What Does Abilify Help Facts

What Does Abilify Help Resource

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How long does it take for the restlessness to go away with Abilify? I am bipolar and just started Abilify for 3 days now and the restlessness is really bothering me. I was wondering how long it would take for it to go away... How long does it take for your body to get used to the Abilify so you can sleep normally at night? Any ideas? Any input would be great Thank you

northamtranscontinental replied: "When I first started and after every adjustment it takes me about a week to get used to the dose. :)"

Andy replied: "For some the restlessness may go away and for others it doesn't. I was one of the ones where the restlessness didn't go away on it's own, so I have to take a counteracting medication for it. There are 2 medications that can be tried with Abilify (that I know of) if the restlessness continues or gets worse. They are Cogentin and Artane. I'm on low dose Abilify (5mg/day) and still had restlessness. I had it bad enough for it to actually be considered medically termed akathisia. That's why I need to take the countering medication I'm taking. Don't fret. There are ways of helping the restlessness should it continue. I know taking "side effect" medications seems like a bad thing but it may be worth it if the Abilify helps you with the bipolar. Abilify does help my bipolar disorder and I take Cogentin to manage the restlessness/akathisia. I hope all goes well for you and I wish you best of luck in your treatment decisions."

Does the vomiting side effect of abilify go away? My son started taking abilify a couple of weeks ago. He has vomited every few days since starting. We know this is a side effect but haven't found any information as to whether it goes away. Anyone out there who has used abilify and had this side effect - does it subside or stay constant? We also have the same question about the dizziness. Thanks!

Jake B replied: "no you take that side effect to the grave....LOL no of course it goes away"

John Weelsen replied: "May be this is result of Overdose Detailed Information about Abilify: What happens if I overdose? ===================== Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, vomiting, agitation, aggression, confusion, tremors, fast or slow heart rate, seizure (convulsions), trouble breathing, feeling light-headed, or fainting. How you should take Abilify ==================== Take Abilify exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not take aripiprazole for longer than 6 weeks unless your doctor has told you to. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Abilify can be taken with or without food. Abilify is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor 's instructions. Measure the liquid form of Abilify with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. To take aripiprazole orally disintegrating tablets (Abilify Discmelt): Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package and peel back the foil from the tablet blister. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet. Using dry hands, remove the tablet and place it in your mouth. It will begin to dissolve right away. Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet. It is important to take Abilify regularly to get the most benefit. To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor. Store Abilify tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Abilify oral solution should be stored in the refrigerator and can be used for up to 6 months after opening. What you should avoid while taking Abilify. ================================ Abilify can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Abilify. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking Abilify."

Andy replied: "I believe that these may be initial side effects that may go away. Give it another couple of weeks. If things don't improve then let the doctor know."

Does Abilify cause weight gain by slowing down the metabolism? I have been on abilify for the last month and noticed significant weight gain. Does this med generally cause weight gain since it falls under the class of antipsychotics.

Dr. D replied: "Yes, weight gain is a common side effect of Abilify. Sometimes, the side effect puts the patient at a higher risk for diabetes. Let your physician know."

Andy replied: "I don't know how it happens, but weight gan can be a side effect of Abilify. From what I've been told it's because it increases the appetite causing you to eat more. You may not be eating more but the rule of thumb I've been told with this class of medicines is 5lb+ in 3 weeks. If you gain more than 5lb it's best to see a doctor and let him/her know you are gaining weight from the medication. Maybe they can try something that won't increase your weight. I hope this helps and I wish you the best."

How long does it take for Abilify to start to work for auditory hallucinations? I've been on it a week. I was on Zyprexa before and im decreasing that dosage slowly in order to eventually just be on Abilify.

titoalbanaples replied: "Hard to say. May take a couple of weeks. Depends on how you react to the med."

How long does it take for Abilify to get out of your system? My doctor prescribed Abilify 20 mg daily for me about three weeks ago to treat Bipolar 1 Disorder. I am having the worst side effects, still, three weeks into this. I am extremely anxious, a total insomniac, and cannot sit still for more than five minutes. I am not going to take it anymore. When will this stop?!?!? Help. I will call my doctor tomorrow. I have three times already, but cannot get ahold of him or his nurse. Thank you so much.

Basic replied: "My doctor put me on Abilify and I'm worried about its effects. I don't even know if it'll work for me. It may take as long as a week for it to ease out of your system and probably another week for it to leave your system. I hate being on these meds, however it may help to relieve some anxiety issues that I have. Good luck"

Why does abilify make you sweat and is there anything that helps? I really like abilify but it makes me really hot so i sweat a lot in my arm pits. Is this because abilify causes high blood pressure, or is it just the way abilify affects my brain?

Jeff replied: "All drugs have side effects. It's up to you to decide if it is worth it. Good luck!"

* ADRIAN * replied: "I was on Abilify and it never did that to me. Maybe everyone is different. Ask a doctor."

Baby Tommy born 1/13/09! replied: "wow i thought it was just me. it also makes me eat nonstop and crave salt like no one's business. i have an appt tomorrow with the doc and i will be asking to stop it. not that i think the options are any better, but being smelly and fat is too much."

How well does abilify work for schizphrenia? I take abilify for bipolar disorder, but I may have of developed schizophrenia. I was informed that it also treats that, but how well?

Andy replied: "I also have bipolar disorder and get visual hallucinations and at the appropriate dosage (15mg) I manage to not have the hallucinations. It works very well."

How long does Abilify take to take effect? HI people, I've been prescribed 5mg (to start with) of Abilify to slow down my mind but wondering how long until i start feeling different, if at all? I understand 5mg isn't a lot. Thanks in advance.

♥Lizzie♥ replied: "It was about a month for me. Then afterwards 2 wks. for the 10 to kick in. Ooooooohhhhhhh bad idea(upping to ten that is)."

deadrising9090 replied: "it takes a week or so to fully work."

taking Abilify long term: does the restlessness ever diminish or go away? I am taking Abilify 5mg a day for one month. Does the restlessness feeling, Akathisia, diminish or go away after a time.Also, what are some ways to counteract this feeling without taking more other medication. Abilify helps me alot with feelings of hurt and anger and getting upset. If there is a better med for this I would like to know. I was on lamictal before but unfortunately I developed a rash and had to discontinue. Thank you.

Kris L replied: "Talk to your doctor about this 'feeling of restlessness' you are having. Some medications help, but have something very similar to 'restless leg syndrome' to the point they can't sleep at night. They are given a different sort of pill at bedtime, sleep comfortably, and are not restless during the day. So talk to your doctor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ... I'm not saying there IS help, but telling you that there may be help, but ONLY if you discuss this with your doctor."

jackie replied: "Like all medicines, everyone reacts differently. That is why you have to be on the right mix of meds for U. Most side effects including but not limited to the reslessness will subside within a month or two. You have to be patient with these meds and give them a chance to work before switching to another med. It will be well worth your patience in the long run. Good luck. I wish you the very best."

Does Abilify work, especially in conjunction with Celexa? Is Abilify all hype, or does it actually work?

Cassie T replied: "Abilify is an anti-psychotic. And it does work for psychosis, for some people (no medication works for everyone). Does it work as an antidepressant? No. Abilify is used off-label for depression (meaning it was never approved for that purpose by the FDA). It does not so much help with depression as it does sedate you beyond the point of caring. Having studied psychology, and understanding what Abilify does, I find it incredibly reckless that doctors use it for that purpose. But that's just me."

sweetsoul replied: "I have seen abilify work for some and not work for others. I have seen it prescribed to individuals in active psychosis, individuals experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder, and I have seen it work with individuals with depression. It is difficult to say if it will or not work. I have heard more positive then bad but that's just based on people around me. The important thing to know is all the potential side effects before you begin taking any med. Good luck with it. I do apologize but I have to make one comment to the individual that answered before me.... CASSIE T: As a person who's studied psychology, I would expect that be a little more ethical when making a blanket statement about the efficacy of a psychotropic medication, especially when you don't understand all the ins and outs of the pharm. industry. Do you know how much drug trials cost?? when a med is being tested for the FDA approval they have to prove its effect through a certain number of trials. When it's approved physicians begin to see the off label uses first hand through their patients. If all meds had to first be put through the level of scrutiny before using it for other uses, the world would have a lot more people suffering from symptoms caused by mental health cause who would pay for all that testing?? Plus it would take many more years to get drugs that are badly needed on the market. Picking up a psych book doesn't make you an expert. Please do not discourage people from taking meds unless you have gone through med school and accompanied the asker of the question to all their medical appointments and have reviewed their medical chart carefully."

YA Junkie replied: "I am sure that Cassie meant well, but my experience is different. I suffer from major depression and antidepressants alone were not providing any relief. At a low dose, Abilify is used to boost the effectiveness of an antidepressant. At a higher dose, it is used for schizophrenia, and at an even higher dose, it is used for bipolar disorder. I attend a support group for people with depression and bipolar disorder. One of the first things I learned is that a psychiatric med that is wonderful for one person may not work at all for someone else. Abilify and Lamictal have helped me when many antidepressants failed. (Lamictal is usually used for bipolar disorder.) Unfortunately, finding the correct med or combination of meds is sometimes a matter of trial and error. So Abilify has helped me (in combination with Lamictal), but there is no guarantee how it will affect you. I suggest starting it at a small dose and watching out for unpleasant side effects. By the way, this is what the Mayo Clinic has to say about the use of off label meds: "Off-label use of drugs or medical devices isn't unusual. By some estimates, more than one out of every five drugs prescribed in the United States is for off-label use. Don't be alarmed. It's usually safe and effective to use drugs or medical devices off-label.""

Toss that Yeyo and Run replied: "Abilify most definitely is approved by the FDA as an adjunct therapy for adults taking an antidepressant. It is not an off-label use. Nobody ever said Abilify was an antidepressant, it helps your antidepressant work better. When the FDA and Bristol-Myers Squibb performed placebo-controlled trials they gave part of the group real Abilify and the rest got a pill with no medicinal effect. The people who were taking Abilify for Major Deppressive Disorder who were also taking a SSRI antidepressant significantly improved, whereas the placebo group didn't get better at all. This is why the FDA lets them market the drug as an add on to an anti D. They don't let drug companies make wild claims and sell drugs that don't work. This isn't 1880 where snake oil salesman were selling whiskey to housewives and telling them it is longevity potion. As for how well it worked with celexa, I can't help you because the closest they came to testing that was with Lexapro which is very similar to celexa. They did get good results though in adults. If you're old and have geriatric dementia Abilify can kill you, but in young people it is fine. Sedation is very uncommon with abilify; It does not "sedate you beyond the point of caring". It actually commonly causes a symptom called akathesia where you have an inner sense of restlessness and feel the need to go. Insomnia is also a side effect that was reported during the trials. These should go away and if you are in the group of people taking it for your purpose the dose is low enough so that might not be a problem."

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