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 .
An open-label study of aripiprazole in children with a bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this open-label study was to describe the effectiveness of aripiprazole ( APZ ) in the treatment of children with bipolar disorders suffering from manic symptomatology . METHOD Symptomatic out patients ( Young Mania Rating Scale [ YMRS ] score ≥15 ) meeting strict , unmodified , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 4th edition , diagnostic symptom criteria for a bipolar disorder , ages 4 - 9 years , were eligible . Subjects were treated prospect ively with flexible doses of APZ ( maximum daily dose of 15 mg/day ) , for up to 16 weeks or until a priori response criteria were met . Outcome measures included the YMRS , Clinical Global Impressions Scale-Severity , Children 's Global Assessment Scale ( CGAS ) , and the Children 's Depression Rating Scale-Revised ( CDRS-R ) . A priori response criteria consisted of 3 of 4 consecutive weeks with ( 1 ) CDRS-R < 29 ; ( 2 ) YMRS < 10 ; and ( 3 ) CGAS > 50 . RESULTS Ninety-six children ( 62 males ; mean age of 6.9 ( SD = 1.7 ) , received APZ for an average length of treatment of 12.5 ( SD = 3.9 ) weeks . Significant improvements in YMRS , CDRS-R , CGAS , and Clinical Global Impressions Scale-Severity scores ( p < 0.001 ) were noted at the end of study participation . Sixty of the subjects ( 62.5 % ) met a priori response criteria at study 's end . The most common side effects noted were stomachache , increased appetite , and headache . Two subjects were removed from the study due to side effects [ epistaxis ( n = 1 ) ; akathisia ( n = 1 ) ] . Subjects experienced an average weight gain of 2.4 ( SD = 1.9 ) kg . CONCLUSION APZ may be effective in the acute treatment of symptoms of children with bipolar illnesses
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 .