Abilify for Depression User Reviews (Page 5)

• Bec...
• March 28, 2013

"I started Abilify on 2mg with Prozac and Klonopin. After just 3 days, I felt the energy that was lacking for so many years. Before Abilify, I had been on so many different antidepressants. I felt there was nothing for me, so I chose drinking. Wrong choice, but it was the only thing that would make me feel normal. I finally quit with help from my family. I was put on Abilify, Prozac, and Klonopin. I have now switched Prozac with Effexor 75 mg and Abilify 8 mg, 4 mg in the morning and 4 mg at night, 37.5 mg of Effexor in the morning and night, also 2 mg of Klonopin 2 times a day or as needed. I do suffer from vivid dreams and have gained a little weight, but when I was drinking, I wouldn't eat and lost a lot of weight. Overall, it is a godsend."

• Phi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 12, 2017

"I had very bad depressed thoughts and since taking Abilify, my total blackness in my life has been lifted. I had been suffering from depression and fits of mood swings. This Abilify actually works. I stopped raging at life and to put a literal perspective on this. It's more or less one of the best medications that has been prescribed to me. I used to yell, convulse, and almost had completely collapsed. The only downside is the restlessness and a melodramatic sense of unwanted sleepless nights. All I have to say to everyone is to keep taking what you are prescribed."

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2020

"This is my first day taking Abilify 5 mg. I am at work, and I feel horrible. I'm thinking about going home. I am dizzy, sweating, and just feel out of it. I took it 2 1/2 hours ago and wish I had the ability to make myself barf to get it out of me, but it was such a small tab it has probably dissolved. I hate my doctor for putting me on this. I feel like a zombie. I actually found myself staring at my computer with my mouth open. Awful, horrible RX."

• Pic...
• June 23, 2015

"This medicine works great. The price point is high, but you guys don't have to pay it. The manufacturer has a coupon that you take to the pharmacy that you can get online. It reduces the copay to just $5.00."

• ano...
• July 8, 2013

"For the past three months, I experienced severe anxiety and depression, likely due to intense work stress. Feelings of dread and doom were constant and overwhelming. I had a similar episode about 15 years ago, and a GP prescribed Luvox. Within weeks, I felt normal and alive. I've been on it ever since. I finally decided to see a psychiatrist. Well, after an hour meeting and 7 pages of notes, she diagnosed me with severe obsessive compulsive disorder and depression and added a small dose of Abilify. The change was immediate and remarkable. The anxiety is greatly reduced. The depression seems gone. The racing thoughts, while not gone, are reduced. I have energy, however, I constantly feel hungry. I hope it continues."

• LPa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2019

"I've been on Abilify for about 9 months and take 15 mg tabs once a day. I've gone through a few things with this medication, including excessive shopping. I had recently had my blood drawn, and my liver and kidney numbers are high, along with my blood pressure being low. I have not seen these side effects on anybody else's review and want to know if anybody else is having these side effects. I've also had really good experiences with this drug - I'm not depressed, and I don't feel as angry. The side effects are enough to ask for another type of medication, though."

• in ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2013

"I have taken Abilify for one year. It was prescribed as an add-on to Cymbalta after a suicide attempt. I feel it boosts my mood. BUT I have gained 35 pounds. I can't imagine continuing on a medication with this side effect. It is not worth it to switch my angst over life circumstances to feeling depressed over a continual weight gain."

• Sun...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 19, 2020

"This drug, Abilify, made me gain 60 lbs over 3.5 years. It did nothing for me. Be aware. It will make you want to eat! This did absolutely nothing for me. Finally, came off of it and feeling better than when I was on it."

• Jam...
• April 3, 2008

"I was withdrawn since my last psychotic break, and this medication seems to be what fixed that. There was no weight gain. There was some trouble sleeping for the first two weeks. Overall, I'd say this is the best antipsychotic I have tried."

• tab...
• January 27, 2013

"I have suffered long-term post-trauma depression. Recently, I ended up in a hospital for mental health. My psychologist decided to add Abilify 5 mg a day, I also take Lustral 100mg. Abilify started to work within 5 weeks. Brilliant. Before this medicine, I was on the verge of suicide. Long may this good feeling last."

• Tdb...
• June 25, 2022

"I must say this drug saved my life. I take 2 milligrams of Abilify with 20 milligrams of Trintellix, and it's been 3 days since starting the Abilify, my depression and anxiety have vanished completely! I am so happy and no longer want to die. Thankful for my doctor for putting me on Abilify!"

• Did...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2023

"After not caring and being so sleepy all the time. Now I beg for husband's attention and actually care when he doesn't touch me as before. I didn't want anything to do with him! I even want to kiss him!"

• Abo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2021

"I have been depressed for at least 52 years. I had tried everything. Nothing really worked beyond the placebo stage. On the first day of Abilify, something was clearly happening. Within a week, I was smiling spontaneously. I had dreaded my impending retirement because of depression. Now, I'm as excited as a five-year-old. A few weeks later, things are only getting better. I'm currently taking 60 mg of Cymbalta, but plan to slowly reduce or eliminate... working with my doctor. I have a feeling that Cymbalta may be all that I need."

• opt...
• July 10, 2009

"At a tiny 1 mg dose, this drug was wonderful for about a month. Instead of having a crazy sleep-till-noon schedule, I started to wake up in the morning on my own. I wasn't as tired, and I got a lot of things done, which alone helped my depression. I was also able to start exercising and eating right without crazy cravings - so I lost about 10 lbs. The doctor increased me to 2.5mg/day, and things really went downhill. I can only sleep for 4-6 hours at a time, so I have to nap twice during the day, and as soon as I take the medicine, I'm so tired I'm basically incapable of driving. I'm cutting back down by half today hoping it was a dosing issue."

• alb...
• January 26, 2010

"Over the years, I have taken a number of different drugs and combinations of drugs for depression. By far, the worst side effects I have ever experienced were associated with Abilify. The muscles in my legs became so stiff that walking anywhere was slow and painful. I felt nauseous all the time and several times experienced acid reflux. There was the constant feeling of needing to move and involuntary jerks of arms and legs. Sometimes, my legs would shake uncontrollably. It took a while for these side effects to subside after coming off the drug. It's really good to see that this drug has helped so many people, but it's not for me!"

• Kwo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2019

"Life changer for me. I am using 2 mg of generic Abilify with 450 mg Wellbutrin and 40 mg Prozac. I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) 12 years ago and my thought process has a major improvement since being on these. I gained 8 lbs but could be from the increase of Prozac from 20 mg to 40 mg given at the same time as Abilify."

• sho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2015

"Taking Abilify greatly improved my mood, anxiety, and depression. However, approximately 2 months into treatment, I started having severe headaches. My face and lips swelled, also experiencing breast tenderness and warmth to the touch. Today I decided to discontinue the medication. Overall, it's a very good medication, I just can't take it."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2022

"I’ve added Abilify 2.5 mg to Zoloft/Sertraline (SSRI), and it has been an absolute game changer for me! I feel alive, my mood is better, I feel happier, my mind isn’t congested, and it’s the only ‘add-on’ medication that’s really lifted my depression. Definitely a morning medication, as it gives me energy."

• nam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2020

"I was on this Abilify for a month or so for depression to enhance my antidepressant, and I had the worst experience. It made me have the most awful night terrors/nightmares, and I started hallucinating, seeing little tiny people run around my room, and I thought they were going to hurt me if I went to sleep. I still don't understand why I was given this as a minor."

• Anonymous
• October 22, 2009

"First dose was 5 mg, it made me so ill I fainted. Second night, took 2.5 mg and it's my ticket! I'm motivated, productive, can think and make decisions. I sleep 7-8 hours, wake up without pain and in the shower by 8 am instead of waiting for 2 pm for fibromyalgia pain to ease. I take it with 30 mg of Cymbalta, I think they complement one another. It's been four weeks and I still feel like I've got a new lease on life. Hope it lasts."

• Tyl...
• March 21, 2014

"Within the first week of treatment, I experienced an odd tightness in my neck. My muscles seemed unusually tense. My doctor assured me that this would, in time, pass, so I continued taking Abilify. Keep in mind, I was on the lowest dose. After two weeks, the muscle tensity dramatically worsened. My head was forcibly pulled to the left by the muscle tightness. I could not look forward or to the right without using my hands to maneuver my head, fighting my own muscles. I was so scared. After two days of enduring the extreme muscle tension, I discontinued Abilify under the instruction of my doctor. Didn't improve depression either."

• Reb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 29, 2023

"I never liked being in a psychosis, but I feel like the side effects from Abilify are worse than any psychosis that I’ve ever experienced: hair loss, nausea, upchucking, constipation to the point of pain. Weight gain, lack of energy, and lower concentration levels. Tardive dyskinesia, higher cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, borderline diabetes. Dizziness and severe muscle pain from the tension that’s associated with taking the medication is very unhealthy. Dementia is in my family, so I’m concerned that I might die from it. But I am not able to tell the doctor because she doesn’t believe me when I tell her the truth and the abuse that I endured in the mental health facilities that I’ve been to. The sneaky, lying personnel that treated me with disrespect was harder to overcome than any abusive man that I ever had a romantic relationship with. And it is terrible that they are treating people in the wrong ways. I just pray for them."

• alr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2014

"By the third day that I have started this medication, I have now begun to experience severe dizziness and horrible headaches. Blurred vision and nausea occur when the dizziness and headaches are at their peak. The side effects are hard to deal with and do not seem to be going away at all, but in fact, seem to intensify."

• Dar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2021

"My husband is 76 years old and has suffered with depression for several years. He was prescribed Abilify a few years ago, 10 mg daily. A few months ago, he presented with Parkinson's-like symptoms (shuffling gait, stone facial expression, stooped, slow walk, and just an overall slowness with movement and speech, also intermittent dizziness). The psychiatrist stopped Abilify immediately 1 month ago. I have noticed some improvement. We have been told these symptoms may or may not go away. His liver and kidney function are normal. Tremors are also evident intermittently. Abilify administration needs careful monitoring by a trained professional. I just wanted this information to be available, it is not for everyone and can have severe, life-changing side effects. Be aware and educated on all meds you are prescribed."

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2016

"Been on Abilify for 7 weeks now, starting at 5 mg and increasing to 10 mg 2 weeks ago. Worked within a day or 2 in that I could function again and has continued to mostly improve my depression although I do still have bad days. I think this is a great drug."