I am on the 10 mg/day dose. It has really improved my life lately by lifting my mood (was in major, apparently bipolar, depression) and decreasing my anxiety to where I can leave the house sometimes now (severe anxiety is apparently also caused by the bipolar). The only problem is it's really starting to make me restless - like I have to keep moving my legs around and can't sit still much of the time. Last night I noticed I was pacing around the house and I had to take sleeping pills because I couldn't go to sleep naturally. The thing it feels EXACTLY like is that I've had too much caffeine. I've also noticed some stuttering. If I increase the dosage will these effects worsen or go away? Will they go away with time? I really don't want to have to stop taking it because of the benefits it has given me, but I will if I have to.
Abilify +ve effects except for restlessness and insomnia - what will happen if I increase my dose?
Question posted by windfreak on 3 July 2010
Last updated on 26 July 2010 by DaniGan
6 Answers
I have been on Abilify for a year and it did help my bipolar and depression symptoms. I have recently found, though, that there is a bad interaction between Abilify and other meds I am on like Cymbalta and Celebrex. I am also a breast cancer survivor and Abilify can recause breast cancer. My advice is to be really careful and research on Drugs.com. The side affects I have with Ability which includes the need for sleep meds, have never gone away.
Abilify seems to work as an antipsychotic & mood stabilizer at the higher dose and as a mood stabilizer at the lower dose. Over 10 seems to warrant a muscle relaxer, such as Cogentin. If you take Depakote prior to sleeping at night, it can make you sleepy. Been taking 20 for several months in addition to the depakote and cogentin.. I haven't witnessed the stuttering at all Just the muscle tightness which is eased a bit by the cogentin. It helps some, but no miracles. Gotta see how it works for you cause each individual has a different take on it. Let us know how it goes.
I found this under warnings
Children, teenagers, and young adults who take Abilify may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch all patients who take Abilify closely. Contact the doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms, such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behavior, occur. Contact the doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Abilify. Symptoms may include fever; stiff muscles; confusion; abnormal thinking; fast or irregular heartbeat; and sweating. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
I believe you! He certainly does. Thanks for the info! I think I gotta call my doc ASAP.
It seemed to help with my mood & anxiety also... but after goin up to 7.5 to 10 mg... i too got restless..& couldnt be still... motivated but irritable..so i backed down to 7.5... now 2mos later it doesnt seem to be helping much at all with anything..so back to the drawing board for me. But for some ppl it has been a godsend... so work on it a lil with your doc b4 you give up on it.
hope it works out well for ya.
I am bipolar too, (41years old, male)and yes, you are experiencing some of the many side effects from this med:
Feeling restless, agitated and unable to sit still
Question: Are you more manic ( euforic) or depressive?
You mentioned you paced all night also a s. effect: insomnia.side effect
How long have you been on this med?
What other meds are you on?
Now these are common side effects... do not get desperate it will only make things worst for you... excersice but not after 4pm, do not nap, no caffeine, no enegy drinks, wear yourself out ... find things that can distract you , so you are not constantly not thinking about the s. effects
I can be able to help you a bit ( I think) more if you decide to answer my questions... because from my experience I have a thought ..you might be interested.
Never ever self-medicate..ok
Talk to your Psyachiatrist first thing on Monday, now if you can get a hold on him/her do it right away.
I have NEVER gotten euphoric, only terrible anxiety, and seem to be in an eternal mixed state. That is, I display both major depression and severe anxiety constantly. What I feel most depends on the situation I am in and is directly related to my environment. I've had problems with anxiety since I was about 4 years old according to my mom. I also used to have cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS) from age 4 to 18 when I went on Effexor (the Effexor seems to have aborted it, but Effexor doesn't work for me anymore).
I've been on this med for 11 days now and am also on Pristiq 50 mg/day and Klonopin 8 mg/day (4x per day). I've been on the Pristiq for a few months and the Klonopin a few years.
I'm very interesting in hearing what you have to say, thank you!
CORRECTION
"... cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS) from age 4 to 18 when I went on Effexor (the Effexor seems to have aborted it, but Effexor doesn't work for me anymore)." I meant to say, "... BUT when I went on Effexor (the Effexor seems to have aborted it... "
Ignore the correction I was gonna make... I realize that it makes sense the way I said it first. I was just trying to say when I went on Effexor at age 18 it aborted further CVS attacks.
It seems you got upset did not mean to get you there..you ommited many things, what I had thought, as both being bipolar , you having the symptoms I had when I went into a mainc phase and that made me worry... for you, if you have not experienced one, you are very fortunate, mine lasted two years, two years of life gone just like that, so I wanted to prevent somehow from this happening to you... to but apperently you took it as as offense (the NEVER gave you away)..
I also suffer from many other "conditions" and have tried many meds and combos... but my tolerance levels are very high, just a bit of input.
I do not critizice nor judge..I only try to help within my means.
Ok there is nothing left to say on my behalf In my answer my suggestion was to contact your doctor , I still sgguest the same.
God Bless
Oh man, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to mean NEVER was shouting at you. I wasn't offended at all... I was trying to stress that my mania is purely anxiety and never euphoria. I should have said it in a different way. To be honest, I'm a bit skeptical about my bipolar diagnosis, although it seems we have exhausted every other thing it could be ("it" being my terrible anxiety). I thank you very much for your info and time! I definitely don't have classic bipolar... all energy is negative, unpleasant, and nervous.
It is ok... do not worry I am a grown man, and I understand how unpleasent this is for you.
Take good care of youserlf.
Since I got my medical marijuanna card in Jan. I am anti-pharm. drugs even though I still have to take some for my bi-polar; tegretol, lamictal, clonazepan, & zoloft. I smoke for pain, anxiety, restlessness & sleep. I don't know anything about Abilify however, I would be very cautious w/any kind of drug until you can do extensive research to see if it's really what you need. (I just don't trust those new ones especially because the companies get you hooked & eventually the side effects become worse than before you started taking it) I get very restless too, pace... etc; but the marij. has really helped & I really don't like to leave my house much either but since summer is coming I will spend more time taking walks, bikerides, etc... things that YOU like to do. I hope this can help you out in some way.
Where do you live? just wondering where they prescribe the medical marijuana and why?
I live in Orange County, CA and was prescribed it for Generalized anxiety disorder and Panic disorder since I was having very little luck with pharmaceutical drugs (benzos don't work for me anymore... tolerance too high... all under a doctor's instruction and care). It's worked wonders with my anxiety. I don't get high, just use it until I feel relaxed. Currently I'm about to quit using it to remove it from the equation while my psychiatrist and I figure out what meds I should be on. I think marijuana should be legal for medicinal use everywhere in the country and should be researched... the compound cannabidiol, for example, has been shown to have anxiolytic effects while being itself non-intoxicating. It would make an excellent alternative to benzos. Just sayin'.
Oh, and I was prescribed it here in Orange County by one of my doctors.
Related topics
abilify, depression, bipolar disorder, insomnia, obsessive compulsive disorder, agitated state
Further information
- Abilify uses and safety info
- Abilify prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Abilify (detailed)
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