Abilify Maintena and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Edd...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 13, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been given this drug, 300 mg by depot every month, and am on a community treatment order, which means if I refuse, I get taken straight into the hospital. It stops psychosis in bipolar, but comes at a price: no emotions, extreme tiredness, sleeping 12-14 hours a night, so it's hard to work. I’ve lost my creative side, my sex drive, even my ability to cook. I just sit in a chair most of the time, gaining weight. I feel so sorry for my family, I’ve completely lost myself, and the psychiatrist doesn’t seem to care."

• Clo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 13, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Abilify 400 mg injection at first made me so anxious and felt suicidal. My doctors said it wasn't the drug, it was my depression and anxiety. They persisted with it, as I'm not compliant with tablets. I have bipolar 1 with psychosis. It has helped with psychosis, but the side effects are destroying me. Extreme lethargy and total numbness, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It has made me gain weight also, despite daily exercise. I have no libido whatsoever anymore. When I complain to the psychiatrist, they just say it's not supposed to do that, there must be another reason for these things. I also feel like I have no memory but have impulses to gamble and spend money. I have no energy to fight anymore, it's so sad and disgusting that my quality of life is not a factor to these people, doctors, etc. As long as I'm not in the ward, it's all that matters to them."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 28, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I’m on a 400 mg shot for schizophrenia NOS. I don’t recommend lowering the dosage because you get tolerance to it. I was very impulsive and erratic before going on this. I’m on disability, so I could not even maintain working. Doing much better, thinking clearly and hardly any side effects besides tiredness the first month, that is all."

• Cdn...
• August 3, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was hospitalized for having a psychotic episode where I was having delusions and hallucinations. I was originally started on the highest dose of Invega Sustenna but had the dose lowered and was switched over to Abilify Maintena after 5 months once my doctor was convinced I did not have schizophrenia. It completely cured me of my paranoia but left me, like many others here have described, without any emotion or motivation, which is why my doctor switched me and lowered my dose after complaining. My doctor said the antipsychotic contributed to maybe 5% of my lethargy and the rest was something else-i.e., depression/anxiety. In the end, we both agreed 1 year on the antipsychotics was enough. I am now 1 month off and am starting to feel like myself again. I felt the need to post this because not everyone gives updates. The drug worked, but I would not want to be on it for too long. Hang in there if you are coming off it. It does get better-at least for me."

• Sta...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 9, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Major weight gain. I feel tired all the time, but on the other hand, my moods have been completely stable. Except for focus, which I was prescribed Concerta for. It seems to be working :)"