Aripiprazole (Abilify®)
Information last updated: February 2021, with selected references up to September 2024 added
Most pregnancies result in healthy babies, but there are chances of complications and unexpected outcomes. These chances are called baseline risks. In Canada, the baseline risk of major birth defects is 3-5%. This means that 3-5 out of 100 babies born in the general population will be born with a major birth defect. There are also baseline risks for miscarriages (15-25 out of 100 pregnancies), premature birth and other outcomes. The information provided will summarize if taking this drug is likely to change these risks.
Summary:
Over 4700 pregnancies with exposure to aripiprazole in the first trimester of pregnancy were included in published studies that examined the rates of birth defects. Based on this, taking aripiprazole during pregnancy is not likely to lead to an increase in major birth defects above the baseline risk. Aripiprazole belongs to a family of medications called second-generation antipsychotics, sometimes also referred to as atypical antipsychotics. Some studies reported higher rates of some adverse pregnancy or newborn outcomes when pregnancies exposed to a second-generation antipsychotic medication were compared to unexposed pregnancies. Even if there are increases in the risks, the actual risk to any pregnancy would be small. It is important to note that these adverse outcomes were not found in the better designed studies, where it appears that the increased risks may be explained by other factors, such as additional medications used in pregnancy, or the underlying mental health condition that the medication was given to treat.
If aripiprazole is used in late pregnancy, it is suggested to monitor the newborn for withdrawal-like symptoms after birth. If symptoms occur, they are usually short-lived.
During the later stages of pregnancy, aripiprazole concentrations in the body may decrease. To ensure optimal management of the mental health condition, monitoring of the symptoms and if needed, aripiprazole dose adjustments by a healthcare provider, is suggested.
To see more details please click on the tabs below. Any decisions concerning aripiprazole treatment during pregnancy should be discussed with a healthcare provider, weighing the benefits of treatment against any possible risks.
Please consult with your health care provider if you are considering stopping or making any changes to your regular medications.
This information about aripiprazole is of a general nature and about medical use and does not replace the medical care and advice of your healthcare provider. For questions on dose, timing, side effects, interactions, etc. please consult your healthcare provider. Additionally, please read the patient insert provided with your medication. If you are using drugs or medications for non-medical reasons or beyond what was recommended by a healthcare provider, please see Harm Reduction section. In case of emergency, please go to the emergency room or call 911.
Although participants in the studies referenced below may have used aripiprazole in various combinations, the studies usually do not provide detailed information on drug combinations. This makes it challenging to comment on the safety of using this medication in combination with others during pregnancy or lactation.
Aripiprazole (Abilify®) is a second-generation antipsychotic. Second-generation antipsychotics are sometimes referred to as atypical antipsychotics. It is used to treat bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions.
If the product you are using contains other active ingredients, please check our Exposures A to Z for available information on the ingredient(s).
For more information on treating mental health conditions while pregnant or while providing your breastmilk to an infant, please see Mental Health in Pregnancy and Lactation.
Pronunciation
Please check back. We are in the process of reviewing if there is available information on the pre-pregnancy effects of aripiprazole.
Over 4700 pregnancies with exposure to aripiprazole in the first trimester of pregnancy were included in published studies that examined the rates of birth defects. Based on this, it is not likely that taking aripiprazole in pregnancy will increase the risk of babies being born with major birth defects beyond the baseline risk.
Studies have reported increased risks of miscarriage, prematurity (delivery before 37 weeks), low birth weight, pregnancy related high blood pressure conditions, placenta abruption (when the placenta separates from the wall of the womb before birth) and caesarean section in pregnancies exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medications when compared to an unexposed group of pregnancies which included women both with and without mental health conditions. However, when women who were treated with a second-generation antipsychotic medication during pregnancy were compared only to those who have a mental health condition but were not treated with a second-generation antipsychotic in pregnancy, no increased risks for the adverse outcomes mentioned above were reported. This suggests that the higher risks mentioned above might be associated with the woman’s mental health condition and related factors and not the medication itself. Even if the increased risks are real, they are expected to be small.
Some studies have reported increased risks of gestational diabetes (diabetes that starts in pregnancy) in pregnancies exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medications, while other studies have not. One of the better designed studies, from Ontario, compared over 1000 pregnancies exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medications to pregnancies in women with a mental health condition who were not treated with a second-generation antipsychotic in pregnancy. They reported no increase in the risk of gestational diabetes in the exposed pregnancies. It is not clear if the increased risk of gestational diabetes reported in some studies is associated with the use of second-generation antipsychotic medications or can be explained by other risk factors such as obesity.
During the later stages of pregnancy, the concentration of aripiprazole in the body may decrease. In some individuals this may result in worsening symptoms of the mental health condition. It is important to talk to a healthcare provider if this happens. In some cases, the healthcare provider may increase the aripiprazole dose.
Please check back. We are in the process of reviewing if there is available information on the effects of paternal exposure to aripiprazole.
There have been reports of newborns exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medications during the 3rd trimester having withdrawal-like symptoms after birth (e.g., unusual muscle movements, breathing and feeding issues, low blood sugar, agitation, etc.). In most cases, the infants were also exposed to other medications in pregnancy, some of which are known to be associated with such withdrawal-like symptoms after birth. No increased risks of withdrawal symptoms were reported in infants exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medications during pregnancy when compared to infants of women who have a mental health condition but were not treated with second-generation antipsychotics in pregnancy. This suggests that not only the second-generation antipsychotics, but other factors, such as maternal mental health conditions, or other medications used in pregnancy, may also play a role in increasing the risk of such withdrawal symptoms.
It is suggested to let the pregnancy health care provider know if aripiprazole is used in late pregnancy so that the baby can be watched for withdrawal-like symptoms after birth. Not every exposed baby will have these symptoms. For those who will, the symptoms usually go away within hours or days and do not require specific treatment. In some cases, longer hospital stays may be needed.
Last updated January 2025
If you are taking medications and you notice any new health concerns or symptoms in your nursing infant, please contact their health care provider. In case of emergency, please go to the emergency room or call 911.
People who are taking a medication or substance while providing their breastmilk to an infant need to know how much of the medication or substance is passing into their milk. One of the commonly used measurements to estimate this is the Relative Infant Dose (RID). The RID is estimated by comparing the dose of drug taken in by the infant through breastmilk to the dose that the nursing parent takes. Most medications with an RID of less than 10% are usually compatible with nursing a healthy infant. The RID does not need to be calculated for each person because most of the time it is expected to be similar to what has been found in research studies. We will provide the RID in the information below, when available.
There is not a lot of information on aripiprazole use during nursing. Aripiprazole was found to pass into breastmilk in different amounts. Based on breastmilk levels of at least 6 women treated with 5-18 mg of aripiprazole daily, the RID is estimated to be 0.5% to 12.7%.
Sleepiness has been reported in some breastfed infants, but not in others who were exposed to aripiprazole through breastmilk. No other side effects have been reported.
There is not a lot of information on the milk supply of nursing women taking aripiprazole. While some have been able to nurse, others had trouble starting or maintaining a milk supply. More information is needed to understand the effect of aripiprazole on milk supply.
If taking aripiprazole while nursing, it is recommended to monitor the infant for excessive sleepiness (e.g. not waking up for feeds). Due to possible effects on milk supply, infants should be monitored to ensure they are getting enough milk. See How to Know Your Baby is Getting Enough Milk.
Treating mental health conditions is important for both the mother and baby. Any decisions concerning medical treatment during nursing should be discussed with a healthcare provider, weighing the benefits of treatment and benefits of nursing against any possible risks.
Studies examining neurodevelopment included over 15,000 children exposed to second generation antipsychotics in pregnancy, with approximately 2,000 of them exposed to aripiprazole. These studies found no increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the exposed children (e.g., autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), learning difficulties, and behavioral disorders). A link between aripiprazole exposure and speech/language disorders in children was reported in one study but not in another smaller study. More studies are needed to investigate this further.
Costs of some medications are covered for eligible people under provincial or national Indigenous drug benefit plans. Please visit the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program Check medication coverage or the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program Drug Benefit List to check if aripiprazole is covered for you.
Aripiprazole, when used not as prescribed, has potential for problematic use.
Medications, if not taken as prescribed, if taken beyond the prescribed amount, or if taken in combination with certain other drugs, may cause harm to you and/or your pregnancy or your nursing child.
If you are using aripiprazole or other drugs or medications for non-medical reasons or beyond what was recommended by a healthcare practitioner and you are pregnant, providing your breastmilk to an infant, or parenting please click Harm Reduction for additional information. In case of emergency, please go to the emergency room or call 911.
Using drugs beyond what your clinician prescribes during pregnancy or parenting in a way that harms you or your baby may result in a community member or care provider contacting child protective services.
Pregnancy:
Based on over 4700 pregnancies with exposure to aripiprazole in the first trimester of pregnancy, there does not appear to be an increased risk of major birth defects above the baseline risk.
Studies have reported increased risks of miscarriage, prematurity, low birth weight, small for gestational age, pregnancy related hypertensive conditions, placenta abruption and caesarean section in pregnancies exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medications compared to unexposed group of pregnancies which included people both with and without mental health conditions. However, studies reported no increased risk for these outcomes when women exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medication(s) in pregnancy were compared to unexposed women with mental health conditions. This suggests that the reported increased risks may be confounded by the underlying mental health conditions and may not be related to the medication itself.
The data are conflicting on whether exposure to second-generation antipsychotic medications in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes. It has been suggested that other risk factors, such as obesity, may be confounding the association.
There have been reports of newborns exposed to second-generation antipsychotic medications during the 3rd trimester having withdrawal-like symptoms after birth (e.g., unusual muscle movements, respiratory and feeding issues, low blood sugar, agitation, etc.). In most cases, the infants were exposed to other medications during pregnancy, some of which are known to be associated with withdrawal symptoms after birth. No increased risk for these outcomes was reported in studies that examined individuals with mental health conditions (in both the exposed and comparison groups) in those exposed compared to those unexposed to second-generation antipsychotic(s) in pregnancy. This suggests that the reported increased risks may be associated with the mental health condition, and/or concomitant medications used during pregnancy and not just with the second-generation antipsychotic use. It is suggested to monitor the newborn for withdrawal-like symptoms if aripiprazole is used in late pregnancy. If symptoms occur, they are usually self-limited, resolve within hours or days, and typically do not require specific treatment. In some cases, however, longer hospital stays may be required.
Approximately 2000 children with prenatal exposure to aripiprazole were included in studies on neurodevelopmental outcomes. There were no associations identified between exposure to aripiprazole, or to second generation antipsychotics as a group (over 15,000 exposed children), and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), learning difficulties, and behavioral disorders. An association between aripiprazole exposure and speech/language disorders was reported in one study but not replicated in another, smaller study. More studies are needed to investigate this association further.
Aripiprazole is metabolized mainly by hepatic CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. Both isoenzymes’ activity is known to be increased during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester. There is limited data showing aripiprazole serum concentration decreasing by more than 50% in the third trimester. However, data on the clinical effects of the decreasing serum drug concentrations is lacking. Based on the available data on aripiprazole pharmacokinetics in pregnancy, symptom monitoring throughout pregnancy (at least each trimester) and optimization of aripiprazole dose (before adding additional drug therapies) if symptoms worsen, is suggested.
Lactation:
One of the factors that helps to determine if a medication is compatible with nursing is the Relative Infant Dose (RID). The RID provides an estimate of infant’s exposure to a medication through breastmilk. It is the ratio between the infant’s and the nursing individual’s weight-adjusted doses. The infant weight adjusted dose is estimated based on the concentration of medication in breastmilk, and an assumption of infant daily milk consumption of 150 ml/kg/day. In general, for infants with normal growth and development, most medications with an RID of less than 10% are considered compatible with nursing. The RID does not account for infant’s drug metabolism, clearance, or infant blood levels. Although some variability may exist in the RID, in most cases the estimated RID is adequate for clinical purposes and does not need to be calculated for each individual. We will provide the RID in the information below, when available.
Harm Reduction:
Aripiprazole, when used not as prescribed, has potential for problematic use.
If your patient may be using aripiprazole or other drugs or medications not as indicated during pregnancy, while providing breastmilk to an infant, or parenting please click Harm Reduction for additional information. In case of emergency, please advise them to go to the emergency room or call 911.
For additional resources see Health Canada Drug and Natural Health Product Monographs, Making Sense of Risk and Statistics.
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Disclaimer
First Exposure does not offer health care treatment. If you have an urgent question about your pregnancy or your baby’s health, you should contact your health care provider directly. If you don’t have a health care provider and you live in Ontario, you have a variety of health care options. In the case of an emergency, visit a hospital emergency room or call 911.