Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia User Reviews (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2009

Aripiprazole "I've used 5 mg daily for three weeks. My delusions and paranoid feelings passed. I still have hallucinations (voices and visual). It's helped my thinking, though it makes me very tired in the day. I hope it will continue to help."

• Dia...
• November 19, 2009

Aripiprazole "My mom, who was on Prolixin for years, was put on Abilify in 2005 and was on it until 2007. She became more needy and more annoying, but wasn't having the psychotic symptoms as bad. The mental health center, who was regulating her medication, never checked her blood sugar, only blood pressure. She took a random blood test at a Walmart store and found her blood sugar was way out of control. She comes from a family with no history of diabetes, and she did drink soda or eat high-sugar foods. She stopped taking the Abilify cold turkey, which caused her to rebound into severe schizophrenic episodes. No one could reason with her."

• jer...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 19, 2016

Aripiprazole "I cannot imagine why I stood so long on it! I stood on Abilify for 3 years and 2 months. My problem with Abilify was that my blood sugar level increased and I became extremely hungry all the time. If you have bad blood sugar, you need to eat often. And on everything. I even gained weight at the slightest. The only positive was that I was not psychotic on it, and my dreams when I was sleeping were OK! But Abilify affected my personality, I was not me on it. I was like somebody else, but I do not know who! Abilify served only 2 out of 10."

• Kyr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2021

Aripiprazole "I have a delusional disorder. I had a good experience. Calmed me down to the point I wasn't making rash actions and statements. Benefits: ups your dopamine in the right places, lowers it in the right places (rather than just lowering it altogether). Side effects: little to no side effects. There is a slightly dulled or sedating sensation... and at the same time, a little restlessness. But unlike when on other antipsychotics, I was able to go about my daily activities (and enjoy them). Dosage: 400 mg, also available in 300 mg injection. Ease of use: nurse comes straight to my door to administer. You might have to go to a hospital to get it done if you don't have a nurse. Notes: combines well with Zoloft (sertraline). Highly recommend this drug if you have to take it to stay out of the hospital. If you have to choose between this and Invega Sustenna, always take this one."

• Kel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2021

Aripiprazole "In my experience with this, it is more of a harm than a help. The side effects alone were worse than the initial schizophrenia/depression, an inability to mentally function in a healthy way. I strongly advise anybody who has been taking or is about to take any injectable Aristada to consider other options. Your physical health is compromised in a way that I have never felt off of any other kind of antidepressant, mood stabilizer, or schizophrenia medication. They never should have approved it. The first month, I thought it was a godsend, now here I am, seven months later, and my involuntary muscle movements in my legs, continuous leg shaking, and jumping. It also made the suicidal thoughts worse."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2015

Aripiprazole "I took Abilify for only three days, half of the minimum dosage a day, which is 2.5 mg, still enough to cause me a collapse in which I almost died! I quit immediately, but I still experienced heart problems for the following two months."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2019

Aripiprazole "I have been using Abilify Maintena for 2 months now. I had very little problems with my illness to begin with, but my psychiatrist decided to put me on it due to the many troubles I caused to some people a while ago. The drug has had very little to 0 therapeutic effect for me. In fact, now I have less motivation and a big social anxiety. I was previously on Xeplion (Invega Sustenna), and Abilify is still a lot better than Xeplion because it has a lot fewer side effects."

• Mil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 13, 2018

Aripiprazole "I was on Invega for years. Was always drowsy and gained 100 lbs over 6 years. Then I switched to Abilify last October 2017. Abilify worked so great for me, lost weight, wasn’t drowsy, voices dissipated, etc. Then a month later, the problems started, I fell into a deep hole of nonstop gambling. It started out as just a simple free code bonus for online casinos. It then turned into a full-blown addiction. Drawing my bank account anytime I got paid down to 1-0 dollars trying to win. Always chasing my losses. It has gotten to the point where I started opening credit cards for more and more gambling. I have finally put my foot down and said, “NO More!” I saw my psychiatrist today and came forward with my issues. She told me to taper off Abilify and switch to Vraylar. Here’s to hoping the gambling floats away with the drug leaving my body!"

• Anonymous
• October 2, 2009

Aripiprazole "I was on one Abilify for three years for schizophrenia. At first, I thought it was pretty good. It helped with motivation. But then I started gaining weight. Weight gain on Abilify is very unusual, my doctor said. Anyway, I gained over 50 kg, going from nearly skinny at 78 kg (I'm 6 foot 1 inch) to morbidly obese at 132 kg. Now I'm on ziprasidone (Geodon/Zeldox), and I have lost 7 kg in six months. Hopefully, that weight loss will continue. So if you start gaining weight on this drug, don't ignore it, talk to your doctor about changing medicine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2023

Aripiprazole "Schizophrenia took away the love of my life for years after he started this miracle injection. I see the person I fell in love with, not just sometimes like before, but all the time, consistently with no delusions. It's only been 2 weeks, but I can see it working. The laughing and authentic smile on his face makes me know the nightmare is over, and we can start to build our lives together. Very thankful for this drug."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2023

Aripiprazole "I have schizoaffective disorder and so far it's helping with my symptoms. The odd thing is I feel high all the time. I don't know when or if that will go away, but I'm afraid to drive now because of that. Also, constipation, dizziness, and nausea."

• des...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2015

Aripiprazole "This medication made me feel like my brain was fried, it was so hard to think, and it made me feel hyper on the inside but made my body feel tired and lazy. It was a horrible feeling, and it made my schizophrenia worse!"

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2019

Aripiprazole "My eyelids have started to twitch periodically. I haven't figured that one out yet. I have more physical health symptoms than mental health symptoms on this Aristada Indicio injection. I take 2.4 mL every 8 weeks. I still feel like this is too much! Plus, the cost is over $2000 a month. I want Abilify back. This drug has way too many side effects that lead to the effect on a short life expectancy."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2019

Aripiprazole "I shared my experience once already. But I need to share it again. It has been now 4 months since I took Abilify Maintena. And with the help of the pill form, I feel like the side effects are really subsiding. I gained 20 lbs, but at least I feel somewhat normal again."

• A A...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 6, 2018

Aripiprazole "I was put on this injection after my insurance wouldn't cover any other injection other than Prolixin. I was covered for this injection through the Prelapse Study. Now if anyone has ever been on Prolixin, you should know that the effects are extremely bad, so being on Abilify Maintena was a godsend. It overall changed me completely to where I am functioning at a normal state and haven't been in the hospital since I have been put on this injection. I do have some side effects from the injection, which most notably is the uncontrollable muscle movements, which I am uncertain if this is unrelated to the drug itself or if I have a form of Tourette's. Also, I did notice some uncontrollable urges in spending money/gambling, more than what I thought I would have normally done. Overall, to be honest, the benefits outweigh the cons in my concern."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2020

Aripiprazole "I was on Abilify for constantly thinking disorder, it made me gain a lot of weight. I have a lot of thoughts, the medicine did nothing to stop them. I feel like it just created more anxiety and akathisia."

• Gre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 2, 2019

Aripiprazole "I have used the Abilify Maintena for 7-8 months. All the side effects have almost disappeared except for the anxiety. My psychiatrist has agreed to put me off of it. I guess the anxiety will wear off within a couple of months."

• Gab...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 23, 2022

Aripiprazole "I would rate it a 10/10 if you care to move on with life and take care of your present matters. It took me a couple of months to become effective, and I immediately started with the injections. If you decide to take this route, just be mindful of making better decisions. Thanks, pharma!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2022

Aripiprazole "I receive Aristada injection every other month. It's 1064 mg. I just read the side effects of this injection, and the reviews are all negative. I have nothing positive to say about this injection, it hurts worse than a tetanus shot, it makes me sleep for days afterwards, and it feels like someone hit me with a baseball bat where I get the shot. I'm not going to take this injection anymore, but I'm going to talk to my doctor about another medicine."

• Ean...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2019

Aripiprazole "My fiancé has been taking meth for a long time. Ever since, he has had a sleeping disorder. Anxiety. Depressed. Doctor suggested this injection, Abilify. Is there anyone here taking meth and tried Abilify?"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2021

"This medication has helped me tremendously. I no longer hear voices coming from the fan and more. It’s been a lifesaver, to say the least. I also don’t get motor symptoms like I did with other antipsychotics."

• Aid...
• September 16, 2019

"I have been with olanzapine for 15 years since the age of 21. At that time, olanzapine helped me a lot. Then I got married in 2015. A few years later, I detected that taking olanzapine reduced my ability in sexual performance, and at the same time, I felt uncomfortable with olanzapine. Then my doctor switched me to aripiprazole. Right now, my life is happier, and I can socialize with my friends easier. I feel close to a normal person in behavior, and at the same time, my sexual performance with my wife is better, and I can make her happy in bed. I just want to share this happy story. Thanks, aripiprazole."

• Jos...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 31, 2021

Aripiprazole "I am on 300 mg injection and experience difficulty breathing and problems with the waterworks, and my face is constantly moving when walking. I take multiple supplements to counteract the effects of the drug, including serra enzyme for my shaking in the arms. I have been admitted to the hospital for low blood sugar, and the drug is extremely oppressive to expect me to take it."

• Cas...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 13, 2019

Aripiprazole "I've been on Abilify now for 6 years for schizophrenia, and at first it worked, but now I was up to 10 mg and hallucinating, visual and audible, severe muscle cramping all over my body, my legs and feet never stopped moving, I couldn't eat but I took really small bites because I couldn't swallow. It removed my sex drive, I'm a sex addict. It changed me in every way possible. I went cold turkey 2 weeks ago, and I feel alive again, all the side effects have all but disappeared. I won't go back to it or any other psychotic drug."

• Cdn...
• August 3, 2021

Aripiprazole "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."