Abilify for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• CJano
• March 6, 2021

"I've been on Abilify for 7 months now, 15mg. Initially for the first month I felt restless but full of energy. I had mild nausea that made me loose 7lbs. Then over time these symptoms disappeared and I experienced calmness. No paranoia anymore and my negative thoughts have been reduced dramatically. So did my manic episodes and my depression, So I’m now stable. However I've put on 18lbs even with exercising everyday I can’t seem to shift the weight! But the good over rides the bad. I recommend this medication for bpd and Bipolar it’s changed my life"

• AAB
• July 19, 2013

"This medicine has been a game changer for me. I stopped stress eating and lost weight, my mood stabilized and I have been incredibly productive and achieved great things on it. It does wonders for my anxiety. I have been on it for a year and could not be happier with the product. It is expensive but WORTH it! Highly recommend."

• Hilda
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2022

"I was on 5 mg Abilify for 5 months. I had frequent muscle spasms, insomnia, nauseous, lost weight, very restless, crying spells, worse anxiety and no appetite. Ended up with an electrolyte imbalance and frequent dehydration. I’m taking nothing now and feel normal again. Thank God for thc!"

• Bill
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 2, 2020

"Be careful, Abilify caused a massive compulsive gambling addiction where I lost tens of thousands over time. I mentioned it to the doctor early on but she ignored it, didn't note it or change the meds. Guess I was hooked on the buzz. Stopped taking Abilify. Stopped gambling recklessly. Compulsive gambling addiction is a mental health disorder itself. Who'd have thought that the NHS would prescribe this dangerous drug that can cause it? Sounds ridiculous but true. There was a guy with Parkinsons prescribed it in England, went full on the National Lottery online games and scratch cards etc ... but won his case for not being advised properly of the potential side effects and got most of the losses back. They don't care for my complaint. A class action lawsuit is underway in the United States because it wasn't on the label. Suing a big Japanese pharmaceutical company seems okay. Lost all interest in work and drifted for 18 months."

• Anonymous
• July 9, 2008

"This medication has given me my life back. I have now have clarity and balance back in my life. So far, I have not gained any weight and have experienced no side effects. I also suffered from severe insomnia, which is completely gone."

• Careg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2019

"Thank you all so much for your candid feedback!! I needed this for support and better understanding. I sobbed reading every comment, because I can relate. My 18 year old son has psychosis and mania. Meds just changed. Lithium dropped due to “out of range” high toxicity. Antipsychotic med. Risperidone, no longer affective after a year. He has been on Abilify for 1 week. After 1 day, I could tell his psychosis was disappearing. He realized date on the calendar, acted as if he had missed a month of his life. Then immediately jumped back in the game! He showered with soap! His obsessive, fixated thoughts and actions stopped, and he quickly reprioritized his responsibilities. Side affects- nausea, sick, no appetite for days. (Zofran) is helping. Slightly more aggravated at times, pesters family, a little removed, impulsive and quick to snap. It’s only been a week, so hoping these symptoms stop, and mood levels out. Thank you again for sharing! Love and wellness to all"

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 27, 2021

"Abilify was the cause of the worst year of my life. Massive depression and constantly comatose. I was like a zombie. I woke up in the morning thinking “when do I get to go back to sleep.” Suicidal thoughts were frequent. My wife would frequently comment on how I wasn’t myself, how I didn’t talk anymore. I was a shell. I also gained 20lbs (I’m a skinny guy with a high metabolism). When I finally detoxed from the drug, I had energy again. My weight gain is now mostly gone and I engage with my family and am more present. Abilify was the worst thing I have ever done to myself."

• Keliz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 4, 2019

"I took abilify for over 6 years and at first it worked very well. Year 2 I started having face twitching, shakiness and stuttering speech. 3rd year I started with tardive dyskinesia. 4-6 ish years I had all the aforementioned and added falling at least 6 times a day, I was so shaky I could barely walk, plus my memory was shot. I couldn't remember my phone number or email address I had had for 10 years. New psych took me off and within 2 months almost all of the symptoms were gone. I think some of the shakiness and memory loss are permanent but I have a new lease on life. Poison. Pure poison. I wish I could have those 6 years back."

• Bunks...
• July 11, 2013

"This is what I've always needed. My mood is lifted, I have energy I never had before, I don't feel sad and helpless anymore, my anxiety has lessened and I'm easier to get along with. This may just save my failing marriage. I was afraid of all the side effect warnings but I only experienced mild nausea for about a week, and for the first few days I woke up intermittently during the night, but could easily fall asleep again almost immediately. Feeling so much better!"

• BP2Girl
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2020

"This was one of the worst medications I’ve ever tried. I have bipolar 2 with rapid cycling and this medication literally made me out of it. I could barely gather thoughts. I felt dumb as a rock and couldn’t focus. I also felt so agitated that it took all my energy to survive the day. It made me hungry but did nothing for depression or hypomania. My eyeballs felt like they were rolling around and I could have just stared at a white wall. Stopping it was like a dream. I took it for a few months. Worst med ever. Totally net negative. Beware if you have my combo of bipolar."

• Jessj
• March 12, 2015

"Day one: TERRIBLE! Very tired, had to stay home from work Day two: Getting better. Very tired in morning but the day improved Day three: Wonderful! I am not sure what "normal" is, but if this is it, I am in heaven. Awake, focused, appropriate amount of energy, easy going mood, less irritable and lower anxiety (could be the xanax on the last one). I am just beginning the medication but typically meds have a quick affect on me and stick. I have not noticed any unusual appetite increases but I am certainly going to keep an eye on it because I noticed a large percentage experiences weight gain. As my fiance says- mental health is more important than gaining a few pounds anyway."

• ceecee
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 16, 2014

"I am diagnosed bi-polar and I have tried Lamictal, Lithium, Latuda and I don't even know how many other combinations. Abilify was the only one that has shown results for me. Yes, it tends to make me tired about 4-5 hours after taking it. And it makes me eat like a piggy sometimes, which has caused some weight gain. But nothing to severe. I take 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night, perfect dose for me. It keeps my moods perfectly balanced but I have been taking Abilify since I was 15 and I am now 20 and do not plan on stopping it anytime soon. I have tried that and it did not end well."

• Anonymous
• May 12, 2009

"My son was aggressive and was doing poorly in school. Hitting other students and the teachers, having meltdowns practically everyday. A week after he started taking Abilify his teacher called and told me he was like a different child. He was focusing and not getting upset so easily. I was just told he is the star student for the month and that has NEVER happened. He is now potentially looking at joining the general population at school. So far this has been a life saver and now my child can focus on learning and thriving instead of giving up and having fits when he gets frustrated."

• Kitty
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2013

"I was recently diagnosed at age 24 with Bipolar disorder (some paranoid features) co-morbid with Asperger's disorder. I have woken up in the morning all my life in an absolute rage, and my Bipolar has affected my life in more ways than I care to mention. I wish I would've known about my mental illness sooner- I thought everyone felt like I did. I have been on this medicine for a week, and for once in my life I wake up in a good mood, I stay in a good mood during the day, and am generally happy. I am extremely productive instead of either too manic or too depressed to function. The only bad thing is the akathesia, but worth it."

• Kay...
• January 8, 2020

"I am 31, female with bipolar 1 along with depression (obviously lol), extreme social anxiety and PTDS. I was on abilify, all the way up to 20mgs at the last year or so. I truly thought it wasn't working or doing ANYTHING for me anymore, so switched to Latuda. Well the pharmacy was out of stock of Latuda and I had just finished my taper off of Abilify, so I was about 4-5 days off of any mood stabilizer. And now I can say that although it may not have been as effective as when I first went on it, it definitely made a difference! Since the second week of my taper (down to 5 mg, then 2) I applied for some more credit cards and thought nothing of it. In the past 2 days, I have maxed out all those credit cards. It wasn't until last night I put the connection to me not being on anything. I gained a little weight on it, but at the same time, I allowed myself to eat what I wanted and didn't exercise. During the taper, I tried seroquel and abilify is nothing as bad as that weight wise."

• Hatea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2019

"I had commented approximately 2 weeks ago (under the name: I hate abilify. on the 2019-07-09) regarding the 400 mg abilify injection. Well I saw my new pdoc on the 18th and she is wonderful!!! I am no longer on the injection due to side effects. In addition to all of the side effects noted previously, I forgot to mention the major weight gain also. This drug is NOT WEIGHT NEUTRAL!! IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT MOVE ON TO THE NEXT DRUG. If you're not happy with your current pdoc find someone you are happy with. Just because we have bipolar disorder or have a mental illness does not mean we can not control what we ingest into our body. You have a choice!!! If you have a feeling of being trapped and your pdoc not listening to your concerns, MOVE on!!!! Good luck to all of you....."

• Skye
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2022

"My husband is middle aged with a history of depression and violent anger rages in the blink of an eye. Lamictal has helped as well as Lexapro and Celexa but the depression and rages were not fully controlled until Abilify. I now know bipolar or schizophrenia can not just be treated with antidepressants alone. It causes mania! He has lost 8 pounds in the couple months he has been on Abilify and no longer lays in bed in the middle of the day for hours on end. I see a glimpse of the person I dated 13 years ago and am amazed this is all he needed. He has suffered two severe concussions in the past and one parent has manic depression to the point of trying to commit suicide multiple times. He started on 2mg and now has switched to 5mg which is working well. He is much more mature in conversations and can take a time out when his anger flares instead of destroying things and screaming/spitting at me. I am really impressed and pray this continues to work. Good luck to all ♥️"

• Charl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2017

"After taking anti-psychotic medications for 9 years and trying just about every single one of them, I have finally found one that is working for me, at this point in my life. I started this medication (Abilify) nearly 4 months ago and the positive changes I’ve seen in my life make me so happy. I have lost almost 30 pounds within these last several months, I have been more active with my children, and I actually get off the couch and walk and enjoy life. I’ve been involved with my “FitBit” challenges which I would’ve never attempted to even think about doing before. My manic episodes are very rare and less erratic. Before when I would be on a anti-psychotic medication I would feel like I was in a “zombie mode” barely functioning day by day. The only downfall I have with this medication (Abilify), which is a side effect, is if I get up to quickly I get dizzy and just collapse. Now I’m at a plateau with my weight, but I’m not gaining weight either. I give this Anti-Psychotic Medication a 9 out of 10."

• ihcuids
• June 14, 2009

"I am bipolar and have swung into a massive depressive cycle, crying for no reason, sleeping 14 or more hours a day, feeling hopeless about my life, suicidal thoughts, etc., so my doctor put me back on Abilify (I had been on it before but it had been such a long time I couldn't remember if it helped or not). In just a few days, at 5mg at night, my mood is very improved. I can actually get out of bed, I'm much more upbeat, much more pleasant to be around. The only side-effect I have is when I take it, about half an hour later, I am soaked in sweat. My shirt actually becomes saturated to the point I have to change into a dry one. That's why it got 9."

• Jbyrd
• April 12, 2008

"I have been taking Abilify for about 3 years now. It has changed my life dramatically. It has greatly lessoned my highs and lows. It has balanced me out when it comes to all the typical bipolar symptoms."

• Abilify...
• October 24, 2018

"This drug made my life miserable, dumbed me down, made me like a zombie. Hardly any thoughts or expression & then the Big one..I couldn’t sit down! The side effect Akathisia, which is intense restlessness. sounds like no big deal but it was an everyday, every minute struggle I suffered horribly! I’d walk down the street to pass time I’d count hours till the day was over, I literally couldn’t sit down, I sat to eat and had to stand back up as soon as I stopped chewing. I smoked cigarettes for 8 years and I tried to quit every Sunday, turns out that one treatment for Akathisia is nicotine. My doc never picked up on it and I was taking Abilify so long I thought it was just what I had become. When I went off of Abilify I could live again. In almost every way. Not only can I sit down in peace but I can think clearly. I didn’t realize how much it was DUMBING ME DOWN. Don’t take this Just work on yourself, take other meds. This medication is like a mild lobotomy. Not worth it"

• Ferna...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2020

"Abilify helped with my manic episodes, but gained 15 pounds after a month and spiralled into a horrible depression that saw me in bed for weeks after I tried to come off the drug. Felt near completely disabled. Not for me."

• Polar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2018

"I was once told by a man online that serotonin and dopamine our happy feel good neurotransmitters. And that to contain my bipolar volatility my doctor was turning down the volume. Side effect. I have no get up n go. My head was once a storm.. now a glassy lake. But there is no wind. No sound. No nothing anymore. I feel empty. Numb. Tired, weak, never sad, never happy. Just flat. I’m tapering off of all antipsychotics and moving onto lithium orotate. Life could be so much better. "

• MrRow...
• December 6, 2013

"Abilify is not for everyone. I experienced severe personality change within a month. The story: I have had bipolar disorder since I was 13 and have been in treatment for 9 years. When Abilify came out, we tried Abilify to "bridge" getting me off atypical antipsychotics and onto a mood stabilizer. The 20 day experience was horrible. My personality changed radically. I didn't know myself anymore. Friends, my lover, my boss, all begged me to stop. I felt weird on it, not better. Severe personality changes are possible with Abilify. I called my psych, we stopped the medicine and moved onward. Those 20 days were destructive, but my friends & job were kind and life returned to normal."

• Ive...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2019

"This medicine Abilify has done wonders for my hallucinations ! They are 3/4 the way gone and I've never felt more stable in my whole life. Earlier when I was just depressed so they added Abilify to my Zoloft. It did not spark joy at all, made me gain 15 pounds. But a year later I developed psychosis and they gave me Abilify once again. It worked like a miracle this time! I have been on this medication for about 6 months and its been so good, highly, highly recommend this if you are experiencing psychosis!"