The world’s first digital pill was approved on Monday by the US regulators. The drug consists of two existing products: the former psychiatric medication Abilify — long used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder — with a sensor tracking system first approved in 2012.

A digital sensor is embedded in this new pill, Abilify MyCite, which when ingested is activated by stomach fluids, sending a signal to a patch worn by the patient and notifying a digital smartphone app that the medication has been taken.

This technology is designed to help prevent dangerous emergencies that arise when patients skip their medication, such as manic episodes experienced by those suffering from bipolar disorder.

According to experts, the digital pill could change the way doctors relate to their patients as they're able to see whether they are following instructions.Patients too can track their dosage on their smartphone and allow their doctors, family or caregivers to access the information through a website.

 However, patients must be willing to allow their doctors and caregivers to access the digital information. Privacy issues are bound to crop up more often as drugmakers and medical device companies combine their products with technologies developed by Silicon Valley.

The Japanese drugmaker Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.that makes the pill has not said how it will price it. Proteus Digital Health, based in Redwood City California, makes the sensor.