Abilify for Depression User Reviews

• Raven...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2021

"I can't believe after trying 4 meds, recovering from 4 disorders during my 10 years of depression, I finally feel free. I never thought Abilify 5mg would be the one. (Although trying 5mg was the worst, so I went from 1mg to 5mg). I suffer from dysthymia (with major depressive episodes), GAD, social anxiety, OCD, hypochondria, and I'm also autistic. Everything has gotten better. I fall asleep at 10 pm and then wake up at 9 am, refreshed and ready for the day. All my suicidal thoughts are gone. My irritability, partly due to my autism, is almost gone. I feel like I have a future. I feel like my life isn't just something to survive but something to live. I love hanging out with people. I have energy to do things. I like my hobbies. I can't believe it. You're gonna read horror stories about this drug - don't let them discourage you. It may not work for you, but it almost didn't for me, and look where the drug got me. I can't even say I have my life back only because I've never had a life so good like this before."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2021

"Truly life-saving. Tortured by intrusive, ruminating, depressive, and anxious thinking. Abilify 5mg is the magic bullet that I didn't think existed. Return of calm peace of mind. Off all other meds. No side effects."

• Summer
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 17, 2019

"I didn't want to go on Abilify, but decided to try it because my depression was extremely hard to live with. My ugly thoughts went away and I quit stress eating. I feel I have control over my life. It has saved me."

• Nat
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2019

"Abilify has changed my life in less than a week. My anxiety and depression are gone. For months, I suffered from consistent panic attacks, depressive episodes, crying spells. I had to drop out of college. This in combination with Cymbalta has literally improved everything in days. My sex drive is back, my relationship is wonderful, I am smiling, laughing, and happy all the time. I don’t have anxiety about little things anymore. I carry Ativan on me for anxiety and panic and was taking it every single day, and since I started Abilify, I haven’t taken it once. I am so grateful for this drug. Tonight, I’ll be starting on 2 mg instead of 1 (I’m a small person) to see if I can get even better."

• Mozi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2021

"Gotta admit I was on the fence about even trying this drug. I have taken 20mg Lexapro, 300mg Bupropion, and Adderall for 15+ years. Experimented with reducing my meds to see if I still needed them a year ago, then my life fell apart due to circumstance. The combination put me into a major depressive episode (one of four in my life). Going to full dosage helped but was still in bad shape after, back on for several months. Adding just 2 mg of Abilify has made a shockingly noticeable positive difference in a couple of days, and now that it's been a week, it's even better. I may not even increase to 5 as I was planning. My recommendation - if you're unsure - give it a try and see. It has made a big positive change for me. Good luck."

• Maggie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2019

"I am very happy with Abilify. My doctor added 2 mg on top of the 20 mg Lexapro. I have been very depressed after my husband passed away 2 years ago. This past January, I noticed more and more I wouldn't get out of bed or I would come home from work and just sleep. I hated everything and had an 'I don't care' attitude. I sobbed all the time and I was starting to miss work. With Abilify, I woke up and feel very happy. I am alert and life seems normal again! I know everyone is different but for me it works!"

• teeno
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2021

"Wow! For me, this medication is amazing! Already, it has changed my life! My boyfriend said I am completely different. I feel happy now! Before, I was very depressed and it was getting so bad that I was getting very angry and lashing out at people and being threatening... So that's originally why I was prescribed this medication. I also take an antidepressant. But wow, it has helped so much more than my anger. I don't feel depressed anymore and I actually want to live. I am so happy! 10/10!!!!"

• Athena
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2019

"I have been using Abilify for a month due to depression and suicidal thoughts. This drug has turned things around for me. I no longer get suicidal urges and I feel better and have a more positive outlook. I have lost nearly 10 lbs in a month because it has majorly suppressed my appetite. It does on occasion interfere with my sleep. It also does make me antsy and restless, as if I always have to be doing something. But that has been somewhat of a good thing because my focus has increased and now I can stay on task and see things through more so than before. I am so glad this medicine is working for me."

• Rodisms
• November 25, 2014

"Abilify has worked wonders for me. I told my doctor that I just didn't seem to care if I did things or not, and that things just didn't bother me enough to make me want to fix them. She gave me Abilify and even though I had my doubts that anything would work, 3 days after starting taking them, I found myself not wanting to stay still long enough to watch a whole TV show, because I felt there were better things I could be doing. I have been cleaning, rearranging, and packing away things every day since it took effect. I have never been one to want to do stuff. I would do what needed to be done, but nothing more. Now, I just want to do it all. Love this stuff."

• Liv
• March 11, 2019

"I cannot express how much Abilify has already changed my life, and it has only been a week. I feel reborn. Before being prescribed this med, I felt hopeless, depressed, and my anxiety was terrible. I thought I could never be happy, but I already feel like a new person. I see sunshine and look at life totally differently."

• Regina
• September 7, 2016

"I read these reviews for over a month before even taking these meds. I will say this, you just have to go for it. Best decision I've made in a VERY long time. Abilify has helped me in so many ways! I was at my lowest point. I was severely depressed. I've been taking this medication for over a month & hands down I feel great. Yes, I still have my days but they are for sure getting better. All I want to say is do NOT let what other people say stop you from getting better. Try it for at least 6 wks & judge for yourself. At this point weight gain is welcomed for me. I lost so much weight I'd like to gain at least 30 lbs. I am just happy to feel 'NORMAL' again. I hope all of you get better. Stay Strong & never give up. Stay Blessed"

• Exdan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 9, 2021

"I've had Abilify added to my antidepressants for several years now, and it really helps. This month, it was suggested I try stopping the Abilify, and I've slowly become terribly depressed again. I'm still on my antidepressants but feel sad, tearful, like a lonely and lost soul. I'm going to restart it ASAP along with my antidepressants."

• Happy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2019

"I've only been taking Abilify (added to Venlafaxine) for 16 days, but I LOVE it. I can't believe the difference it's made to my depression. I haven't felt this normal in YEARS!!! I'm actually happy again, I want to get out of bed and start my day, I want to do things instead of just laying in bed all the time. Obviously, everyone reacts to medication differently, but my appetite is actually less. I am losing weight. I actually go to sleep at night; now I only need 5-6 hours of sleep, and I'm good to go, ready to start the day. Maybe this is why I sleep at night now. Lol! I don't know, and I don't care, I'm just so happy my doctor recommended this medication. I hope things don't change. I don't have insurance, but with a coupon, it was only $30."

• Catat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2020

"This is a very motivating medication. I get out of bed and am motivated to make the most of my day. It is like a miracle for me. I was switched over to the generic, Aripiprazole, and felt about half of the effect. Even though my doctor moved my prescription up to 5mg, it still does not work like the original. The generic is not the same."

• Echrapy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2019

"My life has changed so much for the better, I am myself again! I highly recommend this medication. I suffer from ADD, depression, and I take sertraline along with the generic form of Abilify. I noticed a difference after the first week. Stick to it, people. I promise you, you're missing out on a great life here."

• Morgan
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2018

"I have ADHD and treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder. I have tried just about every medication to treat my depression and nothing worked for the past 15 years. This year, my doctor prescribed me 5 mg of Abilify to add with Vyvanse and Wellbutrin. I can say for the first time in my life, I'm not depressed. I have never felt this happy before. I'm not used to being happy and keep waiting for something bad to happen and relapse, but day by day passes, and I still feel AMAZING!"

• Stanley
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2019

"My primary diagnosis is OCD with anxiety, but for the last six months, I've been in a deep depressive episode, consumed by intrusive thoughts and hopelessness. Note: I was not on any medication at the time. My psych suggested that I try Abilify, taken alone. I was highly skeptical of it working, especially at such a low dose (2 mg). However, on day three, it was like someone had flipped a switch in my brain and suddenly I was able to see the positive or neutral side of things, not just the negative. I didn't realize just how depressed I had been until this medication helped lift me up. My OCD symptoms are still there, but my improved mood allows for me to handle them much better. No weight gain so far. Decreased appetite. Mild insomnia that seems to be fading after two weeks. Some increased desire to shop, but I'm trying to be conscious of and stop any impulses."

• Sonny
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2020

"I was on Abilify a grand total of 10 days before I had to stop. It’s hard to describe how anxious/claustrophobic/panicky/nauseous I felt in that short about of time. My suicidal thoughts spiked due to the intensity of the fever dream-like delirium. It felt like I was trapped on a roller coaster inside my own head, nauseous and ready to hurl, yet I couldn’t get off. I guess you could say my depression subsided, but that’s because my mind simply couldn’t focus on anything besides how horrendous I felt. I’ve only ever suffered from anxiety and depression, but abilify made me feel truly psychotic."

• Stephen
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2020

"Been on Abilify 7.5 mg in conjunction with Cymbalta and Lamictal, and boy has it made a difference in my mood. I've had major unipolar depression over the years, and am in the process of recovering from a severe episode. I am able to function so much better in life. No apparent side effects from Abilify either."

• Texas...
• January 10, 2016

"I've been suffering with debilitating depression, anxiety, and OCD for over 20 years. I was in remission for 8 years, but this time it came back with a vengeance! I was really losing hope. I have tried every single antidepressant out there, and the ones that worked very well before don't work anymore. I've been on a rollercoaster and fighting for over 7 years to get my life back. It's been a living hell. I could hardly get out of bed, taking a shower was too much, even putting my seatbelt on seemed like a chore. If you have ever suffered, you know what I'm talking about! I was put on Abilify to help with my Effexor just three days ago and I already feel like I can conquer the world... I just pray it lasts!"

• Johnson
• June 26, 2014

"I was really hesitant to take Abilify after being on Zoloft and later Wellbutrin without noticing effects, but I did anyways and within a few days, I started noticing effects. I feel surprisingly good now. I find myself doing chores like washing dishes or my laundry and realize that usually I would just slump around saying 'I'll do it tomorrow' until I'm nearly out of clean clothes or dishes. I find myself singing to songs on the radio and my mood is not only noticeably better, but remarkably and incredibly better. I haven't noticed any side effects except maybe that I'm a bit hungrier than usual - for instance, I'll feel hungry and get a meal but not be able to finish it. So far, excellent results. Only about 2 weeks in."

• Bugge
• February 28, 2014

"I have treatment-resistant major depression. I was already on Zoloft 200mg and Wellbutrin 300mg. Still cried all the time and had the sense of despair. Started Abilify 2mg, and now I don't cry for no reason, and the sense of despair has been much less often. Also, it got rid of my anxiety almost completely. At first, I had major gas, but that went away. I also sweated like crazy, and that has gone away. I would probably be dead if I didn't have this medicine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2014

"This medication has been fantastic. My depression was pretty significant as there was nothing I wanted to do anymore other than go to sleep at night. I felt like my life was gone. Someone took it. After seeing the reviews on here, I started taking Abilify (10 mg) and it works fantastic. I started to notice a difference on the second day and I have now been on it for three weeks. I feel great. I feel like my life is back and I want to do things again. It does make you sleepy so I take it at night before I go to bed. I had a very slight increase in hunger but it was totally manageable. As long as you don't feed your face every time you feel hungry, and you stick to your normal eating amount and schedule, you won't gain any weight."

• HRubio
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2021

"I have been on 2mg of Abilify on top of 450mg Wellbutrin XL for two weeks now… have been on Wellbutrin for a decade and it never seemed to truly nip my MDD down. Let me tell you, I’m the angry, irritable kind of depressed person and it has helped me quite a lot thus far but I’m increasing up to 5mg tomorrow. I’m excited to just take the medication because I know it helps me and I’m so stoked to go to 5mg! It’s a wonder drug for me and I feel like I’m getting my life back."

• Bimini...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2013

"I'm 32 and have been diagnosed with depression since I was about 21. I know that I was depressed way before then, but did not have the diagnosis nor knew what depression was. I was on Celexa 40mg and lithium 600mg for about 4 years. I was functional, but there was a dimension of life that I knew was missing. I did not have a taste for life. A few weeks ago, I had another major depression episode and found myself bed bound. Could not get out of bed. Would sleep for hours on end; I no longer counted days. My trichotillomania had returned with a vengeance, and it brought a binge eating disorder to boot. Psychiatrist prescribed Abilify. It has been 4 days since I have taken my first dose (2mg) and I already feel like I am healed. I smiled."