Skip to main content

What is the half life of Abilify?

Medically reviewed by Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD. Last updated on Sep 19, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

The half-life of Abilify (aripiprazole) depends on factors such as your genetics, health conditions, and the formulation you are taking. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for a medication to reach 50% of its maximum concentration in your bloodstream.

  • Abilify (aripiprazole) tablet, oral solution, orally disintegrating tablet: 75 hours
  • Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole) extended-release injection: 29.9 days (300 mg every 4 weeks) and 46.5 days (400 mg every 4 weeks)
  • Abilify Asimtufii (aripiprazole) extended-release injection: 29.4 days

How long does Abilify stay in your system?

The amount of time that Abilify stays in your system is based on the half-life of the specific formulation you are taking. It can also depend on how quickly your liver breaks down the medication, which is based on your genetics. In general, it takes about 15 days for the oral forms of Abilify to leave your body completely. For the injections, it can take between 5 and 8 months until all of the medication is gone.

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.

References

Abilify [package insert]. (Updated November 2022). Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Accessed July 19, 2024 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c040bd1d-45b7-49f2-93ea-aed7220b30ac

Abilify Asimtufii [package insert]. (Updated January 2024). Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Accessed July 19, 2024 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=da4c07fd-1130-4341-bb44-63acfa4162be

Abilify Maintena [package insert]. (Updated February 2024). Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Accessed July 19, 2024 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ee49f3b1-1650-47ff-9fb1-ea53fe0b92b6

Wang, Y., et. al. (2024). Population Pharmacokinetics and Dosing Simulations for Aripiprazole 2-Month Ready-to-Use Long-Acting Injectable in Adult Patients With Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder. In: Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpdd.1397

Read next

Does Abilify cause weight gain?

Although Abilify (aripiprazole) has been found to cause less weight gain than other atypical antipsychotics, there is evidence that in certain people it can cause significant weight gain and it may be more likely to cause weight gain in people who are taking it for depression alongside other antidepressants. Side effects such as weight gain may be significant enough for some people to discontinue Abilify, even when it is working well to manage symptoms. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

What antidepressants are usually taken with Abilify?

Abilify (aripiprazole) is sometimes used in conjunction with antidepressants to augment their effects, particularly in cases where the antidepressant alone isn't fully effective. Examples include SSRIs, SNRIs, and bupropion. Before taking Abilify with other medications, it is important to consider potential drug interactions. Continue reading

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups