Oct. 4, 2004 -- A drug used to treat schizophrenia may also now be used to treat mania associated with bipolar disorder, according to the FDA.
The FDA has approved Abilify to treat acute bipolar mania, including manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder, also know as manic-depressive disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that affects more than 2 million Americans. The condition causes a person's mood to shift dramatically from episodes of elation and joy (mania) to episodes of severe depression, or a mix of both.
According to the drug's manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, the FDA based its approval on the results of two clinical trials involving 516 people hospitalized for bipolar disorder. The studies showed that Abilify significantly improved mania symptoms or mixed episodes.
The most common side effects were restlessness, constipation, and accidental injury. Nearly 11% of those who received Abilify for mania discontinued use of the drug due to side effects compared with 9% of those on a placebo.