How do you like abilify

Have tried Geodon side effects and Zyprexa gained 13 lbs. Couldn't reach doctor during holidays, stopped Zyprexa, arrived on office doorstep on Jan 2, with son fully manic. Doc said, "We must stabilize before school starts! Abilify right there in the office.

I was in shock--the good kind! Almost one month later the change in our family life is just unbelievable. I have my great little guy back. Oh, he also takes Adderall XR 25 mg and Strattera 25 mg twice a day.

I have tried numerous meds with little to no success. I was gaining weight and had no energy on seroquel, so my DR. I am also on Zoloft mg in the am, i take Valium 30mg throughout the day, and Trazadone mg night. It has given me motivation and focus. I actually feel happy so rare I have not cut, purged, or drank since the switch. Only thing I would mention is stiffness of my muscles.

As for me, I believe I found the perfect cocktail. Hope this helps. I was very happy while taking this drug. Unfortunately I was manic the entire tiime. Abilify helped me become more motivated and gave me more energy but that was on the minimum dose. After raising the dose I became agiatated out of my skin, couldn't move, couldn't talk, couldn't do anything. Overall it didn't give me exactly what I wanted but it could definately work wonders for other people. Worth a try. When I left the hospital, I was on Lexapro and Abilify, with Vistaril for occasional panic attacks or sleeplessness.

Abilify made me restless, about to jump out of my skin, ADD I've always had a long attention span , and finally after about two weeks, I had one of the worst panic attacks I have EVER had.

I literally felt like I was on a bad LSD trip. I kept hugging my mom and my two-year old niece because I was so freaked out. Fortunately, it was stopped right away, and now I'm on Lexapro and Trileptal instead, which is thus far working much, much better for me. This medicine pretty much saved me.

I was so close to going back to my old days of self-injury; at the time I switched I was on Risperdal and Lexapro. Now I take Lexapro and Abilify. I can't believe what a difference there is. I had little or no side effects, and it has been working ever since!

The only thing is that I may need to up my dosage I'm only on 2 mg daily because I occasionally feel a little bit of a mood swing I have rapid cycling.

I felt less anxious on abilify, but I gained a lot of weight. This was partly because taking the drug had a very negative effect on my ability to exercise. Donate Now. Generic name: aripiprazole ay ri PIP ray zole , aripiprazole lauroxil law rox il. All FDA black box warnings are at the end of this fact sheet. Please review before taking this medication. Aripiprazole is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia.

It is also known as a second generation antipsychotic SGA or atypical antipsychotic. Aripiprazole rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior. This medication sheet will focus primarily on schizophrenia. Find more information about bipolar disorder, depression and autism spectrum disorders here.

They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options. Schizophrenia requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking aripiprazole, even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine.

Missing doses of aripiprazole may increase your risk for a relapse in your symptoms. Do not stop taking aripiprazole or change your dose without talking to with your healthcare provider first. For aripiprazole to work properly, it should be taken every day as ordered by your healthcare provider. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your healthcare provider to best manage your medications. People living with schizophrenia who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. This is a complex decision since untreated schizophrenia has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother.

It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers. Symptoms in the newborn may include agitation, feeding disorder, hypertonia, hypotonia, respiratory distress, somnolence, and tremor; these effects may be self-limiting or require hospitalization. In general, infants exposed to SGAs via breast milk should be monitored weekly for the first month of exposure for symptoms, such as appetite changes, insomnia, irritability, or lethargy.

Aripiprazole tablets and suspension are usually taken 1 time per day with or without food. Typically, patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks. The oral dose aripiprazole usually ranges from 2 mg to 30 mg taken once daily. The dose of aripiprazole maintena extended-release injection ranges from mg to mg given once monthly; the dose of aripiprazole lauroxil extended-release injection ranges from mg to mg — depending on the dose, it is given once per month, every 6 weeks, or every 2 months.

Aripiprazole maintena requires a two-week oral medication overlap; aripiprazole lauroxil requires a three-week oral overlap. Aripiprazole lauroxil Initio is typically given after an oral dose of aripiprazole along with an aripiprazole lauroxil injection — this allows for a one-day initiation and does not require further oral overlap. Only your healthcare provider can determine the correct formulation and dose for you.

Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. How aripiprazole works. Aripiprazole and everyday life. Frequently asked questions. How long does it take to start working? What effects will it have on my body? It is very difficult to know how it will affect each person who takes it. Your doctor should measure your weight regularly when you are taking aripiprazole.

Should I tell my family and friends I am taking it? Will it affect my sleep? Aripiprazole may make you feel very sleepy but may also make it hard to get to sleep. Sleepiness has been shown to affect young people more than adults. See how it affects you for the first few days of taking it. Go back to your doctor if this causes a big problem for you. Can I drink alcohol and take street drugs while taking it? Alcohol You can drink alcohol while taking aripiprazole, but the two together could make you very sleepy.

If you want to drink alcohol, plan how you will get home safely if you feel sleepy. Street drugs Be careful if you are also using street drugs. Cannabis can make drowsiness worse with aripiprazole. Methadone can make drowsiness worse with aripiprazole. Can I take it with other medications? I have allergies and food intolerances. Is there anything I need to know? Can I drive while taking it?

Do not drive a car or ride a bike just after you start taking aripiprazole. Do not worry - most people drive as normal while taking aripiprazole. Can I take it if I am pregnant or breastfeeding? Pregnancy There is nothing to suggest aripiprazole will harm the developing baby during pregnancy. Post-natal Aripiprazole can cause some symptoms in newborn babies — for instance, your baby might be born a little earlier than expected and may suffer from agitation, muscle spasm or weakness, shaking, drowsiness, feeding problems or breathing problems.

Breastfeeding Aripiprazole is passed to the baby in breast milk in small amounts. Will it affect my sex life or fertility? Sex Aripiprazole is unlikely to cause side effects that affect your sex life and is also less likely to do so than other antipsychotic medications. Fertility There is no information to suggest aripiprazole has any effects on fertility.

Will it affect my ability to play sports? Aripiprazole is not a banned substance in sport. Do not worry - most people do sports as normal while taking aripiprazole. Will it affect my ability to take exams? Try not to take aripiprazole for the first time just before your exams. Do not worry - most people take exams as normal while taking aripiprazole. Your doctor should know. Uses, warnings, safety and side effects.

Taking aripiprazole Warnings and safety Side effects Taking aripiprazole You should only take aripiprazole as agreed with your doctor. You will get the best effect from aripiprazole if you take it regularly. You will usually take your dose once a day. You can take the tablets or liquid before or after food. You cannot mix the oral solution with any drink or food. It must be taken on its own. What if I miss a dose? If you forget to take a dose, then just take it as soon as possible.

If you forget to take it by your next dose, only take the next dose. Do not take a double dose. What will happen if I forget to take my aripiprazole? Stopping the use of aripiprazole. Keep in mind that Abilify may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults ages 24 and younger.

Because of this risk, Abilify should be used cautiously in people ages 24 and younger. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in treating schizophrenia in children ages 13 and older.

In a study, Abilify treatment was compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug. Test scores from this test range from 30 to Higher scores indicate worse schizophrenia symptoms than lower scores indicate. The study showed that:. Abilify is approved to treat manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder in children ages 10 years and older.

For this condition, Abilify is approved for use on its own. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in treating manic and mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in children. One study looked at Abilify treatment compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug. Test scores from this scale range from 0 to Higher scores indicate worse mania symptoms than lower scores indicate.

For this use, Abilify can be prescribed for children ages 6 years and older. Autism symptoms vary across a spectrum. For example, some children with autism are able to function at a very high level, while other children with autism need more care. Autism is often diagnosed in children around the age of 2 years, when they may be having trouble with development.

Specifically, Abilify is used to treat irritability in children with autism. Irritability includes symptoms such as tantrums, injuring yourself, or having aggressive behaviors. Two different studies looked at Abilify treatment compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug. ABC test scores from this scale range from 0 to Higher ABC test scores indicate worse irritability symptoms than lower scores do. It causes involuntary movements and sounds that happen repetitively.

These movements and sounds are also called tics. Examples of movement-related tics include repetitive eye blinking or head jerking. Examples of sound-related tics include those that affect speech, such as repeating things that other people are saying. In some cases, tics can be dangerous. In fact, sometimes tics may cause a person to hurt themselves.

It often improves and may even disappear as people age into adulthood. The TTS scale ranges from 0 to Higher TTS scores indicate worse tic symptoms than lower scores indicate.

For some of its approved uses, Abilify may be used in combination with other drugs. However, when treating major depressive disorder MDD , Abilify is always used with other drugs. MDD is also simply called depression.

For MDD, Abilify is approved as an adjunct treatment. Adjunct treatments are used in combination with other drugs to treat certain conditions.

So as an adjunct treatment for MDD, Abilify is only used with other drugs. Below, we describe some of the drugs that may be used with Abilify. Or your doctor may change your medication regimen altogether. If you have questions about using medications with Abilify, talk with your doctor.

They can recommend an appropriate treatment plan for your condition. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with antidepressants to treat your condition. Some examples of antidepressants that may be taken with Abilify include:. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with mood stabilizers to treat your condition. Some examples of mood stabilizers that may be taken with Abilify include:. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with stimulants to treat your condition.

Some examples of stimulants that may be taken with Abilify include:. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with other antipsychotic drugs to treat your condition. Some examples of other antipsychotics that may be taken with Abilify include:. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Note: Some of the drugs listed below are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. This means that Abilify is only used with other drugs for MDD. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat manic and mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat schizophrenia include:. You may wonder how Abilify compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses.

Here we look at how Abilify and Abilify Maintena are alike and different. Both Abilify and Abilify Maintena contain the same active drug: aripiprazole. But even though these medications contain the same active drug, they act slightly differently inside your body. Abilify Maintena is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults. The typical dosage of this drug is mg given once each month.

Because Abilify and Abilify Maintena both contain the same active drug, their mild and serious side effects are the same. Also, because Abilify Maintena is an injectable medication, you may have pain at your injection site after receiving a dose of the drug. In some cases, you may actually start out by taking Abilify. Then if your condition responds well to the drug, you may start taking Abilify Maintena instead. One study looked at people who took Abilify and then transitioned to Abilify Maintena.

These people had more benefit in decreasing their schizophrenia symptoms when they switched to Abilify Maintena. But separate studies have found both Abilify and Abilify Maintena to be effective in treating schizophrenia. According to estimates on GoodRx. The cost also depends on whether you receive doses of either drug from a pharmacy or a medical facility.

Abilify and Abilify Maintena are both brand-name drugs. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics cost. Like Abilify Maintena, discussed above, other medications are also prescribed for similar uses as Abilify is. Here we look at how Abilify and Rexulti are alike and different. Abilify contains the active drug aripiprazole , while Rexulti contains the active drug brexpiprazole. Both Abilify and Rexulti are approved to treat schizophrenia. For this use, Abilify can be prescribed for adults and children ages 13 years and older.

However, Rexulti is only approved for use in adults. Abilify and Rexulti are also both approved for use in adults as adjunct treatments for major depressive disorder MDD , which is also simply called depression. Abilify and Rexulti both contain medications that treat schizophrenia and MDD.

Therefore, these medications can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Rexulti, or with both drugs when taken individually. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Rexulti, or with both drugs when taken individually.

And these medications can also each be used in combination with other drugs to treat MDD. The use of Abilify and Rexulti in treating schizophrenia has been directly compared in a clinical study. Abilify and Rexulti are both brand-name drugs. There is currently a generic form of Abilify, called aripiprazole.

Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. Like Rexulti, discussed above, other medications are prescribed for similar uses as Abilify is. Here we look at how Abilify and Latuda are alike and different.

Abilify contains the active drug aripiprazole , while Latuda contains the active drug lurasidone. Both Abilify and Latuda are approved to treat schizophrenia in adults and children ages 13 years and older. Abilify and Latuda both contain drugs to treat schizophrenia. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Latuda, or with both drugs when taken individually.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Abilify, with Latuda, or with both drugs when taken individually. But separate studies have found both Abilify and Latuda to be effective in treating schizophrenia. Abilify and Latuda are both brand-name drugs.

Controlled substances are more likely than other medications to cause dependence. With dependence, your body needs the drug in order to feel normal. Abilify may cause dependence because it affects hormones inside your brain.

And once your body adjusts to the changes caused by Abilify, you may become dependent on the drug. However, keep in mind that dependence of Abilify has not been studied in humans. Because this medication may cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may recommend a different medication for you that has a lower risk of these complications.

His symptoms included dizziness, nausea, anxiety, and muscle twitches. He also had insomnia trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. But keep in mind that this case only involved one person. If you have questions about withdrawal symptoms from Abilify, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

With tapering, your doctor will slowly decrease your dose of the drug so that your body can adjust to the lower dose over time. Tapering off of Abilify can help decrease your risk of withdrawal symptoms. Keep in mind that the lowest dose that Abilify tablets are made in is 2 mg. Abilify affects the levels of two brain chemicals called dopamine and serotonin.

Serotonin is important in controlling your mood and behavior. Dopamine is important in regulating how you think and feel. And Abilify is approved to treat each of these conditions. Abilify may work to treat certain mental health conditions by balancing dopamine and serotonin levels. They can recommend whether you need medical attention. Yes, sometimes Abilify is used off-label to treat anxiety. And if you have questions about whether Abilify may be helpful in treating your anxiety, talk with your doctor.

Yes, Abilify may cause you to have dangerous impulses or urges. But all of these urges can be harmful, so you should tell your doctor, a family member, or a friend if you notice any impulses. In addition, your family and friends should also be keeping an eye out for any new impulses you may develop. This is important for them to do because you might not notice certain urges developing. As soon as any urges or impulses are noticed, your doctor will likely decrease your dosage of Abilify.

Or your doctor may have you stop taking the medication altogether. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of treatment. These brain chemicals include dopamine and serotonin. And serotonin is important in controlling your mood and behavior. Abilify may work by balancing your dopamine and serotonin levels. No, you should never take Abilify by snorting the drug.

Abilify is meant to be taken by mouth. However, when you snort a drug through your nose, the drug goes directly into your bloodstream. In addition, snorting drugs can cause problems inside your nose, such as swelling or infections.