Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Coc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

"I've been on Abilify 5 mg for 3 weeks now (taking for bipolar). I'm naturally a restless person, so I like the feeling of having to do something all the time. It makes me feel like I'm contributing. Sleeping about 5-6 hours a night. Weight gain of about 2 lbs. I feel better and a little more connected to my husband and kids as compared to when I was on Quetiapine."

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 23, 2014

"Started on Abilify in addition to Effexor and Lamictal. Immediately had tremors in hands, lips, and speech. Gained weight and was anxious. Stopped taking when I ran out; tremors stopped, lost weight, and no noticeable negative consequences. Don't know why it was prescribed, but it caused more problems than it helped. Side effects were terrible."

• Dav...
• August 14, 2014

"I've been taking Abilify for eight months now. Although it made me gain 15-20 kg (something like 33-40 lbs, I believe?), my experience is quite positive. The sadness from my major depressive episode, as well as my suicidal thoughts, have been almost annihilated. The reason why I rated it as a six is that it didn't help ease the great fatigue I have. But it helped a lot, that is for sure."

• NHe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2016

"Abilify is the only antipsychotic that works for me. The extreme hunger, lethargy, restlessness, and memory problems I had on other antipsychotics are nonexistent with Abilify. I was in the middle of a severe depressive episode when I took it, and it only took several weeks for me to be back to normal functioning. I sleep better, have more energy, and fewer mood swings. This medication is great. I find that it is more 'activating,' while other drugs in the same class, like Zyprexa, are more 'tranquilizing.'"

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2021

"I was prescribed 2 mg of Abilify to take for being diagnosed with bipolar depression. I started with half the tablet in the morning, and OMG! I felt sleepy the first day and somewhat disoriented. I felt that anxious feeling you get with new meds hours later. At night, lights were so bright to me, and it also gave me insomnia. Second and third days were worse with side effects. I almost dialed 911. I was perspiring, felt lightheaded, and extremely weak. It made me feel paranoid. Had a panic attack, and the rest of the day, I felt as if I drank 6 cups of coffee. Never again! Bye Abilify!"

• mys...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2013

"I would hide at home for months, shaking when a telephone rang. I couldn't let people go and had obsessive thoughts. Abilify gave me calm, confidence, and hope. It made me less sensitive to light and time, I was no longer at the mercy of each passing moment. I woke up relaxed, went to bed without a noise in my head, inner voices stopped criticizing me, thoughts didn't race. I was creative but focused and began wonderful new projects. Had NO side effects-NO weight gain. 'Worked magic that first day. But after a month, it seemed to do nothing but make me sad. Evidently, that was a manic phase. It blocks my mania, but not my depressive switch. Feels like I've traded manic depression for unipolar depression. I am being switched to lithium."

• boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2022

"Okay, this was the worst for me. I know some people love it, but it gave me severe akathisia to the degree that made every single day a nightmare. Could not sit still for more than a minute, could not sleep, super jittery, extremely angry... I tried it twice over the last 5 years, and both times were the same. I wouldn't take it again, not for a million dollars!"

• Val...
• October 15, 2014

"Have been on Abilify for two weeks, and my personality has changed drastically. I went from being chilled out and quite okay on Seroquel and Effexor but wanted to try Abilify to combat weight gain. In the two weeks I've been on it, I've swung from hypomanic to aggressive and downright selfish. I did things I wouldn't normally do that have hurt my relationship with my partner, and I've also been spending like crazy. Probably should stop but will consult psychiatrist first to see what she says."

• bri...
• April 4, 2012

"This medicine works well for me, and I tried a lot of medicines. It's a little pill, does a lot. People have said I seem much better and have my personality back (I was on lithium, made me like a zombie). Hardly any side effects. I take it with Lamictal."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 17, 2017

"Excellent. Depression lifted fast. Stabilizes my mood very well, as a bonus, I spontaneously lost 55 lbs! All that weight came from Seroquel and Zyprexa. Con: has a negative effect on sleep, I need melatonin to be able to sleep. Also, my blood pressure is suddenly a lot lower, 102/63, causing some lightheadedness during the day. It's, however, the first med that is able to stabilize my mood very well with very acceptable side effects."

• vin...
• January 8, 2018

"It's not for me. Six weeks on, and I cannot wait till it's out of my system. Makes me feel like I can't stay in one place too long. It has ruined my sleep and has made me unsocial. I am not saying it's a bad drug, just not for me..."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2022

"DO NOT take Abilify for dissociation. I got prescribed this medicine for my bipolar disorder and because I’ve been very afraid of the side effects of others, but was told this one would be easier for me to handle. I took it for 2 weeks and had constant panic attacks and intense dissociation. It’s been months since I’ve been off of it, and I still have to deal with intense depersonalization from the anxiety and fear this medication brought up in me. Coming off the medication as well is very horrible because it gives you constant headaches during, but coming off makes them 100% more intense. It’s like withdrawing from a hard, hard drug. It’s not worth your mental health. There are better alternatives than this medication. This medication has ruined my perception of other meds, and I don’t think I could possibly take any like it again. This medication DOES NOT help dissociation, it makes you feel 100% worse."

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2019

"I have a mood disorder and an anxiety disorder. I’ve been taking Zoloft for about three years, and although it helped with anxiety, it didn’t touch my intense mood swings. After a very bad mood swing that almost broke up my seven-year relationship, I sought help. My psychiatrist put me on Lamictal first, and it gave me hives. Then we tried Trileptal, and the GI side effects were unbearable after two weeks. Finally, she put me on Abilify, and so far it has been great. I’ve been on 2 mg of Abilify (with 50 mg Zoloft) for a week, and there have been almost no side effects. I was warned there might be dry mouth or excessive sweating, but I’ve been fine. It did cause me to wake up seven to eight times during the night, but I switched to taking it in the morning and now I sleep like a baby again! It has only been a week, but I’m starting to feel a difference: I have more energy and I feel more in control of my moods."

• Anonymous
• August 28, 2008

"Abilify has been useful to me in terms of sleep and improving my insomnia, but I still have to be treated with a mood stabilizer, like Lithium, in order to keep my bipolar episodes under control. The good news is that it did not cause (I was at 10 mg daily) weight gain like Zyprexa. Good luck to all of you!"

• Kry...
• January 17, 2011

"I love this medicine. I have bipolar II disorder, and this medicine does everything it's supposed to do. It keeps my manic moods completely in check and works very well in conjunction with Zoloft. I have been on both drugs for years, and I have not had any serious depression or mania for over 20 years! The only side effect that I experience is fatigue, but so worth it. The side effects are minimal. I feel and act normal."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2018

"I felt like a different person. I felt weird, socially withdrawn, and introverted. I had fogginess in the back of my head. I had no appetite or sex drive. I had shaky legs and hands. I was up all night. I would have times where my eyes were out of focus and I couldn’t see straight. Please do not take this medication. Everybody is different, but my experience was horrible. As I stopped taking it, these side effects are going away. I couldn’t function or do simple tasks."

• Voo...
• June 21, 2008

"This is a good antipsychotic and does well for bipolar disorder. I was on 20 mg per day when I suffered a severe manic episode, so it is possible to have episodes while on the medication, but I should point out that I was not taking it every day as I was supposed to. The only side effects I get from this are restlessness, anxiety, and slight tremors."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2021

"Abilify was horrible to me. Very soon after starting medication, I started to experience blurred vision, extreme nausea and vomiting, unable to sleep, headaches. Dose: 2.5 mg. Diagnosis: bipolar disorder and CPTSD."

• Rac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 27, 2021

"Instead of helping my depression, I felt trapped in it, unable to say how I truly felt. Unable to move out of that feeling, yet unable to fully feel it either. My irritability became worse overall. I would have even bigger breakdowns over even smaller things. The frequency was slightly less, the incidents were more severe. I developed tardive dyskinesia and pseudo-Parkinson's after long-term use. I gained over 100 lbs on this medication, 60 of which happened in the first 5 months. My dietary habits did not change in this time. My sleep and exercise were affected. Prior to Abilify, I was very active and loved to walk and ride my bike. While on Abilify, I became listless and disinterested in physical activities. My poor sleep became worse, and Abilify created insomnia in me, which I then needed more medications for. Then I began having memory and attention issues while on Abilify, so I was prescribed Adderall to help me concentrate. All of this, and I am better off meds."

• Anonymous
• October 10, 2008

"I have been on this for 2 weeks (only 4 mg). I have energy again and do not feel so sleepy during the day. I am still taking Seroquel at night-100 mg to sleep. Side effects are constipation and restlessness. I am now exercising again and able to drop the weight I had gained while on higher doses of Seroquel."

• kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2015

"I'm on Abilify in conjunction with Lamictal. In ten years, this combination is the only one that has worked. While it took some tweaking, it is well worth it. Two side effects: constipation and eye rolling."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 11, 2012

"I've been on Abilify for nearly 2 years. The first month or so was rough (tired early at night or after a cocktail, restless sleep, waking up early, dizziness, foggy head), but after my doctor reduced my dose to 2.5 mg/day, side effects improved. The ones that remain are profuse night sweats (soaked sheets) and constipation. It does make you a bit tired, but I take it before bed. It completely helped with my irritation/agitation towards people and my children. I have a ton more patience and less anxiety overall. The biggest issue I have is the cost. Get the Abilify Savings Card if you are starting a new prescription!"

• Noc...
• November 12, 2014

"I'm a 21-year-old female and just diagnosed with Bipolar I. It's been a roller coaster ride, especially after gaining 10 pounds in the hospital while taking risperidone and Depakote. I'm still on the Depakote, though I hope to discontinue it as soon as my psychiatrist allows, but I just switched to Abilify. I've got to say, so far I have no complaints. With risperidone, I had no 'lid' to my hunger. It was endless, and that was quite disappointing. There were many other side effects, but the weight gain has added to my self-loathing. Though the painful heart dysrhythmias are a close second. I'm hoping that Abilify makes it possible for me to curb my appetite back to what it used to be as I exercise the 30 pounds I don't need away."

• Tal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2018

"I was started on Abilify as a mood stabilizer for Bipolar I manic episodes. I was afraid to take it at first (as I am with all meds), but I took 1/4 of the pill days 1-2. Felt no ill effects except tiredness. Took 1/2 pill for 2 weeks. Noticed immediately my mood leveled out. Still made me tired at night. Groggy in the morning but wore off as the day went on. Now, on a whole 5 mg and so far it has been wonderful! I feel so much happier and leveled off with my moods. I feel normal. It’s fantastic! It still makes me tired when I first take it at night (so I can sleep finally), but the early morning grogginess is much better. Used to last all morning. Now lasts maybe an hour. Love it!!"

• Izz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 7, 2015

"Desperately trying to get back on Abilify, but insurance is awful. My suicidal thoughts are back. The Abilify balanced me out, and I could sleep while on it. (It's almost 5 am, and I haven't slept yet.)"