US regulators have approved the first pill that can be digitally tracked through the body.<\/p>\n
The Abilify MyCite aripiprazole tablets – for treating schizophrenia and manic episodes – have an ingestible sensor embedded inside them that records that the medication has been taken.<\/p>\n
A patch worn by the patient transmits this information to their smartphone.<\/p>\n
The information can also be sent to the prescribing doctor, if the patient consents to this.<\/p>\n
Experts hope it could improve medication compliance, although the company that makes the tablets says this has not been proved for their product.<\/p>\n
The prescribing notes also stress that Abilify MyCite should not be used to track drug ingestion in “real-time” or during an emergency, because detection may be delayed or may not occur.<\/p>\n
Stomach fluid<\/strong><\/p>\n The pills are not licensed to be used in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.<\/p>\n About the size of a grain of sand, the sensor activates when it comes into contact with stomach fluid.<\/p>\n It can take 30 minutes to two hours to detect ingestion of the tablet.<\/p>\n Mitchell Mathis, from the Food and Drug Administration, said: “Being able to track ingestion of medications prescribed for mental illness may be useful for some patients.<\/p>\n “The FDA supports the development and use of new technology in prescription drugs and is committed to working with companies to understand how technology might benefit patients and prescribers.”<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" US regulators have approved the first pill that can be digitally tracked through the body. The Abilify MyCite aripiprazole tablets – for treating schizophrenia and manic episodes – have an ingestible sensor embedded inside them that records that the medication has been taken. A patch worn by the patient transmits this information to their smartphone. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[106],"tags":[11632,11633],"yoast_head":"\n