Abilify for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• Wendy
• June 26, 2018

"I started taking Abilify along with my Cymbalta. After a week I began to feel incredible. This drug has helped me to focus. I'm doing creative things that I haven’t thought of for years. I feel self-confident. No negative thoughts."

• yesye...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2014

"I have suffered with depression since I was 12 years old. Knowing manic episodes would pass, I still kept thinking I absolutely couldn't live my life this way. I tried everything Prozac, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Lexapro and Seroquel. Finally after going back and forth with antidepressants. We decided to try Strattera with clonazepam instead of an antidepressant. For 10 months I did fine. Until a few weeks ago when I had the longest and one of the worst manic episodes yet. Bed bound and shower less every weekend. My doctor decided to try the Abilify 2.5mg. The first 2 days I was VERY irritable. I couldn't sleep at all, slowly those side effects are going away. I cannot describe how great I feel now, sleep still interrupted but much better."

• Eliza...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2023

"A light switch has been turned on! Actually, ALL of the lights in the stadium are on!! I have suffered from depression for 20 years. Was I suicidal? NO, but I realized after the 10mg dose began to work that I have not felt like myself for over 10+ years. For the last 7 to 10 years, I have been on Prozac 40 mg, Wellbutrin XL 300 mg, and 40 mg of BuSpar per day. I have never had the kind of success with any drug that I have had with Abilify. I feel like my creativity is back, I feel like my desire to get out of bed is back, I feel like my motivation to do projects and organize in my house is back, and I feel my desire to communicate and reach out to friends and family is back. I really do hate it for anyone who has negative side effects with Abilify because it has changed my life in three short weeks! I highly recommend it."

• TJE
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2013

"I have been dealing with a bout of clinical depression since roughly November 2012. It followed a surgery gone wrong, which messed me up physically & mentally. I ended up admitting myself to a psych hospital where spent 9 days. They upped my Zoloft from 50 mg to 100 mg and did nothing else. I left there feeling just as bad as when I was admitted. Upon seeing me following my hospitalization, my psychiatrist recommended Abilify 2 mg as an add-on. He indicated that he'd been very impressed with the quick response a number of his extremely depressed patients had adding on Abilify. I started taking 2 mg two weeks ago. I cannot believe how good I feel after about 7 months of Major Depression. Must try if you take an SSRI!"

• APano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2019

"Abilify caused my eyes to roll to the back of my head, convulsions and completely killed my personality. It removed my desire to self harm but it also removed every trace of personality that made me myself. Enough to make my peers notice when I finally got off it. The side effects are horrid and have left me terrified of prescription meds."

• LALDO
• November 9, 2015

"My lexapro stopped working so I was switched to prozac. While prozac did help some it didn't help enough. My psychiatrist prescribed abilify at 2mg to add on to 60mg of prozac. Within 2 days I was pulled out of the dark hole I was in and my crying spells were gone. This pill is a miracle pill."

• Sapp
• February 26, 2019

"I think that 2 MG's does not cause weight gain. On the 5 mg I noticed weight gain. I took 2 mg and when I needed a jolt I took 2 of the 2 MG's for a few days then went to just 1 of the 2 MG's tablet. It's like after 2 years it wasn't working as well but I will not go off of it again. It pulled me out of the bed for over a month I was just laying around not wanting to do anything and after 2 days of 2 mg tablet, it felt like the lights were turned on again when nothing else would help. I have not gained weight at all on 2 MG's."

• JFW
• December 21, 2016

"I was in a deep depression about a year ago. I was taking Lexepro and Ativan. I saw very little improvement after five months. My doctor added 2mg of Abilify. Within two days, the clouds had lifted. The worrying started to dissipate. I was able to think clearer with each passing day. I did notice a weight gain, but my doctor said this was because I was feeling better. I dropped the Abilify after about six months. My advice is to stay with it. As with most drugs, you start to feel better and don't need it any more. Wrong. Circumstances come up and you are in the pits again. I started back on Abilify last night."

• Rake
• November 16, 2014

"I have been struggling with postnatal depression for nine months; really, for the last 2.5 years as I had two babies 19 months apart. I was placed on Wellbutrin which helped with the physical effects but did not improve mood, I was then placed on Lexapro, then Prozac, then Zoloft and although some did improve my mood they all made me so tired I couldn't stay awake. They also made me feel disconnected and like I was observing emotions instead of feeling them. I was cold. Finally my doctor gave me Abilify to use with the Wellbutrin and it has completely changed me whole aspect. I feel like myself, for the first in years. I am awake, working hard, engaged, focused... it's my miracle! Even if it is $800 a month!"

• dymnd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2016

"Was on Prozac for the last 4 years to treat my depression, anxiety and intrusive thoughts until my Prozac pooped out. I upped my Prozac with no relief. I tried other ssris Zoloft,Celexa Lexapro which only made my condition worse. I even tried an snri Cymbalta with no relief. 7 months later I finally got to see a psychiatrist. He put me back on Prozac 10 mg and augment with Abilify. It took a month before I decided to try it because of the cost ($110.00 for 30 2mg pills) I felt it working 2 days later. After 1 week my intrusive thoughts went away and my depression lifted with anxiety gone. I had zero side effects. Its been 10 days now and I feel myself again, going out and doing things. For me Abilify is a perfect fit, I hope it lasts."

• Somoa
• November 29, 2016

"I take generic Cymbalta and have for 2 years. One day it just sucked, I was like really down, depressed and living like a hermit. I have been taking 10 milligrams of Abilify on top of the cymbalta 60 milligrams and so far I actually feel normal for the first time in my life. I am now smiling and going out , looking forward to fresh air and conversation again. Thank you Abilify, I am now getting back to life."

• Sharo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2012

"I have a longstanding history of Depression and Anxiety. I've taken many medicines with some horrible experience. I also seem to "wear out" on a medicine. That is, it's effectiveness diminishes over time. I had a recent severe episode of Major Depression so my doctor decided to switch my anti-depressant (Lexapro to Zoloft with Wellbutrin unchanged) and add Ability. Having gone through this before and warned by my doctors not to expect anything for several weeks - imagine my surprise when I got to the end of the 3rd day I'd taken it and felt a little better. On day 4 I KNEW I was responding to the medication. Within a few more days ALL of my symptoms resolved. It was just short of a miracle! I have experienced no side effects which is a relief."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2019

"Abilify is not the answer. I have been taking it for 3 years. I am emotionally numb and have gained 35 lbs. I now have issues with cholesterol, blood sugar and thyroid function. I still hear voices and have gone through some of my darkest episodes of depression. Blocking dopamine levels is not the answer. It disturbs homeostasis and cures nothing. The psychiatric community is reaching for an answer when they still don’t understand the disease. They cannot measure dopamine levels and have no idea if high dopamine levels are truly the cause of psychosis. The side effects are not worth it especially when it doesn’t cure psychosis."

• Sandy
• November 17, 2020

"I was put on Abilify and it made me feel very strange. I went off it after a few days and was very glad I did. My daughter, who also suffers from depression was put on it and she went from weighing 120 pounds (at 5'6") and gained over 100 pounds in 8-9 months. During that time she voluntarily went into the hospital for suicide ideation. I could hardly recognize her personality and was appalled to see her so morbidly obese when I saw her for the first time when I visited her to pick her up from the hospital once she was released. She looked like a zombie - pale, dark shadows under her eyes - and she was only 26 years old at the time. She went off it and it took her a long time getting her weight down at a stable 150 pounds. Her poor body went through a really hard time, not to mention the bad effect it had on her mind. AWFUL!!"

• SgtMike
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2012

"I was put on Abilify a month ago. I have always been manic/ depressive. I suffered post traumatic stress in Iraq in 2007. {I said NOTHING and am still serving as a National Guardsman}. I work law enforcement during the week. I USED to sleep all day on my first day off, it was a struggle to do ANYTHING on my second day off. Since I have been on Abilify my life has done a 180 degree turn. I feel so much better. I get up and face the world every morning at 6-8 am. I feel like a new person."

• Chas
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2019

"I took 2mg dose of Abilify three days ago and within hours regretted it. It is a horrible drug with horrendous side effects. I only took one pill but due to it’s terribly long half-life of three days I am still feeling nauseated, agitated, and have a stiff neck and sore joints. Yuck!"

• DebCD
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2016

"Been on many antidepressants with little or no relief of symptoms. Was currently on cymbalta with little relief and asked my doctor about Abilify was prescribed 5 MG within a week I felt like myself again. I rarely left my house for two years. I have visited family, even able to go to public places ."

• skunky
• December 13, 2015

"I was feeling like I was in a hole and couldn't get out of it. Nothing was working. I am now on lamictal and abilify and within a week I was feeling better. I take them both at night I don't know if that makes a difference, but I always wake up early with lots of ENERGY and ready to do whatever. Which before all I could do was lay in bed. I hope I don't gain any weight, I haven't yet and haven't experienced any over eating and I'm on 10mg abilify and 200mg of lamictal. So they have both worked wonders for my depression. With no side effects that I can see yet."

• Whanes
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2016

"I have suffered depression most of my life and finally was "diagnosed" by a psychopharmacologist in 2011. I have been on pretty much every antidepressant known to man over the past 20 years and finally was put on a cocktail of Lithium, Prozac, Wellbutrin and Conazepam (at bedtime). I had also taken Abilify at this time for about 1 year but the doctor felt I probably didn't need it anymore as I was stable. However, for about the past 2 years I have been suffering from MAJOR fatigue and some days I was unable to go work as I was so tired. My GP has just put me back on Abilify 5 mg and I feel fantastic. I have so much energy and I have found happiness and enjoyment in the things I had lost interest in."

• Dont...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2016

"I've been taking Venlafaxine (Effexor) for about 5 years for depression and anxiety but my doseage had to be increased by my psychiatrist a few times. He suggested I try 2 mg. of Arpiprazole (Abilify) for a couple of months. I've been very pleased with the results. I find I have more energy and I'm able to complete tasks without procrastinating. My thoughts have become much more positive and I don't fly off the handle the way I used to. Negatives are waking through the night ever hour on the hour and I'm not the night owl I used to be which is probably a good thing. No weight gain either. Reading the other stories, I can see many people have side effects so I can't recommend it but It could also turn your life around."

• jwjbs
• February 27, 2016

"Our 12 year old son was having terrible anxiety and could not get along with anyone at school. He did not trust anyone and would not listen to anyone either. He suggested suicide more than once but thankfully never went through with it. We regularly saw a therapist but would not listen. We reluctantly decided to add the smallest dose of abilify to his depression medicine. In approximately 2 days we saw an immediate change. He seems more "balanced" and the anxiety level down significantly. It has only been 2 weeks....but so far so good."

• Psycho
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2014

"Beware Abilify, watch your weight. I stayed on Abilify for 7 months faithfully, hoping that the pros would outweigh the cons. The result? I gained 90 lbs in 7 months and this weight does not "shed" with discontinued use, I'll be working out hard to lose this. I'm only 25."

• Spm
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2024

"Been on Prozac for 10 years. Depression and anxiety under control but I have been very listless, uninspired, and unmotivated for a few years. Started Abilify a week ago, and what a difference! I'm feeling happier, motivated, and excited about life again. I do get a bit tired midday, but I hope that will wear off. I'm so relieved this is working."

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

"I was sleeping up to 15 hours a day on this drug; I would leave work early nearly every single day because I was so exhausted. If there were any positive changes to my mood, I didn't notice because I was either sleeping or half-asleep 75% of the time."

• Anonymous
• September 13, 2009

"I have had resistant depression for about 3 years. Started Abilify 2mg two months ago and feel like a new person. I can get out of bed in the morning and go to work. I have a desire to do things again with friends. Don't spend the weekends in bed anymore! I am so thankful--this has helped me tremendously."