Aripiprazole

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Abilify, Aristada

Pharmacological Mechanism

D2 + 5-HT1A partial agonist + 5-HT2A antagonist. Partial agonism acts as 'dopaminergic stabiliser' — reduces DA tone in mesolimbic hyperactivity, elevates it in mesocortical hypoactivity. Lower EPS + prolactin elevation than typical antipsychotics; metabolic side effects still present but less than olanzapine/quetiapine.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 75h, IM: 75h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 16.7 mg (Range: 10–30 mg)
• IM: Typical 16.7 mg (Range: 10–30 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous
• endocrine

Pathways It Modulates

• 5-HT2A psychedelic signaling (inhibitor) — 5-HT2A partial agonist + D2 partial agonist
• Dopamine receptor signaling (activator) — D2 partial agonist (also 5-HT1A partial, 5-HT2A inverse)
• Serotonin receptor pharmacology (activator) — 5-HT1A partial agonist + 5-HT2A inverse agonist (also D2 partial agonist)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 60795
• Formula: C23H27Cl2N3O2
• Molecular weight: 448.39 g/mol
• InChIKey: CEUORZQYGODEFX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES: C1CC(=O)NC2=C1C=CC(=C2)OCCCCN3CCN(CC3)C4=C(C(=CC=C4)Cl)Cl

References

• PMID 18563956
• PMID 22186667
• PMID 17242925
• PMID 17965519
• PMID 23279866