ABILIFY Reviews (ARIPIPRAZOLE)

Average Rating: 2.7 (798 Ratings)

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 ANTIPSYCHOTICS ANTIMANICS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

ABILIFY  (ARIPIPRAZOLE):  Aripiprazole is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome, and irritability associated with autistic disorder). It may also be used in combination with other medication to treat depression. Aripiprazole is known as an antipsychotic drug (atypical type). It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters). This medication can decrease hallucinations and improve your concentration. It helps you to think more clearly and positively about yourself, feel less nervous, and take a more active part in everyday life. Aripiprazole can treat severe mood swings and decrease how often mood swings occur.   FDA Approval Date: 2002-11-15 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ABILIFYCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 2  add-on for depression blurry vision, increased blood sugar levels, fog-like feeling, slight weight gain, extreme drowsiness at first then insomnia after a couple of weeks I was satisfied with Abilify concerning the way it helped my depression (or depressive-dominant bipolar, depending on which doc you asked). It did make me feel more "alive" and part of the world than I have in several years. Unfortunately, the side effects were a big issue -- especially the higher blood sugar levels, they went up to a very unsafe amount within less than a week -- and I had to taper off the Abilify. If this medication works for you, it seems to work very well, just be aware of some of the side effects that can harm your health even more. The risks outweighed the benefits for me. F 33 30 days
max 10mg 1X day
1/4/2011
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 1  add-on for depression, SAD apathy (stability, I guess), SEVERE suicidal thoughts, exhaustion (calm?), anhedonia, SEVERE inability to concentrate, "not fun to be around" according to a friend's 10-year-old sister After 20mg Prozac started being less effective in the winter months, my psychiatrist prescribed 10mg Abilify as an add-on. It did help with some symptoms (fast/angry thoughts, crying jags, and irritability), but in general I felt and acted like a zombie. I experimented with many different doses but even with only 2.5mg it seemed like I was constantly in a fog. I didn't have the motivation nor focus to do anything, including reading of any kind. Still, my psychiatrist was convinced that without it (with a clear mind and energy, basically) I would be in danger. I sought a second opinion and weaned off the drug ASAP. My first psychiatrist was somewhat correct, as the depression after taking away Abilify was more evident (it had always been there, I had just been too tired to act on it or show it) and I had to spend some time in a psych ward. There was still a long way to go before I was completely stable and happy, BUT I at least had the energy and drive to get better. It's true a clear head can be dangerous with severe depression, but I believe making suicidal people so unmotivated they can't follow through with their darkest thoughts let alone their daily responsibilities is ineffective and frankly unethical. My time in the psych ward was unpleasant, yes, but a much better solution to a dangerous mind than suppressing it, which is what Abilify did to me. F 19 2 months
2.5-20 1X day
12/30/2010
 3  bipolar/depressed rapid weight gain and insomnia. In the begining the medicine took the depression away. Then I noticed the weight gain 10 lbs in 3wk, and that after 4 to 5 am I could not sleep anymore and yet NOT tired during the day. This two side effects are now giving me a lot of anxiety and I am feeling depressed about the way I am looking which is not good b/c I have always had body issues. I want off this med. F 33 3 weeks
.25mg 1X day
12/25/2010
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 1  Bi-Polar Disorder Severe weight gain (95 lbs), long-term fatigue lasting first few months while on the the drug, short-term memory loss, lack of motivation and determination for resposibilites, irritability I started taking Abilify sometime around March, 2010. Being diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder, I was given a choice of medications to choose from and I decided on Abilify, given that the other two drugs were more likely to cause weight gain. During the first 4 months, I found that the medication took care of my depression and manias, however my grades started dropping since I had no more interest in doing the work. I also noticed weight gain. By July things weren't looking too well. I had gained nearly 50lbs by now and I became quite irritable. This only made me depressed, since prior to the daily consumption of the medication I was very slim (157 lbs @ 6'2") and my GPA (while in 9th grade) for the first two quarters was 3.8. In November of 2010, I went into the hospital for sever depression and attempted suicide, and I finally seized the Abilify. I am currently on Lemictal (50 mg & counting) and I have noticed an improvement with the lack of Abilify. Hopefully all goes well with this new drug, and I can get back on track in life. Good luck to you all, and a note; Abilify is a great drug, but it's not for everyone. M 15 9 months
5 MG 1X day
12/15/2010
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 2  depression/ insomnia temperature change ever so often, have been feeling like im going to faint the room feels like its spinning. helped with the depression, but did nothing for the insomnia toss and turn all night feels like my joints in my legs hurt. hip just started hurting. makes me feel weird. i think i gained weight but everybody says i look the same. if i had a choice i would not take it, i would try and get prescribed some thing else that's just for me it may work for other people a different way. F 22 7 days
4MG 1X day
12/13/2010
 2  Bipolar 1 Morning vomiting, weight gain (40lbs), muscle tension, lethargy, night sweats, anemia, high blood pressure I was in love with it at first but as the side effects piled on I could no longer ingest the stuff. I tried just lowering the dose but it didn't stop the side effects. This medicine just did not suit me F 28 10 months
10mg 1X day
12/3/2010
 5  depression-bipolar None Abilify gave me back my life. I have suffered from depression most of my life. Antidepressents alone did not really help me, living with depression was normal for me-then I finally found a physician that helped me and gave me Abilify. For the first time in my life I am not scared of waking up-I feel that life can be enjoyed, that I DESERVE to be alive and living a life that is not full of darkness and hopelessness. F 53 1 years
10 1X day
11/20/2010
 5  bipolar askithia This medicine has been great but I have started to feel a side effect of my mouth twitching back and forth. I am worried this will be permanent. Will talk to doc about this. F 35 5 years
20 mg 1X day
11/20/2010
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 3  Deppresion / Bi-polar Tiredness, sleepy and hungry. Started taking Paxil and 5 mg of Abilify then after a month my doctor increased the dosage to 10 mg per day. It helped after about two months, with my depression. Then I noticed I was sleepy all the time. My Doctor cut the dosage to 5 mg per day, then gradually reduced me to 0.5 mg per day. The low dosage seems to be working with both depression and my bi-polar. When I was on higher dosages of Abilify I really didnt feel anything. I was never happy nor sad, just blah. I am also on 20 mg of Adderall 3 times a day. This helps with the tiredness and lack of motivation and attention. I plan to stop the Abilify by June 2011. But I am going to gradually stop taking it. M 34 2 years
0.5 MG 1X day
11/18/2010
 2  Depression worse I gradually increased my dose each week. 1st 3 days I had great energy... even to the point of insomnia, which was terribly unusual for me ( I can sleep standing... basically). It was nice at 1st. Then after the 3rd or 4th day I could NOT keep my eyes open. No focus. Dizziness. Could barely drive. Got off of it after calling Dr. Took a few days but the lethargy left. I took 1 pill again to see if it would help a few months later and it left me completely a zombie. Just had to sleep off the drug and never take it again. F 42 30 days
10 mg 1X day
11/5/2010
 1  Psychotic & Manic Depression Dystonia, arrhythmia. I wasn't aware of this side effect until many years after being off this drug. I noticed within a few weeks uncontrollable eyebrow movment, but i didn't think anything of it. After a few more days it got worse, then it spread to my legs. I was unable to walk due to my leg muscles contracting and giving. I immedatly stopped taking it for many years. 4 years later i went back on it for depression and developed heart arrhythmia within two weeks. I refuse to take this medication ever again. F 20 1 months
1X day
10/29/2010
 1  Major Depression, PTSD Weight gain, insomnia, tremors, muscle spasms in legs (tardive dyskinesia/benign muscular fibrillation?) I originally commented on 12/21/09 (see below) and, at that time, had only recognized insomnia as a negative side effect. But after 3 months I realized that the fact that I had gained 15 pounds and was ravenously hungry all day was probably another side effect. Then I began noticing severe tremors in my right hand and muscle spasms in my legs (which still continue, although lessening, 6 months after discontinuing use). So I stopped taking it, because I have a great fear of type II diabetes. I did not realize until later that the muscle problems were also probably related to my use of Abilify. I would recommend that anyone taking Abilify pay very, very close attention to side effects from the first day. I admit that it lessens depression, but for me, the cost in negative side effects was much too high. M 65 3 days
2.5 mg 1X day
10/26/2010
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 5  depression none - maybe weight gain as is with everything it seems Just a small increase recently really pulled me out of a slump F 54
20 mg 1X day
10/23/2010
 5  major depression/gen. anxiety None. I actually take Abilify alone, I do not take an antidepressant. The abilify has made me a much happier person. I notice that when I am off of it I tend to either sleep too much or experience insomnia and each time I've decided to stop taking it I have noticed suicidal ideation and a lack of interest in anything. I took a 5 month break from it thinking that the abilify wasn't doing anything and was just a waste of money but I became severely depressed and so I have recently begun taking it again and my attitude has done a complete 180. I would certainly recommend this drug, although I am sure it is not meant for everyone. F 24 2 years
10 1X day
10/20/2010
 3  to improve control of bipolar 2 Gained about 25 pounds, borderline diabetes. Good side effect: treated my restless leg syndrome. Abilify worked very, very well at improving control of my depressive episodes (bipolar type 2) and it dramatically decreased my restless leg syndrome. It took about six weeks to make the depression go completely away, but life sure is good without depression. For the first time in my life, I feel consistently good. No unstable mood at all. However, I have gained about 25 pounds in the 2 yrs I've been on Abilify. Now I'm clinically obese and within one point of being diabetic. I believe the obesity is making it harder for me to find a job. Diabetes is a terrible thing, and acquiring diabetes right when I'm losing my health insurance is not a good thing, so I'm discontinuing the Abilify. I know it's going to be rough, but diabetes, obesity, and unemployment are rough, too. F 54 2 years
2.5 mg 1X day
10/13/2010
 1  Major Depression Unusual amount of weight gain; Drowsiness; Restless Legs at night; Anxiety. It seemed to help me a little at first. Abilify was added to my Effexor. Then I started to experience the side effects. I am going to see my Dr. in a week and I am going to insist that he take me off of this medication. The weight gain has caused me to be more depressed :( F 34 5 months
2.5mg 1X day
10/8/2010
 1  anxiety. depression Made me a nervous wreck, dry mouth - Made things worse Do not recommend this drug. M 43 2 months
4 1X day
10/3/2010
 2  Bipolar, mixed state This drug was prescribed to me as I was thought to be in a mixed bipolar state. This was prescribed to bring my hypomania and irritability down. It didn't touch my irritability, in fact it seemed to do nothing at all except make me very lethargic, my hair began falling out, and I gained about ten pounds as it gave me insatiable hunger. Not useful at all. F 29 3 months
1mg 1X day
10/1/2010
 5  mood disorder uncertain take other meds it gave me my life back F 50 5 years
40mg 1X day
9/30/2010
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 3  Bipolar I Increase in appetite (gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks), GI upset initially, migraines so bad had to discontinue it I'm bipolar with mixed states. After a month of a very tough mixed state, I tried Abilify. It quieted my head instantly. I liked Abilify although I didn't like that it increased my appetite. Had it not been for the migraines, I would have continued with it. F 39 3 weeks
2.5 mg 1X day
9/28/2010

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