Light headed, weakness, feeling faint, difficulty regulating body temp. Reaction was almost immediately, I used for 2 days (2 tabs).
While easy to use and felt it helped my depression and anxiety, I gained weight I COULD NOT lose no matter what I did (which I lost as soon as I came off this medication), my Lipids and Cholesterol lab levels got too high, and the worst was coming off of this, after 10 years at 10mg/day. I NEVER dreamed I'd go through withdrawal (mental and physical) like that. 1st time ever, hopefully last. Do it very slowly, will take about a year. Will never take again.
Took it one night. Next day low self esteem, extreme lethargy and increased feelings of anger.
I was negligently put on abilify back in august, in one week my entire body had gone haywire and I’ve never experienced physical discomfort like this. I couldn’t sleep more than an hour per night, I would become so itchy to the point I would scratch until I bled and skin was falling off. My joints became so sore I couldn’t walk, and I had the worst cold sweats to the point I would soak through multiple pairs of clothes and socks despite being freezing cold. Not to mention over a dozen more crazy symptoms. I ended up fainting while driving and finally went to an ER. Immediately I was told my heart was incredibly slow and I was shaking uncontrollably. The hospital didn’t do anything and sent me home and my psychiatrist who neglected to tell me anything that could happen while taking this, is almost impossible to reach. My pharmacist was so helpful and told me to stop taking it and a day later all my symptoms have gone away except my heart is still slower than normal. Worst drug ever!
Ruined my life. Possibly forever. 3 years after stopping the drug, i`ve yet to see any recovery.
I used this drug combined with Zoloft for about a year. To preface I have severe depression, BPD and anxiety. Abilify made me fat. I gained a lot of weight on this medication. It definitely didn’t even make my moods stable. I was a mess still. Absolutely terrible drug and I regret being on it for so long
Prescribed for psychosis related to complex PTSD. I was prescribed Abilify because Caplyta wasn't covered by insurance for off-label use and Abilify was the only other antipsychotic considered low risk enough with my arrhythmia. I only took this pill for 2 days. Day 1, I had a horrible arrhythmia episode, probably the worst it's ever been. Brushed it off as anxiety over new medication. Day 2 the arrhythmia was even worse and I felt as though I'd be better off dead. Wasn't risking it anymore and immediately notified my psychiatrist that I would be stopping Abilify. I am willing to live with paranoid delusions and hallucinations if it means I don't feel 2 minutes away from a heart attack all the time.
Abilify is a mood stabiliser, for me this meant I did not really laugh or cry the whole time I was on it. It was helpful recovering from schizophrenia, but I cant live my whole life like a zombie. I need to experience joy and sadness. But it was by far the best medication I have taken for schizophrenia in terms of not causing tardive dyskinesia (Parkinsons like movements in the arms).
Still angry and more so with the excessive weight gain
My bipolar disorder was in remission but I experienced significant problems between episodes relating to attention and motivation. Basically I found it difficult to concentrate or get anything done, despite not having ADHD. I could go a whole workday accomplishing absolutely nothing, which caused serious problems for me. Then my doctor added abilify as an adjunct to lithium and lamotrigine. It’s been life-changing. I am me again, and I have not felt 100% like me in a very long time. I don’t know if I just had lingering mild depression before or what, but I can wake up in the morning, be productive at work, keep my house clean, and feel more at ease in social situations. I am dressing more nicely and doing things like doing my hair, which I used to enjoy but couldn’t be bothered to do for years. I was reluctant to try this medication due to bad experiences on other antipsychotics but abilify has turned my life around. No side effects so far.
It is a good experience to take abilify.
On 5 mg Abilify added to 200 mg Lamictil for treatment resistant depression. I had sedation to the point where I could no longer complete my activities of daily living. And I didn’t actually care. I couldn’t do dishes or scoop the cat box. I couldn’t go to the grocery and I couldn’t cook meals. Blurry vision and loss of focus and concentration led to troubles at work and with driving. I almost gave up my drivers license. I had a cognitive decline I couldn’t learn or retain new information I couldn’t understand things. Stopped being able to find words to create sentences leading to not having any conversations. 24/7 depersonalization. 20 pound weight gain. Stiff painful muscles and joints. Involuntary Jerking of arms, legs, shoulders. Tremors in my hands and loss of fine motor skills. And a prayer for death because I didn’t think I was going to live to the end of the year. I thought I was dying. Finally got off it and I’m back on just Lamictal and I’m doing well.
I have been on anti depressants all my life. I went through a bad depression and this time I couldn't get out of it. I lost interest in everything and hated everything. I didn't have energy and was scared to go outside. This lasted about three months. The doctor prescribed Abilify. I catch myself out doing errands now. I don't feel depresssed and I have way more energy. The only thing I've noticed is I have the impulse to spend money which I've always liked to do, only it's worse now. I also wake up in the early mornings . I like the medicine it's been a game changer for me.
I had brain surgery to remove a very large tumor. Immediately after the surgery I went into a deep clinical depression (including no appetite, immense weight loss, insomnia, loss of mental clarity, physically weakened, severe exhaustion, crying all the time, and many many more awful things). I then took Zoloft (which didn’t help) and started seeing a psychiatrist (very important). He prescribed me Abilify and I seriously could feel everything change back to normal within 48 hours ! Abilify has been a life saver & changer for me. I believe that my Dopamine levels were affected from surgery (and/or anesthesia) and Abilify had corrected it.
I was on olanzepine but it caused a 20kg weight gain. The doctor recommended trying abilify because it’s known to be more weight neutral. In about 2 weeks into it, I experienced its worst side effects. I had the worst tremors, restlessness, fainted thrice and it triggered attempted suicide. The doctors didn’t change the medication even after the side effects. One night, I had this strong urge to jump off a building, craving for the feeling of standing on an edge. I asked to be driven to A&E. We tried different meds afterwards but they mainly gave me intolerable tremors and some were too expensive- like cariprazine (a new drug). I’ve been on lexapro for a quite a few months and it has been helpful in maintaining my moods without any of the above horrible side effects. I still have slight tremors which I can tolerate. Felt I needed to share…
not sure how this is still available for patients - was put on this medication at a young age and forced to stay on it for over a decade. To this day never was told exactly what the medication was supposed to be doing for me - was always told it was for a mix of things along with the other meds I was put on- Not until I was taken off of it did I realize what the root cause of my problems was. Would still be on this garbage if I didn’t ask for months to try coming off of it. Developed a gambling addiction, had worsening depression and multiple suicide attempts, and developed tardive dyskinesia because of this medication. It’s no coincidence that almost every aspect of my life has gotten better since coming off of this horrible medication… have had 0 suicidal ideation and have had many more happy and productive days since coming off of it in June than the entire past decade beforehand - no exaggeration at ALL. don’t want to get into how bad my gambling addiction was but it is once again no coincidence that the urge to gamble being the only thing on my mind all day every day for years suddenly disappeared writing this because although I am now scarred for the rest of my life due to these experiences and strong emotions felt throughout, along with now having to live with tardive dyskinesia, I am hoping that at least one person who is considering taking Abilify will see this and reconsider.
Took routine for approximately 3-4 months. Very low dose as add on to antidepressant. Became: extremely paranoid, depressed, scared all the time, anxious, increased muscle spasms and tremors, delusional, crying all the time, mood swings, chaotic emotions. All from 1 mg Abilify daily. Symptoms worsened every day until stopped medication. Still having memory issues and symptoms. But slowly I am improving.
I take this in conjunction with Pristiq and Buspar, and it has been a lifesaver for me.
I started abilify two weeks ago for depression and aggressive outburst. It has worked for me. The downside of it for me is hallucinations and impulses spending which has calm down. I am able to start my day without feeling down or tired. It has also brought me out of my numb state with the help of celexa. After being on multiple antidepressants I feel my psychiatrist finally got it right.
I’ve had depression since I was 12. I’m 25 now and very little treatment has helped me get to a typical lifestyle. I’ve been on so many medications I can’t remember them all. Until this medication, I really thought I was never going to feel awake. I was going to be so exhausted for the rest of my life I won’t be able to function similarly to how I did a few weeks ago. I take this medication at lunch time with food. If you don’t take it with a meal GOOD LUCK. I almost puked but I learned my lesson lol. I’m trying to get over the insomnia, nausea, and lack of appetite. My other depression has made me gain weight so I’m not exactly opposed to getting back to eating normal portions. If you feel hopeless, please tell your doctor. I thought my words fell on deaf ears but this medication has changed my adult life. I have a night time routine now. I find time for myself to do the things I want. I listen to happy music and dance freely. I love myself for who I am finally.