Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2012

Aripiprazole "Sadly, this medicine was at one time my worst enemy. I couldn't sit still on it, I kept pacing and twitching, half screaming, half crying, agitated, itchy, and angry. I couldn't sleep for more than 4 hours a night, and I was only on 2.5 mg of it. I don't remember if I ate or not on it, but probably not because I was in a type of hell. I know it's a good medicine for a lot of people, but for me, it turned my life upside down."

• Sal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 6, 2016

Aripiprazole "Been on Abilify for 8 years. It completely removed my delusional thinking patterns at just 5 mg, and at 10 mg, it resolved a mania psychosis and helped me get my life back on track. Only side effects were insomnia (which I took Imozop for) for when I initially began taking it, but 2-3 weeks after the trial, I was side-effect free."

• NoM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2019

Aripiprazole "Took Haldol for 30 years. Switched to Abilify 4 days ago. I developed severe constipation. Had constipation on Haldol also, but not as bad. Gained 8 lbs in 4 days on Abilify. My experience with Abilify has now convinced me I am through with anti-psychotics regardless of the consequences. The only way I will take anti-psychotics is by being strapped down and a judge's order forces a doctor to give it to me."

• Unk...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2022

Aripiprazole "Worst experience of my life. Gave me suicidal thoughts, insomnia, mania, delusions, the perception that I want to sleep with men, and hallucinations. If you’re taking this drug, you might as well set up a tent at the hospital."

• tre...
• May 7, 2009

Aripiprazole "This medicine is truly great. It helped to stop my bipolar swings and keep me level. The only reason that I did not give it a 10 is that it only lasted 3 years. Then the symptoms came back, but while it worked, it was great. Hardly any side effects except some weight gain that may or may not be attributed to this drug. I would recommend this drug to anybody."

• SAD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2018

Aripiprazole "I have had schizoaffective disorder for 18 years. I was on haloperidol for over 10 years, been on Abilify for 3 weeks, and I can actually have feelings of happiness and contentment now. Teamed with an antidepressant called Endep, I feel better than I have for 18 years. More energy, less paranoia, able to concentrate for longer periods of time. I was getting side effects of hunger, but I just drink water instead of eating. Hunger is subsiding 3 1/2 weeks taking Abilify. Experiencing some insomnia but getting more and more sleep every night. Otherwise, feeling great, ready to take on the world!"

• ImD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2019

Aripiprazole "I took duloxetine 6 years back, came off it because it made me aggressive and just hated people. My psychosis doc put me on this and gave me diazepam to try and combat the early stages. I’ve taken it for a few days, the aripiprazole has done the same as duloxetine did, and the diazepam just made me numb to feeling any guilt. I’m stopping taking it and dropping the whole lot. I’m gonna end up in prison if I carry on with this."

• sch...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2023

Aripiprazole "Very, very good. Had a psychotic break, and this manages the symptoms. I first tried risperidone and some other hard-side effect antipsychotics. They work, but you sleep all the time. This is the best of the best."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2012

Aripiprazole "Abilify worked better for me than Risperdal for my odd thinking, and I hear voices less on Abilify than Risperdal as well. It also gave me no side effects. Unfortunately, I did not find the Abilify to be 100% effective. It does very little for my mood episodes as monotherapy. My psychotic symptoms still seem to pop up here and there too, even on the highest effective dose of 20 mg. Currently, I'm looking for a more effective antipsychotic that doesn't cost an arm and a leg either."

• pin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2019

Aripiprazole "I’ve been taking Aripiprazole for about 4 days, and I already feel a lot less depressed. But not 100% yet, it’s too soon to tell. I still have anxiety. I will follow up soon. Also, I have noticed no side effects so far besides appetite increase (which is good in my case because I am underweight) and dizziness/sleepiness when it kicks in. So I take it at night."

• CAC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2021

Aripiprazole "Was prescribed this by my Pdoc. Took my scheduled doses for two days, and the next thing I knew, I was in the hospital. Extreme heart rate and blood pressure through the roof. Made me extremely manic and irritable. It's been six years since I have taken it and still have some effects. Thought process has changed dramatically since the episode, and I lost the ability to think and problem-solve. I have lost most short-term memory as well as some long-term. My once-creative side before taking (musically, art) is now completely gone. Many tests later, doctors still cannot find what the problem is, no evidence of brain damage, but they do believe something was altered in my brain. Happy for anyone that can take this medication without side effects, but if you get prescribed, ask about these side effects. This has impacted my life drastically, and since then I cannot take any medications. I'll get extremely agitated taking pills and anxiety through the roof."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2016

Aripiprazole "Having increased hallucinations and paranoia, and feeling isolated. This is making it hard to get out with people, and I have been on 10 mg. Good things are I am feeling more active in general, taking better care of myself. Not too happy with the amount of voices that occur when on this med. It has made me more hungry and restless."

• sne...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2022

Aripiprazole "I was initially prescribed Abilify to treat the negative symptoms of schizophrenia (flat affect), and it definitely has worked for that. I feel more able to express myself, like I'm no longer burdened by depression. I have been sleeping 7-8 hours instead of my usual 10 and waking up with more energy. Also, it has unexpectedly cured my anxiety, which was pretty serious. I feel like I can participate in life now due to that aspect. Just having the anxiety lifted has improved my mood. I don't feel stoned or anything, just normal. The only side effects have been sleeping lighter and dreaming more, plus some minor dizziness after taking the pill. The first few days were intense nausea, but that went away completely. Mind you, I'm only 1 week into the treatment, but already these insane improvements. Not sure how effective it is in treating people without schizo symptoms, but it has worked for me."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2019

Aripiprazole "I have been on Abilify for 1 year now at 30 mg. I think the shot made the side effects worse, like dizziness upon standing up and drowsiness. It made me have no drive and feel like a zombie, but at that time, I needed that to not think of what I just went through with domestic violence. My doctor won't take me off it. He just lowered my dose and put me back on pills. He increased my Cymbalta to 60 mg. Hopefully, this will help with the dizziness, drowsiness, and depression. Overall, it helped when I needed it. It makes me sleep too much - 12 hours a night plus naps, very tired. I want off it, but since my doctor won't change it and I don't want to get my depression back, I can't stop it."

• ImN...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 6, 2015

Aripiprazole "I took Abilify for over a year, at 30 mg. I remember a few pros and cons. Pro: I became okay with not having to talk, explain, or stir up 'energy' at public gatherings. (Took away the 'prophet - tell them or they'll all die' urge completely.) Pro: I could complete projects without superstition or worry that every tiny detail could lead to catastrophe. Con: Severe akathisia (very painful, and pain wasn't managed at all in the hospital. This is why I don't take antipsychotics anymore!) Con: Loss of creativity/writer's block. Con: Very flat personality. Con: Visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations did not go away, so they kept increasing the dose to the highest dose - still never went away. If there was no pain, I'd give this a 9."

• Dru...
• February 15, 2020

Aripiprazole "I was forced to take the maximum dose of this drug through what is called a CTO 'community treatment order.' It did absolutely nothing but make me tired and put on weight. And very low sex drive. In 1 year and a half after trying a number of antipsychotics, I went from weighing 160 pounds to now weighing over 220... that's about the only thing these drugs seem to be good for. I have absolutely no motivation to do anything either. I'm now on Loxapine, which is supposed to be weight neutral, but still I seem to be putting some weight on. I would recommend Loxapine more than any antipsychotic I've tried, only because it has put on the least amount of weight."

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2011

Aripiprazole "Abilify was the first antipsychotic my doctor tried with me after I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. It did nothing for me. My main symptoms are depression, difficulty concentrating, and hallucinations. I noticed no difference in any of these while on the Abilify. Except for the side effects, you would think I wasn't taking anything. The side effects were orthostatic hypotension (dizziness upon standing), blurred vision, and involuntary muscle twitches. My doctor took me off Abilify after three weeks, and we tried Invega, which worked much better."

• Guz...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 28, 2021

Aripiprazole "I was on Abilify for 11 years and noticed that it made my mind clearer but numb. I was then taken off the medication on medical advice, which led to 2 arrests and being sectioned. I’m back on Abilify, but I’m very, very concerned about the long-term effects of this medication."

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 2, 2017

Aripiprazole "I've left an experience description on this site on July 1, 2016. On the plus side, I'm still calm, socially acceptable, void of psychosis, anger, am kinder and gentler. But I've continued to develop anxiety. It is accompanied by a strong depression. The quality of my life has taken a turn for the worse for the last two months or so. And it is constantly getting worse. Today I took half a tablet of Clonazepam, as suggested and prescribed by my psychiatrist for exactly this reason. Anxiety, panic. And it helped!! But I resent having to take a pill for such deeply disturbing and serious a side effect. Especially one such pill that is potentially extremely habit-forming, tolerance-developing, and dependence-training."

• RBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2019

Aripiprazole "Took it for schizoaffective and schizophrenia, so here is the review for schizoaffective: took aripiprazole 22.5 mg for 4 weeks when I was manic, and I was stable the whole time, but I couldn't sleep even with sleep medications. The only solution was to add Kemadrin to the mix (anticholinergic used for Parkinson's disease and side effects of antipsychotics). Unfortunately, I was too immature to continue this regimen, so after 3 months of going cold turkey, mania came back. Shame."

• Pap...
• November 27, 2020

Aripiprazole "I’ve been taking Abilify for years. I had to restart it about a month ago after being off of it for about four months. I started getting a really terrible appetite where I just wanted to keep on eating. I think I’ve gained a bit of weight while on it. I have WAY too much energy and have found I’ve become a bit impulsive. Although any hallucinations I used to have have lessened quite a bit, so that’s a plus! I feel like the longer you’re on it, the less bad side effects you feel. If you’re feeling too energized and like you constantly need to move, it may be a thing called Akathisia; a need to always be doing something or a mental unrest. Any anger I used to have has lessened or is gone pretty much. I do feel pretty spaced out a lot and very forgetful, not myself, but at least the psychotic symptoms I had have lessened."

• Dud...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2021

Aripiprazole "Takes away joy of life. Feel slow and dumb with less personality and ability to joke around. Saliva in mouth, I'm feeling so lame on this med, where I used to be so passionate and full of life, now I just feel lethargic and unamused. It helped balance me out when I really needed it, but after a couple of months, it goes downhill. It's very sad, and I'm fighting to get off it and stay off all meds. I'll fight my mental battle without these numbing meds. I want to find that zest of life again. Also, I don't agree with my diagnosis. So yes, helped for a time, but long term, no, I can't stay on this."

• Jan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 30, 2016

Aripiprazole "I have taken Abilify for 11 years now, and although it worked wonders at first, I have developed a rather severe case of tardive dyskinesia, which makes sitting still almost impossible. I believe that after this length of time of taking it, it is losing its efficacy. The parkinsonian-like symptoms of the tardive dyskinesia are also embarrassing and make simple things like typing on my phone difficult. It definitely helped with my violent tendencies. Still, I am ready to look for an alternative second-generation antipsychotic."

• HMA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2019

"I've been on aripiprazole for about three months now - the first two were amazing. I was getting loads done at home - despite feeling previously that I struggled because of something like mild dyspraxia on top of my mental health condition. Then my OCD started creeping in and then I stopped sleeping as much. I spoke to my psychiatrist, and she recommended taking the meds an hour before tea (evening meal) - my sleep improved, but my OCD got really, really bad, and my appetite went - so I reduced the meds myself from 15 to 11.25 - now I feel okay again - I am discussing this with my psychiatrist tomorrow. If I could have spoken to her sooner, I would have done. I wish there was a medication that made you more outgoing, though, as I'm still a bit scared of public transport at the moment. I'm in the UK, so don't know if I'm allowed to review - but thought it might be useful to people."

• wha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 6, 2021

Aripiprazole "This didn't help me and is very, very hard to discontinue. It made me psychotic, and tremors were really bad after my doctor tried stopping it. I still am just on it to avoid the psychosis that follows stopping (right thing to do)."