The side effects ‘ EPS ’ , ‘ parkinsonism ’ , and ‘ tremor ’ were significantly more common in children and adolescents treated with aripiprazole than in those treated with placebo .
Conclusion Our meta- analysis provides evidence for a non-negligible incidence of acute EPS in children and adolescents treated with aripiprazole .
Background Both the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) have approved aripiprazole for use in adolescents for specific indications .
Given the assumed favorable side-effect profile of aripiprazole , its use in children and adolescents has increased for both official and off-label indications ( anxiety disorders , eating disorders , personality disorders ) .
However , several cases of children and adolescents with new-onset  extrapyramidal symptoms ( EPS )  after commencing treatment with aripiprazole have been reported , and a more systematic appraisal of this possible risk is lacking .
Objective We conducted a systematic review and a meta- analysis to assess the evidence for acute EPS ( acute dystonia , akathisia , Parkinsonism ) associated with the use of aripiprazole in children and adolescents .
Aripiprazole in children with Tourette's disorder and co-morbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a 12-week, open-label, preliminary study.
Tourette 's disorder ( TD ) in children and adolescents is frequently co-morbid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) . Dopamine-blockers are the first line treatment for TD , whereas dopamine-agonists , such as stimulants , are the gold-st and ard in the treatment of ADHD . These contrasting effects supported concerns about the risk that stimulants for treating ADHD may trigger or worsen co-morbid tics . Aripiprazole , a partial dopamine agonist , acts as an antagonist at dopamine D2 receptors in hyperdopaminergic conditions and displays agonist properties under hypodopaminergic conditions . The present study describes the use of aripiprazole ( 10.0 ± 4.8 mg/day ) in a consecutive group of 28 patients with a primary diagnosis of TD and co-morbid ADHD , combined subtype .  The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale ( YGTSS ) and the ADHD-Rating Scale ( ADHD-RS-IV ) were used as primary outcome measures and both significantly improved ( p<0.001 ) after the treatment . Global measures of severity ( Clinical Global Impressions-Severity ) and of functional impairment ( Children 's Global Assessment Scale ) also significantly improved during the treatment ( p<0.001 ) . At the YGTSS there was a reduction of 42.5 % , in motor tics , of 47.9 % in phonic tics ( 44.7 % for the combined scores ) , and of 32.3 % in tic impairment . Nineteen patients ( 67.9 % ) had a reduction of at least 50 % of the YGTSS score ( motor+phonic tics ) . The improvement at the ADHD-RS-IV score was 22.5 % , 12 patients ( 42.8 % ) presented an improvement of 30 % , but only 2 ( 7.1 % ) an improvement greater than 50 % . Using a logistic regression model , a reduction of at least 30 % in ADHD-RS-IV score was more likely to occur in the obsessive-compulsive disorder co-morbid group . Aripiprazole was well tolerated and none of the patients discontinued medication because of side effects . In summary , aripiprazole result ed in an effective treatment for TD , but it was only moderately effective on co-occurring ADHD symptomatology . Our preliminary data suggest that aripiprazole may represent a possible therapeutic option , among other possible monotherapies addressing both tics and ADHD
The side effects ‘ EPS ’ , ‘ parkinsonism ’ , and ‘ tremor ’ were significantly more common in children and adolescents treated with aripiprazole than in those treated with placebo .
Conclusion Our meta- analysis provides evidence for a non-negligible incidence of acute EPS in children and adolescents treated with aripiprazole .
Background Both the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) have approved aripiprazole for use in adolescents for specific indications .
Given the assumed favorable side-effect profile of aripiprazole , its use in children and adolescents has increased for both official and off-label indications ( anxiety disorders , eating disorders , personality disorders ) .
However , several cases of children and adolescents with new-onset  extrapyramidal symptoms ( EPS )  after commencing treatment with aripiprazole have been reported , and a more systematic appraisal of this possible risk is lacking .
Objective We conducted a systematic review and a meta- analysis to assess the evidence for acute EPS ( acute dystonia , akathisia , Parkinsonism ) associated with the use of aripiprazole in children and adolescents .