Abilify for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Che...
• September 16, 2016

"Several years ago, I was prescribed Abilify as an add-on to my Paxil 50 mg, which I've been taking for 24 years for major depression. It was amazing. I was so happy. I became interested again in things that I used to enjoy. Unfortunately, my only bad side effect was that it made me cry for absolutely no reason. I could be talking to someone about anything at all, and the tears would start. I had to stop taking it because nobody wanted to be around me anymore. My doctor has never heard of this happening with Abilify. Lucky me."

• Kri...
• June 18, 2017

"I have taken every medicine that there is for my Major Depressive Disorder, and the only thing that helped was Viibryd 40 mg. So I've been on that for 2 years, and last time I went back to my psychiatrist, I told him that I still had a lot of days where I'm still extremely depressed. So he put me on Abilify 10 mg once a day. Been taking that for almost a week. Well, my problem is that both meds work great for me. But I've never had high blood pressure, and I'm 37 years old. I went to my primary care doctor Friday, and they put me on blood pressure meds. So I'm wondering if it's the Abilify causing me to have high blood pressure since all my life my blood pressure has been perfect till now."

• Abi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2018

"I had gone through most standard antidepressants without seeing much benefit, and Abilify was the drug that finally pulled me out of depression... at least initially. I had so much energy on 2 mg, but the depression came creeping back after about a month. Upped my dose to 4 mg, and I am now so restless that it’s affecting every facet of my life. I need to constantly be on the move because sitting still for more than a minute makes me feel like I have a mild electric current running through all of my muscles. It works so well for my depression, though, that I’m currently seeking treatment for the side effect rather than stop the Abilify completely. Not a fun place to be. I’m currently also on Lexapro and Adderall - the Abilify seems to negate any benefits of the Adderall almost completely..."

• Sli...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2015

"Took the medication for about 2.5 years, in addition to various other antidepressants, such as Lexapro, Effexor XR, and Cymbalta. It did help me feel better and more stabilized for about the first 6 months of taking it. However, after those initial 6 months, I felt it did very little, if anything at all, and my mood began to deteriorate. Additionally, I also gained over 25 pounds. I have always been a slim to toned athletic individual, so this weight gain was very uncharacteristic of me. In fact, my condition got so bad that I was actually too depressed to even get out of bed most days and never exercised. My diet remained more or less healthy throughout my time on Abilify. Stopped Thanksgiving 2014, lost 30 pounds since, all else constant."

• Har...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2017

"This medicine made me have dreams that seem like reality night terrors. Had me talking to and seeing people and things that were not there. I was talking to dead people! My family almost had me committed. A real vacation in a bottle is what I call it now! I'm so upset thank god I stopped taking it when I did or who knows what else would or could have happened! Was a really bad vacation in a bottle!"

• Now...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2015

"I just started taking 5 mg Abilify. After a day of headache and nausea, as well as extreme fatigue, I am now trying to take it at night to sleep through the worst side effects. Hoping they'll subside after a week or two. But I think I can feel a little change in my mood for the better, which would be nice after trying to find something that works for the last year..."

• wir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2015

"So far, so good. After having been on a high dosage of Effexor XR for several years and hoping to wean off of that med, I ended up in the hospital with a major depressive breakdown. The hospital psychiatrist prescribed 40 mg fluoxetine, and after 6 weeks, that wasn't touching my disorder. My new psychiatrist had me try Latuda 40 mg at first, and that med made me feel tense and horrible. Now we are trying a low dosage of Abilify along with the 40 mg fluoxetine."

• SC ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2017

"I prescribed Abilify adjunct 60 mg Cymbalta I had been on for years during a very stressful and depressing time in my life. It was GREAT! I was going to have to go into the hospital, but it worked within 5 days!!! I was recommending it to everyone in my family! After being on it for 6 months and gaining about 20 lbs., I developed a profound tremor or tic in my hand, and I couldn't make it stop - not even at night, so I couldn't sleep. They took me off the Abilify, and within 4 weeks, the tremor stopped completely. I also lost 25 lbs. without even trying since being off of it. Recently, I noticed increased depression and anxiety, so I am trying other meds now to get back on track. So far, Deplin & Latuda have not worked. Just started Rexulti...."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2016

"Abilify served me well over a two-month period. Of all of the antidepressants that I have taken over the past 20 years, I would give Abilify the highest rating. However, one of its potential side effects can be significantly increased blood glucose levels in some Type 1 diabetics. Unfortunately, I was one of these, and I was never able to control these levels within an acceptable range, and I had to discontinue Abilify as a result. These statements should be taken with caution since I was only able to take the drug for 8 weeks. I noted no other serious side effects. I do suffer from ED, but this is as much a result of 40 years of Type 1 diabetes as of any other factor."

• Tap...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 30, 2021

"Abilify 2 mg added on to my regular SSRI took me out of the nightmare pit I was living in and brought me back to stable. The fatigue with this drug is indescribable; I could sleep 20 hours a day if I didn’t force myself to work. I am finally off it, but I had to taper with a 1 ml syringe and use a liquid form. It took me 4 months. If you want to discontinue, please taper very, very slowly."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2021

"First 2 weeks, I felt great taking 2 mg a day. Third week, this week, my intrusive, negative thoughts, anxiety, and panic disorders are back with a vengeance. Hoping to get better regulation of my emotions soon!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 1, 2015

"I have had major depressive disorder, anxiety, and OCD since I was a kid. On and off meds since 1987. Paxil was the best for me for a decade or more. Went off of it myself to try and get pregnant and had a nervous breakdown. Was hospitalized for severe issues, etc. Had ECT. Scary, but it helped, looking back at the experience. Now, I take liquid generic Zoloft (250 mgs/mls), liquid generic Abilify (3 mgs/3mls), and Clonazepam. I feel like the Abilify gives me a boost vs. just being on liquid generic Zoloft. However, I have gained a lot of weight over the past five or six years - like 60 pounds - used to be slender. I give Abilify a decent rating, except for the weight gain and some sleepiness. And I think liquid vs. pills is better."

• Zyr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2018

"I may have had an adverse reaction, but this drug made my life so bad for a few weeks. I was vomiting about every other hour or so starting the morning after I took it for the first time. Because of its stupidly long half-life, it took me another few days for the vomiting to finally stop."

• Xox...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2016

"Update on my previous post: I have seen multiple doctors, and my skin has turned blue in some places. They say it is a side effect of the medication. Do not let them tell you it is a rash. It is not, and Benadryl does not help. You are not crazy, yes, your skin is changing colors in random spots."

• Hel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 2, 2021

"I have been on Wellbutrin HCl for years, and it stopped working, so I was put on Prozac with Wellbutrin HCl. That combo didn't seem to work. So now I am trying Prozac, Wellbutrin HCl, and Abilify. I hope something works. Let you know in a month."

• Han...
• September 19, 2016

"I've had severe, reoccurring MDD for several years, aggravated by an eating disorder, self-harm, chronic insomnia, and compulsive behaviors. I've bounced around the whole SSRI; you name it, tried it. My Wellbutrin/Brintellix combo wasn't sufficient. I was exhausted, napping 2-3 hours midday, eating disorder raging, couldn't get out of bed. No motivation, flatness, etc. I've been taking 1 mg Klonopin at 5:30 p.m. & bedtime, and 10 mg Ambien when I go to sleep for a decade. I did NOT like Abilify. It did nothing to give me more energy or motivation. I gained 20 pounds in one month on the med, with NO SYMPTOMATIC RELIEF. Stopped after 6 wks, and have only lost 10 lbs in the 6 mo, even with exercise & meal plan. Risperidol was no better. Crap drug!"

• Spr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2016

"I have been on various antidepressants for over 25 yrs. When I quit working, drinking, and smoking, buried memories of my father's abuse rose up and almost killed me. Over the next 5 years, I was hospitalized 5 times for a total of almost a year in Homewood in Guelph. (Every time I was admitted, they built me up, but back at home I would deteriorate. Homewood saved my life.) Life for me was much better after my husband retired 11 yrs ago (yes, I am a senior). We bought a trailer in Florida and spent 6 months there every winter. However, every year during the 6 months in Ontario, I would slowly go downhill until I did practically nothing, slept for a big part of the day, but always managed to hide my depression from my daughters and sister."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2021

"I wish I could tout the glorious benefits of this medication, but I can't. It has made me super tense. As someone struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder - that is totally unacceptable. I was already uptight and too intense! I also feel as though my focus is dull and aggravated. I have zilch interest as far as my mind goes. It has now been at least 9 hours and I am STILL struggling. If you are someone who has to endure tension and stress on a daily basis, I don't think this medication is for you. Hopefully, this will wear off soon. I hope so."

• Car...
• May 29, 2017

"Been taking 5 mg a day for 2 months in addition to Celexa for MDD. Don't feel much benefit, maybe a slightly more stable mood, but my blood pressure has dropped too much. I'm now starting a taper to see if it helps any better at 2.5 mg."

• Sey...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 9, 2021

"Was prescribed Abilify to help 'boost' my antidepressants. Have been on it for almost two years. Caused me to gain 50 pounds in 3 months, and even with exercise and dieting, have been unable to lose the weight. Also causes very vivid dreams, and at higher doses, causes feelings of anxiety and paranoia. I strongly suggest you take a genetic test to make sure this medication will work for you before you take this drug."

• Hap...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 3, 2020

"Was on Abilify for 5 years and did not know that was too long. Now I have severe Tardive Dyskinesia. Would never have taken it. I must have been told of the side effects then and did not remember."

• Dan...
• December 1, 2016

"2.5 mg Abilify and 50 mg Sertraline are magic combinations for my depression. Other SSRIs and monotherapy of Sertraline don't work, but my psychiatrist adds 2.5 mg Abilify, and now I can smile again!"

• ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2021

"Abilify is great, within a week, my 2.5-year MDD was going away, no side effects, I feel great."

• Ale...
• April 11, 2023

"Abilify works great. I feel like I'm getting better. I have tried many medications."

• Fro...
• September 12, 2020

"I've been on Abilify for 2 years, and it's caused me severe eye problems, elevated my depression."