Aripiprazole and Depression: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 13, 2021

For Depression "I was originally put on Abilify to bolster the Lexapro I was already on in an attempt to treat my depression. I later got diagnosed as bipolar, but that really isn't relevant as it is used to treat both. In the ~1 year I was on it, I gained just over 60 lbs without any changes to my diet or activity, and in the 3-ish months I've been off of it, I have lost 20 of them without any changes like before. In addition to Abilify messing with my metabolism, I also had multiple hypomanic and depressive episodes, so it was a bad drug in that regard too. Overall, being on Abilify was a horrible experience that has messed up my schooling due to being unstable and my self-esteem due to the outrageous amount of weight I gained."

• JCr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on 5 mg of aripiprazole for about 7 weeks when I decided I couldn't take the depression and anxiety it was causing. No, this wasn't my norm, and it was obvious where it was stemming from. I had gone off other medicine cold turkey in the past, so I thought I would be fine. I wasn't. By a week in, I hit a depression so bad it was nearly debilitating. About 4 days after that, the insomnia started, and I couldn't take it anymore, so I went back on the 5 mg and decided to taper slowly. I know everyone is different, but please don't mess around with this drug. Go up in dosage slowly, go down in dosage slowly. The feelings I experienced when going off cold turkey absolutely terrified me, and I vowed to never cold turkey a drug again. My doctor said my reaction was 'rare.' Rubbish! The withdrawal symptoms can be absolutely awful. Don't do what I did. I've now tapered to about 2.5 - 3 mg and still going. Things have been so much better after going down the right way."

• Mon...
• August 18, 2021

For Depression "My doctor suggested this medication for me today. Since I have started taking it, I have anxiety with depression and sometimes racing thoughts. I have been on Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac, and I had side effects from all of them. Some of the reviews I'm reading are good, praying that this medication will help me calm down."

• Hi ...
• August 2, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "Started on aripiprazole in late 2019 and increased up to 10 mg. Once at 10 mg the next year became so bad! I never felt full and always had this hunger sensation - sometimes enough to wake me at night. So commenced binge eating. I would eat regular meals throughout the day, and then as soon as night came, I would binge on thousands of calories. Sometimes I would finish the day on 8,000 calories and yet I still never felt full! I started being treated for binge eating disorder, as that’s what everyone thought it was. In 6 months, I had gained over 50 lbs. In early 2021, I had enough and stopped the medication immediately after realizing the binge eating only started once I was on this medication, and within 2 weeks, all binge urges went away. I am now losing weight and feel in control of my life again. Due to the extra depression and guilt that came with binge eating, it made me mentally worse as well."

• Med...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 15, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "Diagnosed with MDD, OCD, and GAD. Also get migraines and have unexplained chronic fatigue. I've taken generic Abilify (2.5 mg and 5 mg at different times). I found it has been the only med to actually help with my depression/low moods. Luvox and Prozac (SSRIs) both likely caused my long-term fatigue and made me feel emotionally numb, and Wellbutrin (currently on this with Abilify and a stimulant) just didn't help enough without the addition of the Abilify. I recently tried quitting Abilify cold turkey after I got scared from reading about antipsychotics potentially permanently altering brain matter (turns out to be more complex than that). I became extremely depressed within 2 weeks of quitting. I then took 2.5 mg of the Abilify and within an hour, felt almost 'normal' again - no longer in severe mental pain. I rate it 8/10 overall due to losing some efficacy over time + potential long-term side effects, like tardive dyskinesia... But overall the Abilify really helps MDD."

• aut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2022

For Depression "This drug was wrongly prescribed and I’d like to help out the next guy. Not bashing the drug, I really have BPD… and they thought I just had “bipolar” because who wants a BPD diagnosis? Do your own self-research and get a second opinion when it comes to any antipsychotics. This medication made me psychotic… couldn’t drive without severe fear… I crashed my car into a pole. Dissociation, depression beyond anxiety. I made terrible choices. I was living a nightmare…"

• Mag...
• May 25, 2010

Aripiprazole for Depression "I have suffered from major depression, panic-anxiety attacks, and generalized anxiety since 1994. My doctor started my treatment with 10 mg of Paxil (paroxetine). Over the years, the dosage went up from 10 mg to 20 mg, and 20 mg to 30 mg. In July 2008, my doctor raised the dosage from 30 mg to 40 mg, but in April 2010, my depression and panic-anxiety attacks got worse. I felt a lack of motivation, unproductive, unable to think or make decisions, wanted to be in bed all day. I was very depressed. I went to my doctor, and he told me that since I had been taking Paxil for more than 15 years, probably the medication was not working for me anymore, and he prescribed citalopram 20 mg and Provigil 200 mg. I'm doing better. Good luck."

• FMa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 1, 2024

Aripiprazole "Continual weight gain (from 47 to 75 kg) (I am 5'0") - lack of energy to do normal tasks or healthy meal prep. Tight tendons and walking difficulty. Difficulty with memory and concentration. Urinary difficulties (frequency, urgency). On higher doses, could hardly get out of bed. Too fatigued to do many normal tasks, even at the lowest doses. Tendency to shuffle feet and prone to falls. Suicidal due to no energy to do anything useful. No sex drive, emotionally flat. I hate taking this medication, and I don't get a choice. Every time I started to come off it, my husband would begin domestic violence and drive me back onto it."

• 144...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2018

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "This drug is terrible. I can't remember a thing. No desire or passion for anything. Stops my thought process almost entirely. Very scary."

• Nan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2016

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "Hated it. 55-pound weight gain in 6 months. Completely ineffective for psychotic symptoms (delusions). Severe anxiety (prescribed 3 Xanax per day to cope) and depression. Not for me."

• Duc...
• December 4, 2019

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "This made me feel absolutely horrible. It gave me worse derealization, anxiety, and anhedonia, worse than I have ever had. I do NOT recommend ever trying this, stay away from it!!!"

• ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2015

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "This medicine is really helpful with voices, but my paranoia and depression have gotten worse."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2016

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "Horrible side effects. Triggered a depressive episode and could not sit or stand still at all when on this med. Just rocked back and forth. Hated it."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2022

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "It lasted way too long, longer than two months for the 1064 mg. Side effects: dizziness and constipation. Depression."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2013

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "This medicine made me nervous all the time, I was a wreck, I could never sit still. It took away the mania and psychosis but left me suicidal and depressed, so my psychiatrist stopped it."

• Pos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "The intense akathisia and emotional numbness overshadowed any positive effects it had on depression. It worsened anxiety. I wouldn't risk this medication or any atypical on my worst enemy. Stay away!"

• Bmz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2016

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "This is one of the nastiest drugs I've taken for BP. It gave me major depression, major anxiety, restlessness, and major mood swings. I wouldn't recommend this drug to my worst enemy."

• cls...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2018

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "Weight gain and depression"

• Eis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 26, 2020

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on this for about two, almost three years before I stopped taking it. During that time, I was more depressed than before, more consistently. 0/10 do not recommend."