Get Informed: Abilify

279

Patient Comments About
Abilify

Active Ingredient(s)

Aripiprazole

What does it do?

Abilify

This product is used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. Its mechanism of action is unknown.

Last Text Update:
 2010-09-08 21:22
Last Data Update:
 2010-09-08 21:06

Other Names

  • Abilify
  • Aripiprazole

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Average Risk Rating
2:
Pregnancy Category
C

Black Box Warning

This product has black box warnings related to increased risk of death when used in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis, and relating to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior when used in children and adolescents with depression.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
15 Nov 2002
Est US Patients*
6,727,000
Generic Available
No
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

38

< 21

37

21-39

19

40-59

6

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Abilify or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Abilify

Abilify Safety Report

2:

The iGuard risk rating for Abilify is orange. This rating takes into account the fact that Abilify has been associated with an increased risk of diabetes, and rare movement problems. It means that should normally be used cautiously to minimize the risk of serious side effects.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Abilify interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Abilify used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 50,700 patients that use Abilify (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Bipolar Disorder 81% mild 6 severe
Depression 35% mild 7 severe
Anxiety 27% mild 7 severe
Psychosis 5% mild 4 severe
Insomnia 3% mild 5 severe

How well does Abilify work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 50,700 users taking Abilify (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM). This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

6.5
6.56.5 6.5
6.5
6.56.5 6.5
83%
of patients are confident that the good things about Abilify outweigh the bad things.
29%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Abilify.

Common Side Effects of Abilify

iGuard regularly polls our more than 50,700 users taking Abilify (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

33%

33% of patients experience side-effects on Abilify

8%

8% of patients experience significant side-effects on Abilify


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 10% Restlessness
  • 10% Muscle Pain/Cramps
  • 5% Mood/Behavior Changes
  • 5% Drowsiness
  • 5% Weight Gain
  • 5% Headache
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Hypoglycemia


Global Patient Feedback for Abilify (Aripiprazole) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first
English Comments | Global Comments

Question/Comment:

I have been on Abilify for several months now. I am also taking benztropine, bupropion, clonazepam, risperidone, and trazadone. I have a lot of side effects, but not sure which side effect goes with which drug. I do know that I have been feeling better since starting Abilify (30mg)

36 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-08-10 16:25:46

Question/Comment:

I'm currently taking 10mg of abilify a day and my only complaints about it are that when I was taking 30mg it raised my resting heart rate to over 100 beats a minute and raised my body temperature from 97.7 average to a constant 99 degrees, usually around 99.9. My heart rate is now back down in the 70's since being on the lower dose. I know it's the abilify doing it because I quit taking it while I was pregnant and my temp went down again to where it use to be and so did my heart rate until I had the baby and began taking it again. Now my temp is a constant 99 degrees again but at least my heart rate is normal on only 10mg. Has anyone else had this problem?

44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-06-20 23:08:38

Question/Comment:

I have been taking Abilify 5mg for several months and haven't felt this good in 20 years! I am getting back to the old me. I love Abilify!

55 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-06-04 18:08:02

Member Answer/Reply:

Are you taking it with any other medication?

36 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-07-13 08:50:33

Question/Comment:

My Dr just prescribed 40mg of Abilify. Taking me from 20mg. Does that seem extremely high to anyone else? I don't see here on the boards where anyone else is taking a dose that high. Any thoughts? She did lower my Topamax from 400mg to 200mg. Thanks for you thoughts on this matter.

41 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-06-03 02:07:15

Question/Comment:

I am on 10mg. lexapro, 50mg. lamatical, and 10mg. of abilify. Also, I take 200mg. of provigil twice a day. I do not have any desire to do anything but sit in my chair. As for as my depression goes, I am better than ever! But this feeling of wanting to do nothing is really getting to me. Without the provigil, I would sleep 24hrs. a day. I take all my medications before bedtime, except the provigil. Has anyone else had this problem? And what, if anything, can I do? I am desperate.

58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-04-19 10:47:36

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Lexapro, Lamictal and Abilify can affect your energy level, even taking them at bedtime. You could try to talk with your doctor about adjusting your doses to see if a better balance between your energy level and state of mind can be found. Also, you can talk to your doctor about adding in some exercise to see if added activity helps to increase your energy level and give your endorphins, or natural mood lifters, a boost.

Posted: 2010-05-05 12:49:05

Return to main medication page Page 1 of 6

You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.

Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard user may post questions and reply.

Your Comments or Questions:

Simply type the text you wish to publish and click submit. Please confine comments to those that may be useful to other patients.

characters remaining

DISCLAIMER: iGuard is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. iGuard cannot and does not take into consideration every possible interaction or account for individual responses to medicine. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have before making any changes to your treatment. The use of the iGuard site and its content is at your own risk. The iGuard site and the information contained in it is intended for users in the United States and information in other countries may be different.

HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99.9% of hacker crime.
Bookmark and Share