Abilify

(aripiprazole)

●●●●●
3.2/ 5 average rating with 252 reviewsforAbilify
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Helps control your thoughts and mood.

Skip Upsides & Downsides section. Skip to side effects section.

Our bottom line

Abilify (aripiprazole) is good for treating psychosis and mania, and can help with depression. It's less likely to cause side effects than other antipsychotics.

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Quick facts about Abilify
  • Drug class: Mental health
  • Rx status: Prescription only
  • Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (aripiprazole)

Upsides

  • Effective at relieving psychotic symptoms and manic episodes.
  • More energizing than other antipsychotics.
  • Fewer side effects than other antipsychotics.
  • Studies show that it can also be helpful for depression, especially in women, if your symptoms don't go away with an antidepressant alone.
  • Available as a generic, which is cheaper.
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What to expect from Abilify, on one page

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People’s experience with Abilify

252reviews so far. What do you think?

Downsides

  • Mild risk of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), a movement disorder that includes stiffness, tremor, restlessness, and slow, repetitive, or involuntary movements.
  • You might need routine blood tests to check how the medicine is affecting your body.
  • All antipsychotics come with side effects that make them difficult to take. You might need to try a few different medicines until you find the one that works for you and that you can tolerate.
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What to expect from Abilify, on one page

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How it works

Abilify (aripiprazole) is an atypical antipsychotic. It stabilizes dopamine and serotonin levels in your brain to help control your thoughts and affect mood.

Quick facts about Abilify
  • Drug class: Mental health
  • Rx status: Prescription only
  • Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (aripiprazole)

Used for

Dosage forms

  • Pill
  • Dissolving tablet
  • Liquid
  • Injection
People’s experience with Abilify

252reviews so far. What do you think?

Prices and coupons

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What to expect when you take Abilify (aripiprazole) for Psychiatric conditions

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  • First few daysDays
    First few weeksWeeks
    First few monthsMonths
    Long term
  • Effectiveness
  • Starts to kick in
    Full effects
  • First few daysDays
    First few weeksWeeks
    First few monthsMonths
    Long term
  • Possible side effects
  • Anxiety
  • Sleep problems
  • Headache
  • Stomach problems
  • Agitation
  • Uncontrolled movements
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Side effect rates for Abilify (aripiprazole)

From 1670 clinical trials of Abilify when taken for bipolar i disorder (mania)
  • Restlessness
    13%13%
    4%4%
  • Sedation
    8%8%
    3%3%
  • Tremor
    6%6%
    3%3%
  • Difficulty controlling movements
    5%5%
    2%2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Where we got our data »

The placebo bar shows how common a side effect was for people taking a sugar pill instead of Abilify.

Abilify (aripiprazole)
Placebo

People taking Abilify felt side effect more

People taking Abilify felt side effect less

No difference

Risks and Warnings for Abilify (aripiprazole)

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    • Higher risk if:
    • › Elderly patients with dementia

    Older patients with dementia-related psychosis have a higher risk of death when treated with antipsychotic medications. Abilify (aripiprazole) is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis.

    This is a black box warning. The FDA requires this warning when there is a significant risk of serious or life-threatening effects that anyone taking the drug should consider.

Means that some groups have a high risk of experiencing this side effect

Pharmacist Q&A

Abilify (aripiprazole) questions for

Frequently Asked Questions

This medication treats depression in adults for whom antidepressants alone do not provide sufficient relief.

Who is this drug for?

This medication treats depression in adults for whom antidepressants alone do not provide sufficient relief.

Common concerns from people taking Abilify (aripiprazole)

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Price
  • Not worth it
    Didn’t work
    Some hassle
    Reviewed Abilifyon 8/26/2017Definitely not worthwhile for the price as a brand name. Less likely to have side effects doesn't mean it won't.
    25
    Man
    A few months
    Depression
Sleep
  • Worth it
    Worked well
    Some hassle
    Reviewed Abilifyon 12/3/2016Caused me excessive tiredness. But effective for controlling thoughts and mood. No appetite change, and no ortho static hypotension unlike Seroquel/Quetiapine, Risperdal/Risperidone
    22
    Man
    Schizophrenia
  • Worth it
    Worked well
    Some hassle
    Reviewed Abilifyon 9/14/2016It made me sleepy during the day, I think, due to blood sugar fluctuations. I would recommend being aware of the amount of sugar/simple carbs you eat. Fiber is a good thing, too--high fiber foods can help.
    35
    Woman
    Depression
Weight
  • Abilify (aripiprazole) can make you gain weight, which can also increase your blood sugar and cholesterol. If you're at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholestetrol, talk to your doctor how to lower your risk.
  • Worth it
    Worked well
    Big hassle
    Reviewed Abilifyon 3/4/2018I personally gained a lot of weight (60 pounds, I'm 5'5 and previously weighed 120) with this medication but I won't lie the side effects are not as bad as other Ned's and it highly effective
    16
    Woman
    A year or so
    Would rather not say
  • Not worth it
    Worked well
    Big hassle
    Reviewed Abilifyon 8/25/2017No good for diabetics. Sugar and carb cravings. Causes fast weight gain.
    44
    Woman
    A few months
    Bipolar I disorder
  • Worth it
    Worked well
    Big hassle
    Reviewed Abilifyon 5/2/2017I put on weight rather quickly. My appetite was dramatically increased. After two months I stopped due to the weight gain.
    45
    Woman
    A few months
    Depression