Abilify

Abilify, an anti-psychotic medication that treats schizophrenia and mania associated with bipolar disorder, is over prescribed. Now off-patent the generic version aripiprazole finds increasing but somewhat controversial use among individuals with depression, autism, irritability, sleep disorders, tics and anxiety. Among nursing home residents, especially those suffering from dementia, far too many people receive anti-psychotic drugs.

Serious side effects may occur including the relatively recently discovered pathological desire to gamble, binge eat, engage in buying sprees and enter into excessive, unwise sexual relationships. Weight gain, sugar intolerance, outright diabetes, mental impairment and seizures may occur. Movement disorders, restlessness and the jerky facial twitches known as tardive dyskinesia are additional adverse events.

Few realize the tremendous costs associated with this drug. Although Abilify is available as a generic drug, the cash price at different drug stores ranges between $730-$960 a month or up to $32 for one day of treatment. Coupon cards and other discounts shield the patient from out of pocket expenditure, however the insurance companies still must pay outrageous sums for these pills. In the end, this scenario leads to continuously escalating health care premiums.