Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic that works differently from most: it partly activates dopamine D2 receptors instead of fully blocking them, which steadies dopamine signalling. It is used for schizophrenia, for mania in bipolar disorder, as an add-on in depression, and for irritability in autism and for Tourette's syndrome. It is sold as Abilify and, as a long-acting injection, Aristada, among other names.
Aripiprazole is broken down by the liver enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. People with no working CYP2D6 copies (poor metabolizers) have around 80 percent higher levels of aripiprazole and its active breakdown product, and the US drug label addresses them. DPWG has published a guideline on CYP2D6 and aripiprazole, and the US FDA lists the pair. Studies have also looked at the dopamine receptor gene DRD2, the transporter ABCB1 and other genes, with weaker evidence.
Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Aripiprazole. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.
DPWG guideline: CYP2D6. CYP2D6 activity score 0 to 6 or more. 2024.
US FDA: CYP2D6. CYP2D6 activity score 0. 2025.
US FDA: CYP2D6. CYP2D6 activity score 0. Data that Support Therapeutic Management Recommendations.
Every published finding on gene variants and Aripiprazole. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
CYP2D6 CYP2D6*1, CYP2D6*4, CYP2D6*5, CYP2D6*6, CYP2D6*10, CYP2D6*41: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK: Psychotic Disorder, Schizoaffective disorder, Schizophrenia. 7.
FAAH rs324420: Level 3. Toxicity: Psychotic Disorder. 2.
DRD2 rs2514218: Level 3. Toxicity: Psychomotor Agitation. 1.
MC4R rs489693: Level 3. Toxicity: Weight gain. 1.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Studies of how much of the drug people needed or tolerated.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Antipsychotics (class) (Antipsychotics)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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