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 pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and Asperger's disorder: a 14-week, prospective, open-label study.
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole for irritability in pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified ( PDD-NOS ) and Asperger 's disorder . METHOD This is a 14-week , prospect i ve , open-label investigation of aripiprazole in 25 children and adolescents diagnosed with PDD-NOS or Asperger 's disorder . Primary outcome measures included the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement ( CGI-I ) scale and the Irritability subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist ( ABC-I ) . RESULTS Twenty-five subjects , ages 5 - 17 years ( mean 8.6 years ) received a mean final aripiprazole dosage of 7.8 mg/day ( range 2.5 - 15 mg/day ) . Full-scale intelligence quotient ( IQ ) scores ranged from 48 to 122 ( mean 84 ) . Twenty-two ( 88 % ) of 25 subjects were responders in regard to interfering symptoms of irritability , including aggression , self-injury , and tantrums , with a final CGI-I of 1 or 2 ( very much or much improved ) and a 25 % or greater improvement on the ABC-I. The final mean CGI-I was 1.6 ( p < or= 0.0001 ) . ABC-I scores ranged from 18 to 43 ( mean 29 ) at baseline , whereas scores at week 14 ranged from 0 to 27 ( mean 8.1 ) ( p < or= 0.001 ) . Aripiprazole was well tolerated . Mild extrapyramidal symptoms ( EPS ) were reported in 9 subjects . Age- and sex-normed body mass index ( BMI ) increased from a mean value of 20.3 at baseline to 21.1 at end point ( p < or= 0.04 ) . Prolactin significantly decreased from a mean value of 9.3 at baseline to 2.9 at end point ( p < or= 0.0001 ) . No subject exited the study due to a drug-related adverse event . CONCLUSIONS These preliminary data suggest that aripiprazole may be effective and well tolerated for severe irritability in pediatric patients with PDD-NOS or Asperger 's disorder . Larger-scale placebo-controlled studies are needed to eluci date the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole in this understudied population
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 .