Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Madonna
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2021

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I was prescribed 2mg of Abilify to take for being diagnosed with bipolar depression. I started with half the tablet in the morning and omg! I felt sleepy the first day and somewhat disoriented. I felt that anxious feeling you get with new meds hours later. At night, lights were so bright to me and it also gave me insomnia. Second and third days were worse with side effects. I almost dialled 911. I was perspiring, felt lightheaded and extremely weak. It made me feel paranoid. Had a panic attack and the rest of the day, I felt as if I drank 6 cups of coffee. Never again! Bye Abilify!"

• crjua...
• March 14, 2015

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Abilify changed my life. There is hope. I was on Zoloft and Clonidine when I first started Abilify at the age of 15.. Zoloft for depression and Clondine to manage my complete rage. My moods were out of control. I was depressed and hopeless one second and then mean, irrational, and full of rage the next. My Dr. prescribed me 2mg of Abilify and from that point on I feel like I have been cured though I know I'm not.. Bi-polar disorder is a constant battle. I know Abilify works for me because I have tried to get off it and lost complete control over my emotions. Went back on it and I was golden again. I am on 5mg 2x daily. I am now 21 and better than I have ever been in the past. Only side effect is I like to eat a lot."

• Charlie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2021

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Abilify was horrible to me. Very soon after starting medication started to experience blurred vision, extreme nausea & vomiting, unable to sleep, headaches. Dose: 2.5mg Diagnosis: Bipolar disorder & CPTSD"

• Mandie
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 8, 2023

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Abilify has saved my life. I have bipolar II, and the depression I felt was so debilitating. Within a few weeks of taking Abilify, I felt more stable, and I don't know where I'd be without it. I was previously on Zyprexa, which sucked the life out of me, but the Abilify has allowed me to breathe life back into myself again! Mild side effects upon first starting but other than that, it's been nothing but positive!!"

• NHelm
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2016

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Abilify is the only antipsychotic that works for me. The extreme hunger, lethargy, restlessness, and memory problems I had on other antipsychotics are nonexistent with abilify. I was in the middle of a severe depressive episode when I took it and it only took several weeks for me to be back to normal functioning. I sleep better, have more energy, and fewer mood swings. This medication is great. I find that it is more "activating" while other drugs in the same class like Zyprexa are more "tranquilizing.""

• Tallula...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2018

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I was started on Abilify as a mood stabilizer for Bipolar I manic episodes . I was afraid to take it at first (as I am with all meds), but I took 1/4 of the pill days 1-2. Felt no I’ll effects except tiredness. Took 1/2 pill for 2 weeks. Noticed immediately my mood levelled out. Still made me tired at night. Groggy in the morning but wore off as the day went on. Now, on a whole 5mg and so far it has been wonderful! I feel so much happier and levelled off with my moods. I feel normal. It’s fantastic! It still makes me tired when I first take it at night (so I can sleep finally), but the early morning grogginess is much better. Used to last all morning. Now lasts maybe an hour. Love it!!"

• Baby...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2019

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I have a mood disorder and an anxiety disorder. I’ve been taking Zoloft for ~3 years, and although it helped with anxiety, it didn’t touch my intense mood swings. After a very bad mood swing that almost broke up my 7 year relationship, I sought help. My psychiatrist put me on Lamictal first, and it gave me hives. Then we tried trileptal, and the GI side effects were unbearable after 2 weeks. Finally she put me on Abilify and so far it has been great. I’ve been on 2 mg of Abilify (with 50 mg Zoloft) for a week and there have been almost no side effects. I was warned there might be dry mouth or excessive sweating but I’ve been fine. It did cause me to wake up 7-8 times during the night, but I switched to taking it in the morning and now I sleep like a baby again! It has only been a week but I’m starting to feel a difference: I have more energy and I feel more in control of my moods "

• Wilmar
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2018

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I felt like a different person. I felt weird, socially with drawn, and introverted. I had fogginess in the back of my head. I had no appetite or sex drive. I had shaky legs and hands. I was up all night. I would have times where my eyes were out of focus and I couldn’t see straight. Please do not take this medication. Everybody is different but my experience was horrible. As I stopped taking it, these side effects are going away. I couldn’t function or do simple tasks."

• Sue
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 3, 2023

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Abilify keeps me stable. Period. Awesome med with side effects for me though. Went through 15 years and 12 hospitalizations trying different meds. Finally put on Abilify and have been mostly stable for 15 more. When I can’t think well, my dosage increases. I have a cycle though, I get tremors that are severe on higher dosages then try another antipsychotic. I eventually go back to Abilify at a lower dose because it is the best for me by far. Even though it has side effects the results are well worth it."

• brink...
• April 4, 2012

Abilify (aripiprazole) "This medicine works well for me and I tried a lot of medicines. It's a little pill, does a lot. People have said I seem much better and have my personality back (I was on lithium, made me like a zombie). Hardly any side effects. I take it with Lamictal. A "

• saman...
• November 15, 2013

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Today is my first day taking the medication and within two hours I am ready to pass out. I feel so sleepy and its not really "regulating" my moods. In fact, I'm more aggravated than usual and going off on everybody. I also feel slightly nauseous and dizzy."

• Whaddup
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2019

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I was prescribed Abilify after experiencing a 3-4 month long hypomanic episode. I was on Lamictal 100mg but that wasn’t helping alone so my psychiatrist decided to add in Abilify. She also said it would help with the mild paranoid thoughts I was having. This was a horrible medication for me personally. It may work for other people, but it wasn’t for me. It made me flat and I didn’t care about anything anymore. I wasn’t depressed on it, I just didn’t care about anything. Even the people around me commented on how apathetic I had become. It made my fears of psychiatric medications come true. I lost my personality, passion, and energy. I am off of it now, and feel way better. I think it served its purpose of getting me out of my hypomanic episode, which is why I gave it a 4-star rating, but I couldn’t see being on this medication long-term."

• Voo
• June 21, 2008

Abilify (aripiprazole) "This is a good antipsychotic and does well for bipolar disorder. I was on 20mg per day when I suffered a severe manic episode, so it is possible to have episodes while on the medication, but I should point out that I was not taking it every day as I was supposed to. The only side effects I get from this are restlessness, anxiety and slight tremors."

• taysh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2018

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I will love to share My experience with this medication. I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder with major mood swings affecting my daily life such as work. I tried Abilify 10 mg and it make me feel like the living dead, no energy feeling tired and really bad increase of anxiety and feeling paranoid. I was then lowered the dosage to 5mg, however is still make me tired and increased of anxiety. My physician does not want to take me off of it. I really do not wish to proceed with this medication. I stopped taking it without letting my doctor know. I really hope to tried something else Thanks"

• Jules
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 21, 2019

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I was on this for over 3 years. To start with I thought it was working, the last year I had a racing head and high anxiety. Was discharged from psych so had to fight to get seen again to change medication. Realised a few months after coming off it that my finances had changed shortly after starting Abilify and not in a good way. I was never in debt before Abilify. I am 37 too. I’m in a lot of debt because of Abilify because I started taking out loans shortly after starting it amongst other things. Have since read that the FDA made the manufacturing company to list compulsive shopping, compulsive gambling and other excessive behaviours etc as a side effect in May 2016. I started it in August 2015 so was unaware when I researched this medication when I first went on it. No Dr made me aware of this side effect at any point. Please note I have been manic prior to this medication and had never taken out credit or borrowed money."

• Anonymous
• August 28, 2008

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Abilify has been useful to me in terms of sleep and improving my insomnia, but I still have to be treated with a mood stabilizer, like Lithium, in order to keep my bipolar episodes under control. The good news is that it did not cause (I was at 10MG daily) weight gain like Zyprexa. Good luck to all of you!"

• Blueszz
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 17, 2017

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Excellent. Depression lifted fast. Stabilizes my mood very well, as a bonus I spontaneously los 55 lbs! All that weight came from Seroquel and Zyprexa. Con, has a negative effect on sleep, I need melatonin to be able to sleep. Also my blood pressure is suddenly a lot lower, 102/63 causing some light headedness during the day. It's however the first med that is able to stabilize my mood very well with very acceptable side effects."

• JKW
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2022

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Prescribed two weeks ago, 2.5 mg to start and I've been at 5 mg the last four days. I've really felt it since the increase and general early impression is: this stuff is great! A few side effects: moderate bathroom issues , a slight hand tremor now and then and - worst to me - so far my libido has been flattened. Can I give up my sex life for a luxury like mental health? Hope not but might be necessary so I don't end up in the news; the rage monster will always be there but this could really help. The GOOD effects are good: mild euphoria, a real-feeling contentment, I want to be social again, a willingness bordering on pleasure in mundane tasks. My house and garden have not been this tidy in years - love it! Final notes: I have bipolar II and I've been on 200mg of lamotrigine for six years now; it's great but was becoming less effective so my doc just added the generic Abilify. I'll revisit this review after I've been on it for a while but so far, pretty good"

• Noctu...
• November 12, 2014

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I'm a 21 year old female and just diagnosed with Bipolar I. It's been a roller coaster ride especially after gaining 10 pounds in the hospital while taking risperidone and Depakote. I'm still on the Depakote, though I hope to discontinue it as soon as my psychiatrist allows, but I just switched to Abilify. I've got to say, so far I have no complaints. With risperidone I had no "lid" to my hunger. It was endless, and that was quite disappointing. There were many other side effects, but the weight gain has added to my self loathing. Though the painful heart dysrhythmias are a close second. I'm hoping that Abilify makes it possible for me to curb my appetite back to what it used to be as I exercise the 30 pounds I don't need away."

• Anonymous
• October 10, 2008

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I have been on this for 2 weeks (only 4 mg). I have energy again and do not feel so sleepy during the day. I am still taking seroquel at night- 100mg to sleep. Side effects are constipation and restlessness. I am now excercising again and able to drop the weight I had gained while on higher doses of seroquel."

• Rachel
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 27, 2021

Abilify (aripiprazole) "Instead of helping my depression, I felt trapped in it, unable to say how I truly felt. Unable to move out of that feeling, yet unable to fully feel it either. My irritability became worse overall. I would have even bigger breakdowns over even smaller things. The frequency was slightly less, the incidents were more severe. I developed tardive dyskinsia, and pseudo parkinsons after long term use. I gained over 100 lbs on this medication, 60 of which happened in the first 5 months. My dietary habits did not change in this time. My sleep and exercise was effected. Previous to abilify, I was very active and loved to walk and ride my bike. While on abilify, I became listless and disinterested in physical activities. My poor sleep became worse, and abilify created insomnia in me, which I then needed more medications for. The I began having memory and attention issues while on abilify, so I was prescribed adderall to help me concentrate. All of this, and I am better off meds."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2019

Abilify (aripiprazole) " I am on the 400 mg Abilify injection and I am miserable! My pdoc is the worst. She does not listen to anything I have to say about the drug regarding side effects. I am having muscle spasms as I am typing right now. I also have dry mouth, constipation, depression and agitation. I had this doctor with tunnel vision ten years ago you think I would have learned my lesson, but I do have an appointment on the 18th with a new proc thank god!!!! God help us all!!!"

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2021

Abilify (aripiprazole) "This med wasn’t good for me. It made my anxiety really bad, to the point where I couldn’t even leave my house. I became lightheaded and dizzy and wound up in the hospital because of it. I am currently on zyprexa to fix what the abilify has done to me. This was my experience which may not be the experience you have. Good luck."

• Jengar
• January 31, 2018

Abilify (aripiprazole) "I've suffered from Bipolar 2 and GAD and ADD for 15 yrs now. I take Lamictal, Effexor XR, Abilify and Adderall. Not until I started Abilify 3 weeks ago have I had any improvement with energy levels and depression. I have treatment resistant depression and my anxiety causes me to not be able to work and I barely want to leave the house. But since starting Abilify, I feel almost fantastic. I wake up early ready to start my day. And I've never been a morning person. I'm more positive about my life and I am even thinking about getting a job. I haven't worked in 6 years. But I do have problems staying asleep . I mean, its 3:06am and I am wide awake writing this. So yeah, restless sleep. And the sexual side effects aren't good. Total lack of interest which is difficult when you're in a relationship. But I'm not willing to stop this medication.The good far outweighs the bad in so so many ways. Good luck to all and give this med a try"

• Loulou
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 13, 2019

Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole) "Starting in 2003 I have had problems. By 2009 it increased and my family finally took it serious when I tried to jump out of my mother's vehicle. 2012 I saw a new psychiatrist who finally got me stable on Abilify Maintena 400mg dose. It has been a miracle drug for me. Side effects suck but I can deal with the weight gain I guess. To counteract the fatigue I also take nuvugil and vyvance which I can sleep through these drugs that is how strong the fatigue is. But I am functional, happy, and no crazy wild thoughts. If I do have them they are not as strong and I tend to just shrug them off. I can tell the shot is working because at the end of the month I start getting irritable and sad and immediately when I take it I feel better. Oddly enough I cannot take abilify by pill form because it causes akathesia. I have tried every psychiatric drug there is and nothing has gotten me to where I am today expect Abilify Maintena"