clear. Abilify, like many other antipsychotic medications, does appear to cause weight gain, although the amount varies from study to study, pharmacist Kristi Monson reports on eMedTV. Weight gain contributes to development of type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disorder. But people who have schizophrenia are more likely to develop diabetes than people who don't have the disorder, which makes it difficult to say whether the drug is completely responsible for a rise in blood sugars.
Risks
In pre-marketing clinical studies on Abilify, between one in 100 and one in 1,000 people taking the drug developed diabetes. Gaining weight increases your risk of developing diabetes. Gaining as little as 2.2 lbs. each year increases your risk of developing diabetes by 49 percent over a 10-year period. Conversely, losing 2.2 lbs. per year over a 10-year period reduces your risk of developing diabetes by 33 percent, according to an article published in the August 2000 issue of the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health" by researchers from MedStar Research Institute.
Signs of Diabetes
You might have no physical signs of high blood glucose levels. Excessive thirst, weight loss, increased urination, feeling hungry all the time, fatigue and blurred vision are all potential side of diabetes. Some people taking Abilify have developed blood glucose levels so high that they went into a coma. Signs of very high blood sugar levels include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, a fruity odor to your breath, nausea and vomiting or weakness.
Reducing Risks
You can take steps to decrease your chances of developing diabetes when you're taking Abilify. Maintaining your weight through diet and exercise reduces your risk of diabetes. Concentrate your diet on healthy carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber. Increasing your fiber intake helps lower your chances of diabetes, and losing 5 percent to 7 percent of your body weight and exercising moderately for 30 minutes five days a week can prevent of delay the onset of diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.
References
- eMedTV; Abilify; Kristi Monson, Pharm.D.; June 2009
- "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health ;" Relation of weight gain and weight loss on subsequent Diabetes Risk in Overweight Adults; H. Resnick, et al.; August 2000
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders: Do You Know the Risks of Being Overweight?
- Drugs.com: Abilify Side Effects
