How long do Abilify withdrawal symptoms last?

Abilify withdrawal symptoms last different lengths of time for each person. Some people may experience withdrawal symptoms for 2 weeks or less, while others have reported that they persisted for years. More research is needed to understand the duration of withdrawal from antipsychotic medications like Abilify (aripiprazole), and what influences the amount of time it takes to feel better.

If you need to stop Abilify, consult your healthcare provider first. They may recommend slowly lowering the dose over weeks or months before completely stopping the medication to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

When do withdrawal symptoms from Abilify occur?

You may experience withdrawal symptoms within a few days of stopping Abilify. If you develop bothersome withdrawal symptoms after stopping the medication, contact your healthcare provider. They might need to restart your medication and slowly lower your dose so that you can stop it without these symptoms.

Can Abilify withdrawal cause psychosis?

When stopping Abilify abruptly, you can experience new or a relapse of psychotic symptoms. However, this is less likely compared to other antipsychotics with shorter half-lives.

One reason why psychosis might happen after stopping an antipsychotic like Abilify is because of changes that happen in the brain. Antipsychotics block dopamine, causing the brain to become more sensitive to dopamine over time. When the antipsychotic is stopped all of a sudden, the brain becomes overwhelmed with dopamine. This leads to psychosis.

Another reason for experiencing psychosis is that the symptoms of your underlying condition (e.g., schizophrenia) can worsen once you stop treatment.

Other withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Nausea
• Tremors
• Nervousness
• Headache
• Agitation
• Sleep problems
• Sweating
• Mood swings
• Movement problems
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Aggressive behavior
• Suicidal thoughts

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How long before Abilify is out of your system?

It can take a long time before Abilify is fully out of your system. For the oral formulations, the half life is around 75 hours. This means it may take a little over 2 weeks for it to leave the body for most people.

If you are taking a long-acting injection form once a month, the half life is 46 days and it can take about 10 days for your body to clear all of the medication.

The amount of time it takes for Abilify to leave your system can depend on your health conditions and other medications you are taking. Follow up with your healthcare professional to learn more.

How do I treat Abilify withdrawal symptoms?

In some cases, you may be able to monitor withdrawal symptoms from Abilify at home until they subside. If your symptoms are more severe, your healthcare provider may restart the medication and slowly lower your dose over time to help you feel better.

How to avoid Abilify withdrawal symptoms?

The best way to avoid Abilify withdrawal symptoms is to not stop taking the medication abruptly. Instead, work with your healthcare provider to slower taper down your dose. They will monitor how each dose reduction affects you, and adjust your dose accordingly.

This is not all the information you need to know about Abilify (aripiprazole) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.