Bipolar drug approved in Europe

The European Commission has approved oral aripiprazole (Abilify) for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes in bipolar disorder.

It is also approved for the prevention of a new manic episode in patients who experienced predominantly manic episodes and whose manic episodes responded to aripiprazole treatment.

Aripiprazole is the second atypical antipsychotic to be available in UK for both prevention and treatment of manic episodes in the past five years.