Abilify for Schizophrenia User Reviews

• justin
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2021

"I've been on Abilify for about five days. And I noticed a big change. I'm not having any intrusive/destruction thoughts. I'm not hearing voices. Even my dreams have gotten better. So, I WOULD DEF RECOMMEND!"

• Starr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 2, 2014

"My experience with abilify has been great because I no longer have schizophrenia or psychosis. I have been on this medicatiom since 2008 and I have never had any side effects at all, which is brilliant! I also feel so much better since I was diagnosed, like I am a new person."

• Gypsy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2020

"My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2017 at the age of 21. He tried just about every psychiatric medications in the market over a period of two years with little improvements and lots of side effects including weight gain etc.. Finally he was put on Abilify 20mg daily tablets ,within less than a month his condition started to improve significantly. He is now on a monthly injection which is very convenient. No side effects what so ever. It is now almost a year and we are very pleased with the results. Abilify was a god send."

• jjplu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 25, 2013

"I used to hear bad voices in my head,and thought the government was watching me, had evil thoughts in my head while hearing voices. My doctor prescribed me Abilify,and within 2 days all the voices went away, as long as I take it, the voices are not there. What a miracle it has been for me."

• Ender...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2020

"When I was first diagnosed with psychosis, about six years ago, they put me on risperidone. It was only recently that I discovered that, for all that time, even a moderate dose like 3.5mg/night was making me sleepy ALL DAY, I had no motivation, I became completely inert, I gained a lot of weight, maybe 50 or so pounds, which is a lot for my height. They recently switched me to abilify, and I’ve gotta say, it’s a hundred times better! I’m back to being “up”, I’m interested in things again, in being productive, I can even work. As for the weight, it doesn’t give me the appetite that risperidone did, nor does it mess up my blood sugar levels like risperidone did. There’s still a bit of fatigue, but my concerta, prescribed for ADD, nips that in the bud, and besides, even without the c, the fatigue levels are just nowhere near risperidone levels. TL;DR in terms of fatigue, motivation levels and weight gain, abilify is, by FAR, the better choice over risperidone."

• Rocky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2019

"When I was 24 years old out of nowhere I started having Schizoprhenia symptoms. I believed incredible grandiose religious delusions, believed my television sets had cameras in them and believed when people coughed or made sounds they were mocking me subliminally. I didn't receive treatment until the age of 30 and was working full time but getting myself in wreckless situations. After I lost everything I have besides my awesome family, I was put on a Community Treatment Order (CTO) and after 4 months on Invega I was extremely suicidal and thought I'd never regain my normal life. If there is one thing I have learned about meds it's that they take a lot longer to work than you think. I have been on 10 mg of abilify for approximately six months and for the entire duration I would have intrusive thought and random urges, then finally going into the sixth month the side effects are really starting to subside and I'm starting to fully regain my emotions and not be afraid of people."

• Anonymous
• October 2, 2020

"I am currently on Prozac 20 mg for panic disorder and depression and Abilify 10mg for schizophrenia and trazodone 50 mg to sleep and all I can say is wow! This combination has literally saved my life. I wish I would have gotten on Abilify years ago for schizophrenia, it has totally changed my life. If you have schizophrenia I’d say definitely give it a try! It has drastically improved my quality of life!"

• Loves...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 8, 2014

"Struggled with paranoia for 20 years while taking Effexor only. Checked into a psych ward after a manic episode and they added 5mg Abilify. I was skittish for a month but then the paranoia and general suspicious nature just went away.. I still see a shrink every month for upkeep but I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life and I swear by this medicine! Clear head and no side effects."

• Rose
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 9, 2020

"This Abilify was my first antipsychotic I was put on. It wasted a year of my life. I had to abuse stimulants (which made my symptoms worse) to function. My hallucinations were semi controlled but I still heavily struggled with delusions. I thought it was the best I could get but no. After trying many more I found an antipsychotic that doesn't make me a robot. If this one makes you feel terrible, ask your doctor talk about your options. Don't settle for any less than you deserve! Life is livable with Schizophrenia but you have to have the right tools."

• Anonymous
• February 5, 2020

"This medication Abilify has been life changing for me. I lost my job and was scared about my future living with schizophrenia. I'm currently taking 15mg daily in the morning. I do experience some symptoms from time to time. So I am going to have them up my dose to 20mg. But overall I am thrilled and thankful for this medication."

• Sama
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2019

"I have being on Abilfy for just a day, so far no side effects. I'm on 10mg and I know it's only being a day but I have no stiffness in my legs and my appetite is non existent, which I'm happy about. The voices have quietened down and I feel in a better mood. Hopeful and looking forward to getting back to work. Fingers crossed it will continue:)"

• Kora
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 25, 2016

"Abilify 20 mg. I am a patient diagnosed with disorganized schizophrenia, depression, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar. I have experienced a sensitivity to my emotions, as well as how I react to my feelings. I really don't feel out of the normal with any "sexual frustration"...and I wouldn't say this has increased/decreased. I feel less anxious on the medication, and seemingly more at ease with myself when I take this medication. It is a hard step to have people telling you that you actually do better on this pill, when half your life ago, you didn't have "mental illness", and suddenly you become someone else. My weight did fluxuate when on this drug. But I feel it was due to stress factors outside of a regular environment. I feel if you place yourself in good surroundings and support you do much better at being the person you are here to be. I am so much happier in life with a routine. I feel like I only referred to enlongated periods of sleep because of depression, and events surrounding certain time frames hence thoughts, and reactions. Abilify (aripiprazole) My instant reaction from this drug is concern for my well-being. I am nervous because I am one of the people taking this drug till the stars fade, every day to my last. My doctors all seem to say the same thing, and that is, "This medication is working for you". I do blood tests when I go into the Hospital freqently, and they are not finding anything off the charts and everything is always normal with my vitals. My thought is, how do they consider this medication works for me? Because I am not showing side effects? Because I am accepting? I feel I have to hold patience, my own value, what I care about around me to help better myself mentally and my virtue. I feel that I am just not the type of person to curbside answers to things we wonder deeply about, I guess. I don't know if there are any people who would agree then that I should ask if there are any women who have taken abilify during a pregnancy? Just wondering what the reaction is... Is my question? I am a 30 year old female diagnosed with Mental Illness starting in 2004. I started to take Abilify 20 mg. in 2004 to present. Overall, since this medication has not been threatening to me, I feel I should embrace it."

• Doing...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 9, 2019

"Was on paliparidone for 6 months and pretty much wanted to die. Switched to Abilify 200 mg injection and things are much better. Took a very long time to get over the first medication but once I did the difference between the two was night and day. I am not dizzy when I stand up and my strength has returned. I still feel a little zombie like though so cannot give it a ten but no voices and no obvious side effects. If you are suffering from a not too severe case of schizophrenia, or a drug and alcohol induced psychosis, then this drug may just work for you. Best of luck."

• black...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2018

"My dear lovely abilify.. were should I begin? and what have you done? you feel deeply ashamed abilify.. who made you abilify? are they as poisonous as you are..? I would like to know.. because you have destroyed my health and my life.. no way back from here. Anxiety, suicidal, depression, weight gain, metabolic syndrome, confusion, apathy. I am not my myself anymore...abilify what have you done? Who made you? And why so poisonous?"

• Douglas
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 18, 2023

"Incredible drug. Having been on it for ten years at 5mg, my life is balanced and it acts quickly, to the point you think you're cured. But it requires dedication to a daily dosage without fail, and you cannot take recreational drugs of any kind or you could do irreversible damage to the brain. Don't yo-yo this medication, be stable in taking it daily without fail and give it a chance to work if all other drugs have failed you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2013

"I switched from Risperidal to Abilify two years ago. On 15mg and it works much better for me. On Risperidal my symptoms (paranoia) still poked through, but not anymore. Also the side effects are a lot less present. I still sleep about 10 hours though. Otherwise my functioning is high."

• Winte...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

"I started Abilify a week ago at 20 mg daily. The only side effects I’ve noticed is that I fall asleep fine but I do have vivid dreams and tend to wake up throughout the night, then in the daytime I seem to have an inability to sit still for extended periods of time without moving or stretching. That part is mildly annoying. However, I have noticed a slight increase in energy level or the ability to just get up and take my dog out for walks and have started to get more motivated to actually get stuff done around the house, which off medication was very hard for me to do. I’ve had no weight gain, or any other side effects yet but I have only been on it for a week. 20 mg is a high dose to start at but it’s what the hospital gave me so it’s what I’m taking. I’ll update my post as I get a little further down the road with this medication. But no voices as of late but still have those delusions that I’m being watched and followed."

• Concern...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2020

"My son is diagnose with schizophrenia in middle school his first medication was Risperdol which worked for a small amount of time however I think he outgrew it or the dosage weaken against the imbalance it took some dramatic changes before they changed his medications however when given abilify which is what he is currently taking I see vast and major improvement it took on a slow gradual change at first however now it is very noticeable that this abilfy is having a positive effect thus far on my son abilify to think with calm mind and little to no agitation at all. IF this medication proves to be effective for a long period I would assume he may on down the road only need to adjust the dosage not now however. I would give it from my personal experience as a mother with a son who currently taking a definite 8 out of 10 thus far."

• tesrt
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 2, 2020

"I couldn't sleep on Abilify and the anxiety was horrible. I wasn't able to go to work as I was terribly afraid of all the people. I developed a fear of acting out on this drug. It's been more than 6 months now that I've stopped this drug and the fear stills very present but a bit reduced. I can go to work again but I still very much afraid of social interactions."

• Mike
• December 1, 2020

"I have taken Abilify for 10 years for schizophrenia. It has been a wonder drug in some aspects because it keeps my schizophrenia at bay. Before I started taking it I was losing my mind, thought “people” were after me, heard thoughts and saw visions. Basically I was not functional and couldn’t hold a job. All of this has gone away over the years and now I am a functioning adult. It regulates my sleep and moods, too. The side effects are minimal but noticeable. I developed type 2 diabetes even though I maintain a regular exercise schedule and eat right. Also, I have no sex drive and it kind of screws up your all of your sexual functions. Also, beware of these medications and take them only if you have to have them. I developed something called tardive akathisia when I tried to stop taking Abilify. It is an absolutely horrible side effect caused by your brain trying to return to the way it originally worked and it is truly awful. Look it up!"

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2011

"I've been on a variety of medicines over the years, including Risperdal, Geodon with Zyprexa, and now Abilify. Though I feel I'm overly medicated at 40mg per day of Abilify, I've improved to the point where I don't hear voices or feel paranoid anymore and am active in the community. I take it at night and sleep around 9 to 10 hours per night. Not sure if that's normal with Abilify or not, but I'm not complaining. Surprisingly no other side effects."

• catchme
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 30, 2017

"I started abilify in January of this year, 10 mg. I'm now taking 15 mg. This medication has given me back my life. No voices, no visual hallucinations. I still struggle with mild paranoia though. I can get through the day, and that's saying something!"

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

"I have taken 15 mg of Abilify for 5 months no side effects or weight gain yet so that's good. I don't crave food and gain weight like I did on Risperdal and had bad side effects on Zoloft. I feel tired for 2 hours after I take Abilify. It's hard to stay asleep. I wake up and do the same thing over and over all night long."

• Helpf...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2020

"Abilify made me completely out of control. I acted in ways I never had before and where completely out of character for me. I was not in control of my emotions I cried hysterically all the time. I had to be put on something similar to Xanax because I guess my mouth moved uncontrollably. I developed a gambling problem and was out of control with a lot of different things all at one time. I couldn’t stop any of this behavior and it was tormenting. I wasn’t able to cope either. Horrible experience. Do not smoke marijuana with this I would advise against it it will use everything against you and become a problem and made me sicker."

• Wes
• October 31, 2019

"I have been taking Abilify 10 mg for a little over a month and it has helped my motivation compared to Haldol 2 mg. I had lost interest in food and dropped to 100 lbs. I've gained 25 lbs in 6 weeks since starting this drug. My hallucinations and voices are still gone. I always feel wide awake and have been taking various things to sleep. Hoping the insomnia will pass because I am full of energy. Started working again hopefully will continue."