Abilify Patient Tips

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 7, 2025.

1. How it works

• Abilify is used to treat schizophrenia, manic and mixed episodes associated with Bipolar disorder, Tourette's Disorder, irritability associated with Autistic disorder, or for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder. It is a brand name for aripiprazole.
• Experts aren't sure exactly how Abilify (aripiprazole) works to relieve the symptoms of schizophrenia or other conditions, but suggest it may partially activate dopamine 2 and serotonin 1A receptors and block serotonin 2A receptors. It does appear to have some activity at other receptors, which may account for its side effects (for example its tendency to cause low blood pressure on standing may be due to its blocking effect on adrenergic alpha1 receptors).
• Abilify belongs to drug class called atypical antipsychotics. Atypical means it is less likely than older antipsychotics to cause side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). EPS are drug-induced movement disorders and include tremors, Parkinson-like symptoms (walking with a shuffle, mask-like facial features), and tardive dyskinesia (this describes abnormal, repetitive facial movements such as lip-smacking or poking the tongue out).

2. Upsides

• Used to relieve symptoms of psychosis and agitation associated with schizophrenia and manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder.
• Used in addition to other medications to treat major depreesive disorder (MDD, severe depression).
• Used to reduce irritability associated with autistic disorder. The dosage range in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years is 5 to 15 mg/day.
• Reduces tic severity in Tourette's syndrome. The recommended dosage in children is 5 to 20 mg/day starting at 2 mg/day and increasing slowly over at least a week.
• Available as a tablet, an orally disintegrating tablet, an oral solution, and an extended-release intramuscular (IM) injection. The IM injection is approved for the treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania.
• The recommended starting dosage is 10-15 mg/day for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Dosages up to 30 mg/day have been used; however, they are not any more effective than 10-15 mg/day. Allow at least 2 weeks between dosage increases.
• May be used in adolescent patients with schizophrenia, aged 13 to 17 years. The recommended target dose is 10 mg/day.
• May be given with or without food.
• Available in six tablet strengths: 2 mg, 5mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg.
• Orally disintegrating tablets are available in 10 mg and 15 mg strengths. The oral solution is 1mg/mL.
• The dosage of the oral solution can be substituted for the tablets on an mg per mg basis up to 25mg. For people receiving 30 mg tablets, substitute 25 mg (25 mL) of solution.
• Abilify MyCite has an ingestable sensor embedded in the pill that records if people have taken their dose or not.
• Generic aripiprazole is available.

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

• Akathisia (an inner restlessness), sedation, headache, insomnia, agitation, anxiety, nausea, and tremors. Other reasonably common side effects include constipation, vomiting, dry mouth, stomach upsets, and extrapyramidal symptoms (such as restlessness, tremor, and uncontrolled muscle contractions). May also cause difficulty when swallowing.
• Should not be used for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis in elderly people as associated with a higher risk of death.
• If being used as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of depression, monitor for worsening depression, agitation, or mood changes. May increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in young adults (similar to other antidepressants and antipsychotics).
• May cause a drop in blood pressure on standing, particularly during the initial dose-titration period; dosage may need reducing. May not be suitable for people with cardiovascular disease (history of a heart attack, angina, heart failure, or arrhythmia), stroke, seizure disorders, and people at risk of dehydration.
• A dosage reduction is required in people who are known CYP2D6 poor metabolizers; administer half the usual dosage.
• Blood levels may need monitoring as Abilify can cause the numbers of white blood cells to decrease.
• May increase blood sugar levels. People with a history of diabetes or at risk of diabetes should be monitored closely. Less likely than some other antipsychotics to cause undesirable changes in blood cholesterol and lipid levels or to cause weight gain.
• Potentially irreversible tardive dyskinesia can develop, even with low dosages used short term. Symptoms include facial grimacing, repetitive chewing, and tongue thrusting.
• Rarely, may cause Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome; symptoms include high body temperature, muscle rigidity, and mental disturbances; discontinue immediately and seek urgent medical advice.
• May interact with several drugs, including benzodiazepines, carbamazepine, fluoxetine, and itraconazole. See prescribing information for a full list of interactions.

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Abilify is an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, manic and mixed episodes associated with Bipolar disorder, Tourette's Disorder, irritability associated with Autistic disorder, or for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder. It is a brand name for aripiprazole. Abilify is less likely than some other antipsychotics to cause weight gain.

5. Tips

• May be administered with or without food.
• Take only as directed by your doctor. Do not increase the dosage without your doctor's advice.
• Abilify is available as oral tablets, orally-disintegrating tablets, and an oral solution. Disintegrating tablets should not be removed from their blister until ready to administer. Dry hands should be used to peel back the foil on the blister rather than attempting to pop the tablet through the foil. The tablet should then be placed on the tongue. May be taken with or without liquid, but do not attempt to split the tablet.
• May cause sedation or impair judgment skills and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcohol.
• Avoid overheating and dehydration.
• Seek urgent medical advice if you develop uncontrolled body movements, confusion, high fever, lightheadedness, fainting, seizures, problems controlling your body temperature, or difficulty swallowing.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before buying other medications over the counter to check that they are compatible with Abilify.

6. Response and effectiveness

• Peak blood levels are reached within three to five hours of taking oral Abilify. Abilify's effects are long-lasting, so Abilify is usually taken once daily.
• May take up to two weeks to achieve stable blood concentrations.
• Target dosages of 10-15mg per day of Abilify are recommended for schizophrenia; dosages above 15 mg/day are not more effective than 15 mg/day.
• Dosage reductions may be needed for people known to be poor metabolizers of drugs like Abilify, or in people taking other medications known to interfere with the hepatic enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. Conversely, a dosage increase of Abilify may be needed when given with medications that induce CYP3A4.

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with Abilify may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Abilify. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Common medications that may interact with Abilify include:

• anti-anxiety medications, including other benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and oxazepam
• anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin
• antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline
• antifungals, such as itraconazole or ketoconazole
• antihistamines that cause sedation, such as diphenhydramine
• bupropion
• CYP2D6 strong inhibitors (such as bupropion, fluoxetine, paroxetine, quinidine, or terbinafine. Administer half the usual dosage
• CYP3A4 strong inhibitors (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, diltiazem, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir, verapamil, goldenseal, or grapefruit). Administer half the usual dosage
• CYP3A4 strong inducers (such as carbamazepine or rifampin). Double the usual dosage over 1 to 2 weeks
• duloxetine
• HIV medications such as indinavir and ritonavir
• ipratropium
• grapefruit juice and products
• lithium
• methylphenidate
• migraine treatments, such as rizatriptan and sumatriptan
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as selegiline, isocarboxazid, or phenelzine
• opioid analgesics such as oxycodone and morphine
• muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine
• quinidine
• serotonin modulators, such as nefazodone and trazodone
• sleeping pills, such as zolpidem
• some chemotherapy treatments
• some heart medications, such as doxazosin and prazosin

• other medications used to treat mental illness, such as clozapine and thioridazine.

• For known CYP2D6-poor metabolizers who are taking concomitant strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as itraconazole or clarithromycin) administer one-quarter of the usual dosage.

Alcohol may worsen the side effects of Abilify such as drowsiness, dizziness, and liver toxicity.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with Abilify. You should refer to the prescribing information for Abilify for a complete list of interactions.

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Frequently asked questions

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Abilify only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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