Aripiprazole and Hallucinations: What Users Say

• Son...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2020

Aripiprazole for Depression "I was on Abilify a grand total of 10 days before I had to stop. It's hard to describe how anxious/claustrophobic/panicky/nauseous I felt in that short amount of time. My suicidal thoughts spiked due to the intensity of the fever dream-like delirium. It felt like I was trapped on a roller coaster inside my own head, nauseous and ready to hurl, yet I couldn't get off. I guess you could say my depression subsided, but that's because my mind simply couldn't focus on anything besides how horrendous I felt. I've only ever suffered from anxiety and depression, but Abilify made me feel truly psychotic."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2020

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Abilify (generic) for about a month now. My lows are higher and my highs are nonexistent. I’m mostly flat emotionally, lacking interest in everything, including people. It is good for my irritability and delusions, but the side effects are tough."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2019

Aripiprazole for Depression "Abilify is not the answer. I have been taking it for 3 years. I am emotionally numb and have gained 35 lbs. I now have issues with cholesterol, blood sugar, and thyroid function. I still hear voices and have gone through some of my darkest episodes of depression. Blocking dopamine levels is not the answer. It disturbs homeostasis and cures nothing. The psychiatric community is reaching for an answer when they still don’t understand the disease. They cannot measure dopamine levels and have no idea if high dopamine levels are truly the cause of psychosis. The side effects are not worth it especially when it doesn’t cure psychosis."

• Yod...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 29, 2013

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been on Abilify for about 14 years and I have found it to be very beneficial. I suffered from verbal and visual hallucinations. Thanks to Abilify, I have been symptom-free for a number of years. Thank God."

• ail...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2020

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I took this medication for about two months, I'd say. The highest I ever went to was 5 mg. While it did work on the depression, it made the mania a lot worse to the point where I went psychotic and ended up in the hospital. The biggest issue I had was that the doctor was very intent on keeping me on this drug despite the fact it was not working."

• nam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2020

Aripiprazole for Depression "I was on this Abilify for a month or so for depression to enhance my antidepressant, and I had the worst experience. It made me have the most awful night terrors/nightmares, and I started hallucinating, seeing little tiny people run around my room, and I thought they were going to hurt me if I went to sleep. I still don't understand why I was given this as a minor."

• Win...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "I started Abilify a week ago at 20 mg daily. The only side effects I’ve noticed are that I fall asleep fine, but I do have vivid dreams and tend to wake up throughout the night. Then, in the daytime, I seem to have an inability to sit still for extended periods of time without moving or stretching. That part is mildly annoying. However, I have noticed a slight increase in energy level or the ability to just get up and take my dog out for walks and have started to get more motivated to actually get stuff done around the house, which off medication was very hard for me to do. I’ve had no weight gain or any other side effects yet, but I have only been on it for a week. 20 mg is a high dose to start at, but it’s what the hospital gave me, so it’s what I’m taking. I’ll update my post as I get a little further down the road with this medication. But no voices as of late, but still have those delusions that I’m being watched and followed."

• Mei...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2024

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "I had my first case of auditory and visual hallucinations when I was 26 and wasn't sure what I was experiencing. It quickly went downhill from there when the hallucinations would interfere with my ability to sleep, creating a spiraling cycle for me. I was finally hospitalized and given Aristada Initio and Aristada Lauroxil in the hospital. I get one 882 mg injection monthly, it does taper in effectiveness after a two-week period. I then supplement during that two-week period with 10 mg of Abilify oral medicine daily. Abilify and Aristada gave me back my common sense and my pride and keep my schizophrenia symptoms at bay. I would not be stable without this medicine."

• Nic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 17, 2020

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I have borderline personality disorder. Since I started on the medication, I haven’t dissociated as much as before at all. Barely anything across years. Huge plus. I’m also not as suspicious/paranoid socially/interrelation-wise as before, which used to really muck me up. So that’s huge. I feel like I’m just more “sane” and my mind is not as scattered or neurotic/paranoid. I’m still not sane, and I’m still neurotic, lol, and there’s a long road to recovery, but I definitely feel a difference from this medicine. It’s like I got one little extra layer of skin to protect me from my hyper-sensitivity. Thankful for this medicine."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2019

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "Up until recently, I was taking just 1 mg of Abilify along with 300 mg of Lamictal. My doctor had me on 2, but I felt like it made me feel apathetic and kind of dissociated, so I began cutting the pill in half. I did notice that I felt less depressed, could focus better, and did not experience such strong mood episodes. However, within a month, I was experiencing this extremely intense paranoia that I never had before. I had chest pains and headaches regularly. I couldn't eat and often felt sick because of how anxious I was. So yes, Abilify did benefit me alongside this weird side effect. My doctor had me convinced the medication wasn't causing the paranoia, it was 'just me,' but as soon as I stopped taking it, the headaches, chest pains, and bursts of anxiety have stopped. I do feel more depressed and my mood swings have come back harder. I'm getting a new doctor soon to hopefully put me on another type of antipsychotic."

• Pro...
• April 29, 2016

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "My 6-year-old son has been battling some 'mental demons.' He has been hospitalized twice for mood swings, severe outbursts, and psychosis. I still do not have an exact diagnosis. He has been on 3 different medications with minimal effectiveness. I am a single mother, and my life has been pure hell the last 2 years dealing with these circumstances. I was at my end. I was in a complete state of perplexion on what to do. The doctors prescribed Abilify. I cannot believe the difference it has made. My son enjoys his life! He smiles now! He is sweet-natured! He tells me at least once a day how much better he feels! It's only been 2 weeks, I am confident that with constant monitoring and encouragement, he will only progress from here!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2021

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "I've never been diagnosed as schizophrenic, but this made me paranoid and delusional. Strong twitching and noticeable jerking movements, intense anger, frustration, anxiety, unwanted intrusive thoughts, weight gain, and various other symptoms. In response, my psychiatrist increased the dose of aripiprazole and added additional meds to combat the symptoms. I stopped seeing friends, stopped attending events I had been going to on a weekly basis for years. Eventually, I couldn't even go into a grocery store. Two days after discontinuing aripiprazole (with new doc's blessing), I landed in a psychiatric ward. It never occurred to me that it was the medication's side effects and not me, my mind, my inability to just put on my 'big girl pants' and deal with life. Approximately six years since then, and my mind is not the same, I'm not the same. The fallout is real. Then, I was working full-time, just promoted, and in school. Now, I'm on disability. It works for some, but please proceed with caution."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2021

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "I've never been diagnosed as schizophrenic, but this made me paranoid and delusional. Strong twitching and noticeable jerking movements, intense anger, frustration, anxiety, unwanted intrusive thoughts, weight gain, and various other symptoms. In response, my psychiatrist increased the dose of aripiprazole and added additional meds to combat the symptoms. I stopped seeing friends, stopped attending events I had been going to on a weekly basis for years. Eventually, I couldn't even go into a grocery store. Two days after discontinuing aripiprazole (with new doc's blessing), I landed in a psychiatric ward. It never occurred to me that it was the medication's side effects and not me, my mind, my inability to just put on my 'big girl pants' and deal with life. Approximately six years since then, and my mind is not the same, I'm not the same. The fallout is real. Then, I was working full-time, just promoted, and in school. Now, I'm on disability. It works for some, but please proceed with caution."

• Dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2019

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "Successful on Abilify Maintena 300 mg for 5 years, except flat affect, anxiety, and inhibition. Switched to Aristada, hoping to help negative symptoms. First month thought it was a miracle drug... was able to smile, feel more emotion, go to the gym daily (on Abilify, I felt fear going alone). Started feeling agitated slowly, then psychosis started on/off, then full inpatient hospitalization for 2 weeks. Returning to Abilify. Why won’t NIMH reinvest in improved research? Find what was helping in Aristada and remove what wasn’t! I felt so close to feeling normal, but psychosis can take my life away!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2014

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on Abilify to help with major depression/clinical depression and anxiety. The side effects were life-changing. Just horrible. I was put on it at 15. I had hallucinations, pass-out spells, times of absolute carelessness, and increased suicidal thoughts. I also became very hateful and paranoid. I developed unexplained muscle twitches, so my doctor finally took me off of it. I also had constant migraines and increased irritability. I was just a mess on this medication! I still have the muscle twitches, and it's been 5 years since I had Abilify."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 3, 2017

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "I was taking a lot of pills, some of which weren't working for me. Of course, what works for the guy next to me might not work for me and vice versa because our genetic makeup is different. I have been taking this drug for about 3ish years, and well, I didn't notice a difference until about 2 months ago when I raised the dosage by 5 mg a day. I was on other antipsychotics as well as antidepressants and stuff for bipolar disorder. I'm on a 400 mg injection of Abilify monthly, as well as a 5 mg pill form a day still to this day. When I raised the dosage, the voices stopped. They usually come back in some environments like at work, the gym, or even when I get stressed, but the voices and abnormal thoughts dimmed down dramatically. I feel almost normal."

• xfr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2022

Aripiprazole for Depression "I will not have enough space to share all of the horrifying side effects. My resting heart rate went from 64 to 100 on day one. Stomach pain was intolerable. Constipation. Agitation. Brain fog. Hallucinations, constantly seeing bugs that weren't there. Exhaustion. 20 lb weight gain in 3 weeks. Intense food and cigarette cravings. Terrifying and vivid nightmares. Wanting to attempt suicide after 3 weeks on a very low dose, and the doctor told me to stop the meds. The most horrifying side effects I've ever had on a pill. Coming off the med after 3 weeks was a nightmare too."

• Pcd...
• February 23, 2012

Aripiprazole for Depression "I am 16 and have battled depression since junior high. My doctor has me on Prozac and 2 mg of Abilify. Unfortunately, my side effects have only made things worse. I cannot sit still through school, and I am now hearing voices, making me suicidal. I also have strange dreams, and I don't sleep well at all."

• TJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2018

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "It did not stabilize my moods. I’m still all over the place, and the fact that I can’t sit still gets really under my nerves. I’m super paranoid on this. I feel 10x worse than I did before. It messed me up completely. Side effects: Severe akathisia, high anxiety, paranoia, delusions, mania, depression, suicidal ideation. I only took this for 2 weeks at a low dose of 5mg, and I'm done."

• TJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2018

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "It did not stabilize my moods. I’m still all over the place, and the fact that I can’t sit still gets really under my nerves. I’m super paranoid on this. I feel 10x worse than I did before. It messed me up completely. Side effects: Severe akathisia, high anxiety, paranoia, delusions, mania, depression, suicidal ideation. I only took this for 2 weeks at a low dose of 5mg, and I'm done."

• Ski...
• June 5, 2015

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "My experience with Abilify was destructive. I am 25 now and have had MDD since age 10. Four years ago, I took Abilify for about 3-4 months. During that time, I experienced paranoia, delusions, worsened depression, and extreme weight gain. I'd never had paranoia or delusions before, and it brought my normal baseline from a 5/10 to a 1/10. That still hasn't changed. I also experienced an extreme compulsive desire to eat (did not go away after I stopped the medication) as well as total thyroid shutdown (atrophy), as can be affirmed by my endocrinologist. In about four months, I gained 80 lbs (more than 60% of my original body weight). I will be on multiple medications the rest of my life to treat damage from Abilify."

• Ski...
• June 5, 2015

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "My experience with Abilify was destructive. I am 25 now and have had MDD since age 10. Four years ago, I took Abilify for about 3-4 months. During that time, I experienced paranoia, delusions, worsened depression, and extreme weight gain. I'd never had paranoia or delusions before, and it brought my normal baseline from a 5/10 to a 1/10. That still hasn't changed. I also experienced an extreme compulsive desire to eat (did not go away after I stopped the medication) as well as total thyroid shutdown (atrophy), as can be affirmed by my endocrinologist. In about four months, I gained 80 lbs (more than 60% of my original body weight). I will be on multiple medications the rest of my life to treat damage from Abilify."

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

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "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."

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

Aripiprazole for Schizoaffective Disorder "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."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2021

Aripiprazole for Autism "My son is 14 now. He was on 1 mg of Abilify for about two years. It was a nightmare, but he'd become suicidal when we'd try to quit it. His personality changed. He went from being a vegetarian to wanting to hunt and ate meat every meal. He developed bizarre sexual interests, craved alcohol, became so aggressive I couldn't get him to school, and suffered a manic episode and psychotic break requiring hospitalization. He craved sweets constantly and gained 50 pounds. Please think twice before letting your child try this drug. He's on Zyprexa and Depakote now and has never been better."