Abilify for Agitated State User Reviews (Page 2)

• Dea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2022

"This drug has destroyed me. I'm now like a zombie. The restlessness is so intense you won't be able to do anything when on this drug other than feel hopeless, restlessness, and want to sleep all the time. It also makes you crave cigarettes so badly you won't have control of your own life if you take this drug. Please think twice about taking this horrible drug."

• Mom...
• July 17, 2011

"I take this for borderline personality disorder. This medication helped a lot with my mood swings, anger, purging (but not binging), as well as keeping my somewhat delusional 'thoughts' in check (such as thinking that I am morbidly obese, an evil person, that people are following me, etc.). It did make me very tired at first (and still does a little). It is somewhat related to weight gain as well, though less than most other antipsychotics, and I have gained 10-15 lbs so far (in 2 months). Overall, I think this medication is pretty good, despite the weight gain and fatigue."

• EMo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2021

"I was put on this many years ago for a nervous breakdown, and it started to help almost instantly. It was a good add-on to my antidepressants at the time. I was literally only on it for two weeks, and the doc decided I didn't need it anymore. It worked a lot better than any other things I've been on over the years. No side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2020

"I was recently prescribed Abilify (the generic) during COVID. I have PTSD, BPD, and depression, so with everything going on, it has made me insane. I had rage outbursts and would want to hit people, not to mention the stress and lockdown. Every time I left the house, there were signs and masks everywhere. Anyway, I needed a change. I tried Abilify, I'm on 5 mg now. I found it actually increased my appetite, I gained at least 10 lbs, which I'm not fond of, but I've been eating again. I find it has worked great as far as a mood stabilizer. I've only had 1 panic attack since being on it. The first few weeks, I was really agitated and paranoid, though. If I don't take it at the exact time every day, I feel sick. Overall, it does help with my mood and rage, so I'll stay on it. I don't like the always having to move, it's nice at work, but not if I ever want to relax."

• Coo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2021

"The side effects are bad at first - do not take Abilify at night! My feet were erratic starting out, and I had a hard time sleeping because I took it at night. Another side effect: weight gain does occur! But this is not because the pill has calories (one review said) or because it gives you munchies (another review said). It simply changes the way your body stores leptin and processes food. Adding in slight exercise or reducing your calories with healthier foods might help - or if you are lucky, it might not affect you at all. I did not notice the weight gain effects on the 5 mg, but I did on the 10 mg. I have gained three pounds in one week. Personally, the weight is not something I can handle, so I will be going back to 5 mg because that worked just fine for me. It might take some experimenting, but try it first (always start with a low dose)."

• Mr ...
• December 7, 2013

"I was prescribed this medication because of the extreme stresses associated with a chronic disabling disease called relapsing polychondritis. It has destroyed all of my joints, cervical spine damage, ataxia, and the loss of everything in my life that I had worked 30 years to obtain. All gone. I am the type of person who is more angry, agitated, infuriated by the effects of this condition than I am sad or depressed about it. I was also in chronic pain daily since May of 2012. No painkillers would help this type of pain. I can not take methotrexate, DMARDs, biologics, only prednisone, a great diet, and an occasional NSAID. Then my doctor gave me this. I am so happy at this moment (not) to feel the burning sensations, squeezing, aching, pain."

• cyg...
• January 4, 2010

"My 10-yr-old son has been taking 1 mg of Abilify in the morning for the past 4 months. He used to be prone to loud shouting, hitting, spitting, etc. at home, but now little things don't bother him as much, and he's easier to reason with. No side effects from this dose seem apparent so far. He's also taking 36 mg of Concerta for ADD symptoms, which would otherwise keep him from functioning for more than a couple of hours in the classroom. He's also taking Depakote for seizure control. He's been seizure-free for 2.5 years now, and we are gradually reducing that dose to zero. Eventually, we hope to reduce all these drugs to zero, one at a time."

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2012

"My teen is on the first week of Abilify, and Strattera will be added in another week for ADD. He had been on Focalin for ADD/ADHD, which we thought worked the best of all ADD meds we tried over many years. But what we didn't realize is that stimulant meds (like Focalin, Concerta) can cause paranoia, anxiety, and agitation, which came out in him-making his doctor think he had a secondary, more worrisome disorder. Every symptom went away after stopping the stimulant med for 2 months. I hope Abilify works as a balance for the Strattera. His doctor said no more stimulant meds for him, although they work the best."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2021

"I was put on 4 mg of Abilify for anxiety. The worst drug I have ever been put on. While it almost immediately took action on my anxious and intrusive thoughts and panic attacks, there was a cost that eventually took over my life. It made me empty-headed to the point where I couldn’t hold conversations with people without feeling awkward or wondering how in the world I'm gonna keep this conversation going. I was constantly drained around my friends and couldn’t enjoy myself because all I could think about was what I was gonna say next. Abilify got rid of my creativity, I was in an artistic block for months. Awful drug, do not recommend."

• Sea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2021

"I have ADHD and GAD. Vybrid 40 mg is helpful, but not the complete answer. Provider added 2 mg of Abilify, and within 2 weeks, ruminating thoughts, OCD tendencies, and remaining anxiety were relieved. No weight gain, only side effect is odd dreams that wake me up around 4 am daily."

• Gan...
• January 25, 2021

"My son was prescribed Abilify for 'aggressive' behavior at age 6. It didn't really change his behavior. Within a year, he began showing symptoms of ADHD, despite no signs before starting the med. Is the restlessness really ADHD, or is it akathisia caused by the med? He also became compulsive on Abilify, which I learned only recently is a known side effect of the medication. His BMI is now borderline obese, and his metabolic labs are all elevated. I'm now tapering him off of it after more than 3 years. I've noticed a reduction in his compulsive and thrill-seeking behavior, though he still can't sit still for the life of him. Hopefully, those withdrawal side effects will subside with time. If a doctor recommends your child take a mood stabilizer, remember that a calm parent is the best mood stabilizer for a child. This stuff isn't FDA approved for use in children for a reason. I'm not anti-medication, and I'm sure this med works for some people, but this med did not work for him."

• Ban...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2021

"I’ve been dealing with anger/mood issues. My psychiatrist put me on 5 mg Abilify. I took it last night for the first time. I woke up puking and having diarrhea. I have had a dizzy spell if I get up. My heart will race. It was recommended to take it before bedtime. But I’ve been up all night. Wasn’t a pleasant experience."

• Nut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2023

"I was on this very briefly, in July 2020, for repeated anger rampages. My psychiatrist prescribed me this, and it helped reduce my anger and anxiety. However, I was so restless that I kept pacing, walking fast back and forth, throwing my legs up, and moving my legs around awkwardly, making me sleep all day. I gained 50 lbs. I stopped taking this 3 days later, and I’m now on Trileptal and feel a lot better."

• 202...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2021

"My doctor put me on 2 mg of Abilify for anxiety along with 100 mg of Zoloft. Did not feel any different, so my doctor raised it to 5 mg. I began having nosebleeds and depersonalized. I did not feel real at all, it was so scary. I felt so out of it I had to miss work and could not get out of bed. Horrible drug for me."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2021

"My 5-year-old has Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and is very aggressive. Has been kicked out of several programs and schools for the safety of others. We originally had 2 mg of Abilify with no results... moved to 5 mg and still nothing. Waiting on a gene site and hoping to find proper meds. I do not recommend Abilify for ODD in young ones. But again, your child may respond positively."

• ADH...
• July 28, 2019

"Ok, my idiot shrink is being fired tomorrow. I've been reading up on this Abilify stuff, and guess what? I have ADHD, depression, anxiety. In menopause, so what is he put me on Abilify? This stuff makes me insanely psychotic and vicious. The least little thing goes wrong, and I'm screaming, I mean literally screaming at the top of my lungs and freaking out. I will not take the stuff. I am not bipolar, I have other issues, thank you very much. It's a terrible drug, never again."

• abe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2021

"For my OCD symptoms, and they are, or were, severe, 10 mg of Abilify works wonders. Though I am experiencing impulses that I usually don't have-I'm basically binging in what I enjoy most, way more than usual. I'm also gaining weight and am tired a lot, but I'm still giving it an 8/10 because my OCD ruminations, intrusive thoughts, and overall quality of life have GREATLY improved since on Abilify, which has been almost a month."

• jas...
• May 24, 2017

"My little brother was on this medicine for close to a week and a half, and the second he realized it wasn't helping him, he stopped taking them, and the life is sucked out of his body. He has cold sweats and struggles to find meaning for life. Before, he was happy and just had some major issues with our parents, so the psychiatrist prescribed him this. This is a bad drug. 1 star. Cry on your friend's shoulders until you're better, but don't take this drug. If I met the creator of this, I would express to him/her how many lives he is probably responsible for - it is a disgrace to society."

• Toe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 9, 2019

"On this drug, I get anger and agitation. Going to go on something else instead, can't bear it."

• sig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2014

"I took this to replace Wellbutrin, which didn't seem to work. This medication seems to make me very easily agitated, not to mention the fatigue."

• Ari...
• April 2, 2016

"I'm taking Abilify with an antidepressant to stabilize my mood. It just makes me shaky and agitated. Before Abilify, my mood would be up and down. But now I'm just down and agitated all the time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2017

"Gave me akathisia that still does not go away 8 days after quitting, while it should. I need to be moving all the time (in a car or something like that counts), and it's unbearable."

• net...
• April 23, 2009

"This medication made me sleepy and far less alert than normal. It worsened my condition."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2021

"Generic Abilify caused blackout. Same happened to friend."

• not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2014

"I was diagnosed with toxic psychosis due to cannabis abuse, and this medicine saved my life while no other medicine could end my delusions and paranoia. I am very thankful."