Abilify Approved for Children With Bipolar Disorder

Aged 10 to 17

FRIDAY, Feb. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Abilify (aripiprazole) to treat manic and mixed episodes in children aged 10 to 17 with bipolar 1 disorder, makers Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Inc. said Friday.

The drug has been approved for this and other uses in adults for several years.

Advertisement

Related Stories • Diabetes Onset, Severity Tied to Cognitive Problems • Older Patients With Cancer at Heightened Suicide Risk • For Psychiatrists, Talk Therapy Falling by Wayside Related Videos Meet Sue Bergeson Getting a Second Opinion Managing Bipolar Disorder Related Slides Depression Related Encyclopedia • Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) • Dysthymia • Seasonal Affective Disorder

The new approval was based on results from a four-week study involving children in this age group. The trial demonstrated the drug's effectiveness compared to a placebo, the drug companies said in a statement.

Abilify was first approved in November 2002, and nearly 15 million prescriptions had been written through December 2007, the statement said.

More information

The FDA has more about this drug.

-- Scott Roberts