Aripiprazole and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Xst...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 5, 2016

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I'm 29 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 22 years old. I had bipolar 1, but with Abilify and Lamictal, I now have bipolar 2. I forget a lot of things, have become lazy, have gained 25 pounds in a year, have low motivation, am tired all the time, and have been feeling depressed. I plan on not taking Abilify anymore because I feel as if I've lost myself ... I don't feel unique."

• lql...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2021

Aripiprazole for Depression "Doctor prescribed me Abilify to help augment the effects of my Prozac. After just taking one 5 mg pill, I was vomiting, shivering, nauseous. The next day I vomited again and almost passed out. It gets better each day, but the side effects are bound to last a while due to its long half-life. It also gives me horrible anxiety and is making me feel even more depressed. Honestly, this medicine is horrible. I should have just increased my Prozac dosage instead."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2019

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I hate this drug! I have the more depressive side of bipolar disorder and for some reason got put on this antipsychotic instead of antidepressants. I have had irritability followed by flat affect. All of my creativity is gone, as is my sex drive. I'm starting to get more and more depressed. My medicine's provider keeps saying to wait or canceling appointments! I'm probably going to taper myself off if things don't get changed soon."

• ali...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 8, 2016

Aripiprazole for Depression "I was diagnosed with depression in 2000. My doctor at the time was a bit of a quack and had no idea of the symptoms and treatments for depression. Moving forward, I have been seeing a very good doctor now for about 12 years. As you are well aware, not all meds work for all people. I am only writing this today in hopes of saving someone some time and frustration if Abilify is not working for you. I started taking Abilify as an enhancement to the Wellbutrin that I was already taking. As time went on, my depression got worse. To make a long story short, I went off of Abilify 3 months ago and life has been great. Not sleeping all day or dragging my butt, thinking clearer and having endless amounts of energy. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MED!"

• Hel...
• August 6, 2016

Aripiprazole for Depression "I was on Abilify for 18 months and packed on 80 lbs and discontinued it. It made me feel very flat and very tired. My doctor said it was weight neutral, but it definitely isn't. Seroquel also made me gain, but I'm on Risperidone now, and though I have gained a little, it's not as bad as the others. Abilify didn't help my delusions at all, and I felt quite depressed on it. I quit it cold turkey and lost 6 stone in 7 months but then became ill again. My biggest weight gains were always after I had been out and had a few drinks! Glad to be off it and might look into trying Latuda."

• Kai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 3, 2018

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking Abilify for one to two years now, and I don't feel any different. I still have panic attacks. I still feel like crying and wanting to stay in bed all day. I feel scared all the time. I still feel depressed 24/7."

• Fri...
• September 4, 2016

Aripiprazole for Depression "I started taking Abilify about 4 weeks ago. I am bipolar. Of course, the highs are great and the lows, well, you know. My doctor thought that this would cause me to level out the highs and lows. Not such a bad idea, but I think (no way of knowing for sure) this medication has caused me to go down gradually. Seems like it eliminated the high altogether and caused me to drift into a moderate low. Unlike before taking this med, I am able to still function somewhat better than full-blown depression. Right now, I feel pretty poorly with anxiety and depression. I have thought about stopping this medication, and after reading some of these experiences, I've decided to stop this medication (5 mg) today and see what happens. I still take Lamotrigine."

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

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "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."

• vee...
• March 27, 2017

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have rapid-cycling bipolar and have been on Abilify for a little over 7-8 months. At first, I was on the Abilify by itself, and I experienced worsened anxiety and depression. I was thinking about switching drugs after a few weeks of these negative feelings not going away, so my Pdoc added Zoloft to my mix. This combination was a lifesaver for me. I would definitely recommend using Abilify as an add-on. My mania is manifested as rage, impulsiveness, and rapid negative thoughts in my head, and Abilify stopped that for me. The only negative side effect I have now is weight gain. I've only gained 8 pounds, but I have to ignore my food cravings."

• ted...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 22, 2012

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "Abilify helped me at the maxed-out dose of 30 mg. I noticed that it made my manic episodes be more contained, however, when I was depressed, it dragged me down deeper. I actually was suicidal. It was a real painful thing since usually my manic episodes are a lot worse."

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2015

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Abilify on two separate occasions along with other medications to help with depression and bipolar. Both times was a disaster. This time I've tried to tough out the side effects (working on three months now), and I still can't deal with the way it makes me feel. I feel flat, tired, depressed, low motivation, worthless, hopeless. You name it. I see my doctor tomorrow and plan to demand stopping Abilify."

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2015

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Abilify on two separate occasions along with other medications to help with depression and bipolar. Both times was a disaster. This time I've tried to tough out the side effects (working on three months now), and I still can't deal with the way it makes me feel. I feel flat, tired, depressed, low motivation, worthless, hopeless. You name it. I see my doctor tomorrow and plan to demand stopping Abilify."

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2015

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Abilify on two separate occasions along with other medications to help with depression and bipolar. Both times was a disaster. This time I've tried to tough out the side effects (working on three months now), and I still can't deal with the way it makes me feel. I feel flat, tired, depressed, low motivation, worthless, hopeless. You name it. I see my doctor tomorrow and plan to demand stopping Abilify."

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

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "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 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2019

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "So where to begin. I love how this drug completely turned my life around in a really positive way. Used to have multiple manic episodes a year. I haven't had one in over a year after being on this drug. The reason I'm giving this an 8 is it's incredibly effective as a mood stabilizer, but it makes you too stable to the point of feeling numb at a high dose. Some minor weight gain that's slowly going away, and akathisia, which is also slowly going away. I hope that the anhedonia will also slowly back off over time. Let's see. If I had to take this or be unstable, I would take this. Also, starting this was a nightmare as it made me incredibly agitated before it eventually stabilized my mood."

• Cdn...
• August 3, 2021

Aripiprazole 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."

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

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "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."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2021

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "Abilify destroyed my mental state. I was prescribed Abilify during a hypomanic phase. In the first two weeks of taking it, hypomania left, but depression started. My doctor suggested upping the dose, it made the depression worse. I upped the dose once more. I have been experiencing depression for many years. The depression I got from Abilify 15 mg is like nothing I have ever felt before. Worst 6 months of my life. Near the end, every time I would take it, I was thinking that I was literally poisoning myself. I got off it in late April. The change in my mood was immediate. At the same time, I started taking lamotrigine (miracle - 50 mg to start). I finally understood what normal feels like. Abilify gave me a 6-month nightmare. I know for some people it might work wonders, but for me, I would even prefer to go untreated instead of using this drug ever again."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2017

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "Was put on Abilify to control hypomania. I'm very, very sensitive to pretty much every medication. Initially, I had a stomach ache that only lasted one night and some tiredness the first two days. However... after this, I had severe hypomania and restlessness that just didn't go away. It wasn't akathisia, though. Unfortunately, I can't reach the mood stabilizing effect - being at least 10 mg - since I can't go any higher than 1.25 mg without having side effects such as emotional numbness, numbness of my face, twitching, increased eye blinking - which, of course, scares me since there is a risk of Tardive Dyskinesia. It's definitely a very powerful drug. But it really did help my depression and anxiety, just didn't help control my hypomania. LOL"

• OWE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2017

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "This medication was the worst experience of my life, and I've been through a lot of rubbish. I experienced insomnia, depression, anxiety, and pseudo ME on Abilify. I was on it for 3 months, and I spent my time feeling lobotomized and wanting to give up on life. It took me 3 months to fully get back to my old self, going between depressed and manic. I found a medication that works for me without professional help afterwards."

• gre...
• February 13, 2011

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I know every medication works differently on each person. But Abilify worked great for the first few months. I felt like my old self again. I took 10 mg once a day, but over the course of 1.5 years, my blood pressure went up (never had a problem with it before, it had always been perfect), all my cholesterol levels skyrocketed, my glucose levels went up, my muscles began to get tight, I gained 50 lbs too, and the worst part was that I was beginning to have more up-and-down moments and depression."

• Mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2019

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Abilify Maintena for 3 days. I already feel better after being on paliperidone depot, which made me depressed, anxious, and I had had dark thought patterns. Abilify has to be the better medication I've tried. I was diagnosed with bipolar in 2009."

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

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Psy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2022

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "Not effective enough for the long-term, therapeutic management of certain psychoses. I coped well on Aripiprazole or Abilify initially along with an antidepressant, but the benefits soon stopped. I’m now back to square 1 - paranoid, delusional, and horribly depressed and anxious. Some swear by Abilify and its non-sedating, alerting effects. I personally cannot tolerate this med any longer and will be handing it back to my pharmacy."

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on Latuda, and I heard it was good with Abilify for paranoia or as an extra antipsychotic, but no, it was not. I was doing much better on Latuda, fully motivated to do everything I ever wanted to do. Then I got a psychotic episode, got added Abilify to my Latuda, and I had no motivation whatsoever. I was living in another world with no consequences that turned into a hell, and my life was ruined forever, and I couldn't do anything about it with the lack of motivation or being able to do anything except be really angry with my family for so long. I never used to be that angry or hostile with them before that, or at least it wasn't fake. I'm on 12 mg of Invega and 325 mg of Lamictal and am doing much better now."