Aripiprazole and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Kds...
• March 2, 2020

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I was on Abilify, and after a rough few weeks, I was great. Unfortunately, due to my insurance, I had to switch to aripiprazole, and that was horrible. I had anxiety, paranoia, and night terrors. I feared losing my job because of the side effects I was experiencing. After reading these reviews, along with others, I know this does not happen to everyone. Although I do believe more people should be made aware if this medication created these side effects. I felt worse than I had in a long time."

• OWE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2017

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "This medication was the worst experience of my life, and I've been through a lot of rubbish. I experienced insomnia, depression, anxiety, and pseudo ME on Abilify. I was on it for 3 months, and I spent my time feeling lobotomized and wanting to give up on life. It took me 3 months to fully get back to my old self, going between depressed and manic. I found a medication that works for me without professional help afterwards."

• Lad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have a hard time starting medications. I’m severely sensitive to them. I experienced extremely high anxiety after the first dosage of 10 mg. However, if you give it time, it really, really does work. It takes about a month to be fully effective. But it has helped my intrusive thoughts and anxiety so much after that month’s period. I have gained a severe amount of weight. However, I really believe my mental health is what’s important right now. I’ve tried coming back, and the thoughts always come rushing back. I still get thoughts every now and again, but I can rationalize them like a “normal” person. I hope all of you find which medication works for you and lasts a lifetime. Much love."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2013

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have only been taking Abilify (along with my Prozac) for 2 days. So far, I have had many ups and downs. I wake up feeling shaky and out of sorts. I have trouble breathing and black out a lot. (I black out anyway, but it has increased). Then I go through a period of anxiety and sweating. A little while later, I go through severe nausea and then extreme fatigue. Between each phase, I feel pretty great, but it's short-lived. I'm going to give it more time, but that's the initial reaction for me."

• Tin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 12, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked wonderfully while on it. Only side effect was huge weight gain. 70 pounds! Decided to come off to lose weight. Tried cold turkey first time (dumb idea and without psychiatrist permission). By day 5, I was suicidal, couldn’t stop hysterically crying, felt confused, psychotic, and unstable. Psych said to take a dose right away, and it helped immediately, so I went back on it. 6 months later, I tapered down from 5 mg to 2.5 mg for a month and felt great, with the exception of diarrhea and daily headaches. Month 2, I stopped taking it altogether. By day 7, I started having uncontrollable obsessive and paranoid thoughts, anxiety, lockjaw, shaky hands, and major headaches still. No sleep issues because I was taking 3 mg of melatonin at night, so that was helping. If you are thinking about taking this medication, please outweigh the possible side effects versus the benefits first. I wish I never started it. It’s a powerful medication and not worth the weight gain or detox process."

• Anonymous
• February 11, 2012

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "Have been taking Abilify for 6 months at 2 mg daily. The first 2 weeks were hard. I couldn't sit still at all, and could not sleep, and my work suffered badly because I couldn't think due to lack of sleep. But I didn't give up because the anger and extreme anxiety I was experiencing disappeared after the first dose! I have gained weight and sometimes cannot control binge eating since I've been on it. Also, it does almost nothing for depression, which still comes and goes, but is easier to deal with since I have much less anxiety symptoms. But I seem to be really paranoid now, and I don't like that. All that being said, I feel way more stable on this than on nothing."

• Day...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2023

"I've been on 9 different meds in 10 years. ADHD and anti-anxiety meds. ADHD meds did nothing, so I stopped. Most SSRIs caused sexual issues. I'm a male. Finally, I found Mirtazapine 45mg had zero sexual side effects and helped me sleep great. It also has increased my libido. But I still got intrusive thoughts, so the specialist started me on Aripiprazole 5mg. It helped quiet down my mind like it just got shut away and it no longer haunts me. Good combo, Mirtazapine and Aripiprazole, saved me completely and had zero sexual side effects. I tried 10mg of Aripiprazole, but it made me jittery, so I'm back on 5mg and feel great. I recommend it."

• Goo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 8, 2022

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have a love/hate relationship with this medication. I don't want to be on it, but what can I say? It actually helps stabilize my moods with the least side effects compared to everything else out there. I think this medication makes me lazy. But after a decade of trial and error, I think my forever med combination is this medication and another for ADHD. In the past, I have had trouble with feeling anxious on this pill, but the other medication I take, Qelbree, helps with this. Another note: This medication really cuts out euphoria. I don't like that. I have yet to experience many 'best moments of life' due to my protracted psychiatric problems, but the few I have had, I think this medication stabilizes moods to where I can't feel those highs anymore. Not happy with that."

• Aly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2017

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I was recently diagnosed with BPD (25 yrs old - Female). I took Abilify for 3 days, unfortunately, I couldn’t handle the side effects. For me, oddly, it intensified my anxiety and feeling of panic. I would constantly get hiccups and the sweats. The worst thing, though, was the itchy feeling of needing to get up and do something or feeling trapped and anxious and needing to run away. It also made me very hungry, and even though I would eat, I wasn’t satisfied. I’m trying Topamax next... we’ll see."

• shr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2022

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "I hoped this medication would work for years before it went generic, but for my illness, it seemed I had a relapse. I took the amount the doctor told me, 15 mg, maybe not the most effective dose, I dunno. I just hoped that's all because when I was on it, I felt like I was taking a Tylenol, no head pain or dry eyes or anxiety, it just felt like a placebo. I would try it again if I run out of options, but for me, I really like my Seroquel, which seems to help me with all my many illnesses in just two pills per day. I took the little rectangle ones."

• Anonymous
• June 19, 2017

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I've been prescribed Abilify and Loxapine for a manic episode on May 19th for slightly more than three weeks. It worked well, but early June I started to feel unable to sit still at some places. Around June 10th I had terrible anxiety and panic attacks, it was pure torture, so back to the institution. Had to wait two days until a doctor showed up, gave me something that stopped it all and removed the two drugs. It might be Loxapine. Fact is, since then, there is another torture: akathisia in the form of wanting to walk all the time. It's been one week now and, thank God, it stops at night. I want to live (I'm not even 20). I pray it stops fast, I've suffered enough. I really hate Abilify or Loxapine."

• Mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2019

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Abilify Maintena for 3 days. I already feel better after being on paliperidone depot, which made me depressed, anxious, and I had had dark thought patterns. Abilify has to be the better medication I've tried. I was diagnosed with bipolar in 2009."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Abilify 2 mg is the first thing my doctor prescribed to me. Taking one pill each evening. For the past week, I’ve noticed that every time I take the medication before bed, the whole night I am tossing and turning, constantly feeling like I need to be on the go, and my dreams have been very weird and giving me anxiety in my sleep. Someone told me to try taking the med in the morning instead of at night. Should I try that? Or try a new medication?"

• Sey...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 9, 2021

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "Was prescribed Abilify to help 'boost' my antidepressants. Have been on it for almost two years. Caused me to gain 50 pounds in 3 months, and even with exercise and dieting, have been unable to lose the weight. Also causes very vivid dreams, and at higher doses, causes feelings of anxiety and paranoia. I strongly suggest you take a genetic test to make sure this medication will work for you before you take this drug."

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

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "DO NOT TAKE IF YOU HAVE ANXIETY. It was a never-ending panic attack. It made my mania worse because of the anxiety and restlessness. It also made me extremely nauseous to the point where eating my favorite foods was a chore. The only positive was that it got me out of my depression that Seroquel put me in and made me feel like a normal human being again. The weight loss was a plus too, considering Seroquel made me gain so much weight."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2021

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "I wish I could tout the glorious benefits of this medication, but I can't. It has made me super tense. As someone struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder - that is totally unacceptable. I was already uptight and too intense! I also feel as though my focus is dull and aggravated. I have zilch interest as far as my mind goes. It has now been at least 9 hours and I am STILL struggling. If you are someone who has to endure tension and stress on a daily basis, I don't think this medication is for you. Hopefully, this will wear off soon. I hope so."

• muh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2017

For Schizophrenia "The first couple of weeks were tough at 30 mg, was overmedicated and experienced severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, which I tried to take care of with Luvox. I felt as if brain activity had slowed to a crawl, just basically really drugged up. I decided to reduce the dose to 20 then 15 mg, worked like a charm. I discontinued SSRIs, and my OCD has not returned. My intelligence is returning gradually. I might just take that final step down to the lowest effective dose to see the changes I need. Overall, the long half-life is a huge help, try starting lower but still therapeutic. It may take a number of months for changes to materialize. Good luck!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2017

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I got extreme manic symptoms after I used Abilify for one month. I feel very anxious and scared about everything. I have an illusion of energy, which leads me to push up double the amount compared to no medication usage, but I feel very weak and have extreme anxiety in the next few days. It increases my distance between up and down emotions very far away, but the distance between up and down emotions should be neutral. After I withdrew all of them carefully with herbal sleeping pills as an alternative, my distant emotions became shorter, which changed to a neutral condition. When my emotions and mood became neutral, my excessive emotional reactions no longer appeared."

• Psy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2022

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "Not effective enough for the long-term, therapeutic management of certain psychoses. I coped well on Aripiprazole or Abilify initially along with an antidepressant, but the benefits soon stopped. I’m now back to square 1 - paranoid, delusional, and horribly depressed and anxious. Some swear by Abilify and its non-sedating, alerting effects. I personally cannot tolerate this med any longer and will be handing it back to my pharmacy."

• Psy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2022

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "Not effective enough for the long-term, therapeutic management of certain psychoses. I coped well on Aripiprazole or Abilify initially along with an antidepressant, but the benefits soon stopped. I’m now back to square 1 - paranoid, delusional, and horribly depressed and anxious. Some swear by Abilify and its non-sedating, alerting effects. I personally cannot tolerate this med any longer and will be handing it back to my pharmacy."

• jim...
• February 17, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Taken for one month now at 2 mg. In the morning along with my venlafaxine 50 mg, morning, 25 mg venlafaxine, around 8 pm, and I take 50 mg Seroquel at bedtime. My conditions are bipolar 2, anxiety, and severe depression. 54-year-old male. I'm finally feeling stable and happy. Hope things keep working well, last year was the worst of my life. Hope you all find a doctor that eases you up on your medications so you can adjust and not be overwhelmed with all the side effects."

• Chr...
• December 2, 2016

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I've been clean for almost 4 years. First time in my life. I got off all these medications because I was so messed up. I had a combination of the diagnoses listed and PTSD. When I detoxed, I was blessed to be in a facility that took me off all of the meds I was taking for all my diagnoses. Replaced it all with exercise, NA meetings, working with my sponsor, my therapist, and talking to my HP every day. The first year, I was so out of it, but I eventually felt so much better. This medication caused me to become manic, have anxiety attacks, my upper abdomen became distended, I became incontinent, and couldn't go poo to save my life. Basically, I went back to Oaklawn and was honest with the psychiatrist I have now, and I told her how hard I was working to not have to go back to having to put this crap in me."

• soo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2020

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I took Abilify for about two months after Zyprexa was making me incredibly sleepy and hungry all the time. After a few weeks, I became unbearably anxious and restless in a way I'd never experienced before and have never experienced since. Switched to Geodon because I couldn't tolerate the extreme anxiety anymore, and Geodon does the trick. Didn't become manic, so I guess it worked, though."

• Jon...
• June 29, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Have endured 10 mg for 9 weeks. It has been a living hell. Can't sleep more than 3-6 hours a night. As time went on, I have felt more agitated and stressed, which never goes away. I keep getting the urge to shake my legs. My symptoms haven't improved. I'm not taking any more of this drug - had enough. My pdoc gave me some clonazepam for 3 weeks, which helped a bit, then 2 weeks of melatonin, which didn't do much. Now for the last 2 weeks, she has ignored me. I don't tolerate psychotropics that well."

• Dru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2021

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I was on 0.5 mg of Abilify for two weeks. I couldn't stay still, couldn't sleep, couldn't smell food without getting sick to my stomach. I feel like I have to be doing something constantly. I get bad shakes all the time. I couldn't even eat, I lost weight, I only weighed 118 lbs to begin with. I was nauseous, I had to take nausea medication for something. I was in a constant state of anxiousness, and it was horrible. I'm glad it has worked well for other people, but this just wasn't for me. I'm off of it, and it took me a month to get out of my system. My psychiatrist changed me to Latuda 40 mg at night, and I have my life back. It took about two to three weeks for me to see the changes, but they did come. I enjoy everyday life now, I feel normal now. Your doctor can give you a coupon to pay no more than $15.00. I am on Latuda 40 mg at night and Klonopin 0.5 twice a day or as needed. No side effects."