Aripiprazole and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Tal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2018

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I was started on Abilify as a mood stabilizer for Bipolar I manic episodes. I was afraid to take it at first (as I am with all meds), but I took 1/4 of the pill days 1-2. Felt no ill effects except tiredness. Took 1/2 pill for 2 weeks. Noticed immediately my mood leveled out. Still made me tired at night. Groggy in the morning but wore off as the day went on. Now, on a whole 5 mg and so far it has been wonderful! I feel so much happier and leveled off with my moods. I feel normal. It’s fantastic! It still makes me tired when I first take it at night (so I can sleep finally), but the early morning grogginess is much better. Used to last all morning. Now lasts maybe an hour. Love it!!"

• ann...
• March 25, 2010

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "I've been on Abilify for about two months. So far, I've found it to be weight neutral. At first, I felt faint a lot, but much less now. I also had tremors at first and difficulty speaking, with a lot of tiredness, but all that has passed. In all, it helps my psychotic symptoms and delusions, not 100%, but it's good enough. I would recommend it to anyone it's prescribed."

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2019

Aripiprazole for Depression "Horrible experience. My doctor put me on Abilify to boost my antidepressant that I was taking because I was still feeling depressed. It did nothing to help improve my depression. All it did was make me extremely tired and drowsy all the time. I later found out Abilify is a psychotic medication. It may be more useful in other areas, but not for just depression."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2012

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "Switched to Abilify from a high dose of Risperdal. Weight gain much less of an issue with Abilify, but drowsiness, depression, and lethargy are a problem. Does not help with any negative symptoms. Abilify maintains a mental state with minimal psychotic symptoms for me, but also causes lactation and motivational problems."

• Mak...
• February 5, 2016

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "This drug is horrendous. I spent a week in a psychiatric ward the year I was twenty, and they titrated it up to ten milligrams by the time I was let out. I was a complete zombie, exhausted all the time - could fall asleep anywhere, any time of the day - so anxious that I had to keep moving my body to function. Kept crossing and uncrossing my legs, wringing my hands, etc. I was so numbed out I simply didn't enjoy life. I don't know how I managed to not kill myself. This thing will wreck you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2018

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "Not myself on this medication. Feel lethargic. Plus, symptoms of depression have gotten worse, and so has being more paranoid. Feel emotionless and zombified after 2 months of taking it. Will never take this medication again."

• tay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2018

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I would love to share my experience with this medication. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with major mood swings affecting my daily life, such as work. I tried Abilify 10 mg, and it made me feel like the living dead, no energy, feeling tired, and a really bad increase in anxiety and feeling paranoid. I was then lowered the dosage to 5 mg, however, it still made me tired and increased my anxiety. My physician does not want to take me off of it. I really do not wish to proceed with this medication. I stopped taking it without letting my doctor know. I really hope to try something else. Thanks."

• tay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2018

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I would love to share my experience with this medication. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with major mood swings affecting my daily life, such as work. I tried Abilify 10 mg, and it made me feel like the living dead, no energy, feeling tired, and a really bad increase in anxiety and feeling paranoid. I was then lowered the dosage to 5 mg, however, it still made me tired and increased my anxiety. My physician does not want to take me off of it. I really do not wish to proceed with this medication. I stopped taking it without letting my doctor know. I really hope to try something else. Thanks."

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2008

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Abilify for a week. It has already taken the edge off the rages. However, I am still experiencing high anxiety. My family says I am calmer, so that is definitely a plus. I feel tired and wired at the same time - it is a weird feeling. I am very paranoid. I was paranoid before, but this seems to have made it worse. But I am only on 2 mg. At least the rages are better. I am hopeful that this medication, along with help from my doctor, will be enough to get my life back."

• And...
• February 10, 2021

Aripiprazole for Depression "I've been on Abilify Maintena 10 mg for 4 months, and I asked to be taken off the drug a week ago. It didn't help with my depression, I am emotionally numb now, still have an increased appetite and no energy. I used to be incredibly active. I don't know how much longer it will take for the side effects to disappear. Do not take this drug if you have the same symptoms."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2022

Aripiprazole for Depression "I took it to “help” my Effexor with my anxiety and depression symptoms. But it was not the right drug for me. I got side effects the first 3 days like headaches and tiredness, but after that it was ok. After a few days, I felt more energized. Sadly, it made me feel angry and eager."

• sho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2012

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "Loving it so far, seems to be giving me a life. I am a single mom who struggles with bipolar disorder every day and has been on almost everything and a combo of things out there with no success. The only problems I've noticed so far are nausea, dizziness, and being extremely tired throughout the day. I have only been on the medicine for a short period of time, so I'm hoping these side effects will start to go away, but compared to what I normally deal with, they are nothing. The big issue is I do not have insurance, so my doctor is currently giving me samples. I'm trying to qualify for the financial assistance program, but if I don't, I won't be able to take the medication."

• Dre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2020

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "This drug is okay for psychosis, but it can make me tired at times, and sometimes I cannot sleep. I have insomnia from it. It takes away the bad thoughts, but can make me have OCD-like thought patterns and ruminating thoughts. I have been having odd side effects from it as well, like blurred vision, needing to look up all the time, and sensitivity to light in my eyes. I feel more tired on it than I do off of it. My dose is 400 mg monthly, and these are the side effects I am getting off of it."

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2019

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I felt great for about 3 weeks. Now, I've gained about 10 pounds in 2 months and am as depressed as one might be if their loved ones died. I don't know what this is doing to my brain, but I have never felt depression like this before. I'm so tired I can hardly move. I'm weak. I'm basically useless because of the side effects."

• Nut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2022

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "I just got prescribed this yesterday, and I took it today thinking it would be a great drug compared to the Zyprexa I came off of a few months ago. BOY, was I wrong!!! This medication was GODAWFUL!! 20 minutes after I took it, I started feeling insanely tired, then that turned into extreme sleepiness and drowsiness. I became weak, I had severe akathisia, was insanely angry and irritable, I had hallucinations, vomiting, and diarrhea. I quit cold turkey. Most of the side effects wore off even though I took a nap, but I still feel tired, like I need to nap. Never again 0/10. I took this in 2012 when I was 13, but I don’t remember it being this awful. Terrible medication."

• fre...
• December 18, 2008

Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder "In a cocktail of anticonvulsants, this non-neuroleptic antipsychotic is great in stabilizing mixed manic symptoms and the depressive side. It took me one month to bear the side effects, but now it's okay. Better than all the antipsychotics I tried before that gave me unbearable tiredness or tremors/jerkiness."

• rea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2015

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "I'm still hoping this drug will actually produce some results, but it hasn't made a difference yet. What it has done, though, is make me feel REALLY lethargic, to the point I stopped taking it in the morning as I was directed, because I'd be unable to function at all. But now that I take it at night, I still feel lethargic, but I cannot actually fall asleep or stay asleep. I just feel like a drugged-out mess. Also, I read this can cause weight gain and excessive hunger, but I'm the opposite. I have zero appetite. I'm not impressed yet, but I'm encouraged by so many others who say it's helped them. So I'm gonna try a little longer."

• 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."

• gar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2014

Aripiprazole for Major Depressive Disorder "Update: I have been on Abilify 2 mg and 45 mg Remeron for three months and still doing good. Have gained 10 pounds but needed it. A little tired at times, but well worth it. No sexual side effects. Hoping for long-term success!"

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2009

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "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."

• 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."

• Dan...
• January 19, 2016

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I call Abilify my miracle drug. I have been on a lot of medications in the past, and nothing has worked as well as Abilify for stabilizing my mood and reducing paranoia and anxiety. I get a pretty rare side effect called ocular gyric crisis, so I take Artane as well to counter the side effect, and it works well. Although I have a horrible side effect from Abilify, I am still very happy with it. The only problem is that it is expensive, and Medicaid refused to cover it unless I tried three other meds from the same family. I am on number three (I tried Geodon and Seroquel, and they made me exhausted and am giving Risperdal a go), but so far nothing has been as effective as Abilify. I am hoping Medicaid will cover it soon. I was on 20 mg daily."

• CBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

Aripiprazole for Depression "The first three days or so after I began taking Abilify 2 mg were pretty bad - I was exhausted, nauseous, and felt like a zombie. However, through the third day, these symptoms began to improve, and by the fourth, they were barely noticeable. Now, on the sixth day, I'm still a little nauseous, but not enough to be bothersome, and I'm hoping that'll go away too. The positive effects are incredible so far. I wake up feeling positive about the day to come, have much more emotional energy, and don't have to hype myself up for 20 minutes before each tiny task - I can just get up and do it! I'm glad I was able to get through the first days; it was worth it. I'm also taking Prozac 10 mg to help with OCD symptoms and have been for years, but it has never helped with depression like it was supposed to."

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

Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia "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!"

• 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."