Pediatric aripiprazole dosing (FDA-labeled indications)
Aripiprazole pediatric dosing depends on the indication, age, and (for some indications) body weight. Dosing below reflects FDA-labeled starting and target doses from aripiprazole prescribing information on DailyMed. [1] [2]
Irritability associated with autistic disorder (ages 6–17 years)
- Starting dose:
- Weight < 50 kg: 2 mg once daily for 2 days [2]
-
Weight ≥ 50 kg: 2 mg once daily for 2 days [2]
-
Titration: increase to 5 mg/day for 5 days, then to 10 mg/day by day 8 (for many labeled regimens) [3] [2]
- Target dose: 10 mg/day (with potential increase up to 15 mg/day if needed) [1] [3]
- Recommended pediatric dose range: 5–15 mg/day [1] [2]
Tourette’s disorder (ages 6–18 years)
- Patients < 50 kg:
- Starting dose: 2 mg once daily [4]
-
Target dose: 10 mg once daily [4]
-
Patients ≥ 50 kg:
- Starting dose: 2 mg once daily [4]
- Target dose: 15 mg once daily [4]
Schizophrenia (adolescents ages 13–17 years)
- Monotherapy (labeled pediatric regimen):
- Starting dose: 2 mg/day [5]
- Titration: 5 mg/day after 2 days, then 10 mg/day after 2 additional days [6]
- Target dose: 10 mg/day [6]
Bipolar I disorder (pediatric ages 10–17 years)
- Monotherapy (labeled pediatric regimen):
- Starting dose: 2 mg/day [6]
- Titration: 5 mg/day after 2 days, then 10 mg/day after 2 additional days [6]
- Target dose: 10 mg/day [6]
Practical dosing notes that change the dose
- All aripiprazole oral formulations are dosed once daily. [2]
- Oral solution can be substituted mg-per-mg for tablets up to the 25 mg dose level. [1]
Needed details to specify the correct dose
- Indication (autism irritability, Tourette’s, schizophrenia, bipolar I). [2]
- Patient age. [2]
- For autism irritability and Tourette’s: whether weight is < 50 kg or ≥ 50 kg. [4] [2]