Have you heard of Abilify? In addition to being a treatment for depression, aripiprazole (Abilify) is also used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Additionally, it is effective in treating irritability in kids with autism or Tourette syndrome.

Based on medical research, it is efficient in treating different types of psychosis. It has been shown to be effective in treating bipolar disorder, acute mania, and schizophrenia.

Today we are going to have a complete review on Abilify to see whether it really works for psychosis. Let’s start!

What Is Abilify (Aripiprazole)?

How Does Abilify Work?

According to the StatPearls resource, the reason why Abilify works is that it stabilizes the levels of dopamine and serotonin in various parts of the brain. In patients with mental illnesses, these neurotransmitters are frequently found at suboptimal levels despite being crucial for healthy cognitive function.

Further, Abilify is an antagonist at the 5HT-2a receptor and a receptor agonist at the D2 and 5HT-1a receptors. An antagonist works in opposition to an agonist by inhibiting receptor activation and eliciting a biological response. they bind to receptors and reduce their response.

The medical community still doesn’t fully comprehend the exact causes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, compared to less-common mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.

Use Of Abilify

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar I disorder
• Depression (add-on treatment)
• Irritability associated with autistic disorder (children)
• Tourette syndrome (children)

Does Abilify Really Work?

A number of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, mania, and bipolar disorder, have been successfully treated with Abilify. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given its approval for all three purposes.

The reputable Clinical Therapeutics journal published a medical review of Abilify for schizophrenia that looked at 11 different trials.

In both short- and long-term trials, the study’s authors discovered that Abilify worked well as a monotherapy (the use of just one drug) to treat schizophrenia. In one of the studies, symptoms were under control for up to 52 weeks. Even schizophrenia that is resistant to treatment, or schizophrenia that has not responded to at least two other medications, has been found to benefit from the medication.

Abilify’s effectiveness in treating acute mania was investigated in a related meta-study. The review included ten distinct trials in total.

Short-term (3 and 4 weeks after treatment began) but not long-term (6 weeks after treatment began) studies on the effectiveness of Abilify in treating mania symptoms found that it had little to no effect. Lithium and haloperidol, two additional commonly prescribed mania medications, were no more or less effective than the drug.

Generally speaking, Abilify is effective in treating mania, but it seems that its clinical support for treating schizophrenia is stronger.

Dosage Of Abilify

According to previously linked research, the dosage of oral Abilify tablets prescribed tends to range from 5 mg to 30 mg daily.

From 441 mg to 1064 mg of Abilify are administered intramuscularly.

When Abilify is used as an adjunctive (additional) medication with a different drug for the primary treatment, a lower dose of 2–5 mg is frequently prescribed. The dose used to treat bipolar and schizophrenia tends to start at 10 or 15 mg and work up to 30 mg.

Patients taking Abilify should discuss dosage with their doctor if they aren’t seeing results from the medication because, in some cases, raising the dose (within a safe range) can improve the effectiveness of the medication.

Pros And Cons Of Abilify

Pros

• Once a day dosing
• Less sedating than most other antipsychotics
• It May work even if other antipsychotics have failed
• Available as a lower-cost generic
• Can be used in both adults and children
• Available in a liquid and dissolvable tablet for people who have trouble swallowing pills
• Less likely to cause weight gain than most other antipsychotics
• Less likely to cause changes in blood sugar and cholesterol levels than most other antipsychotics

Cons

• Can be physically activating and make you feel restless
• It may is not appropriate if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Side Effects Of Abilify

There are drawbacks and advantages to all medications. You might experience some unpleasant side effects even if the medication is working as intended.

If you encounter any of the following, get in touch with your doctor right away:

• Neuroleptic malignancy syndrome (NMS): A life-threatening reaction to antipsychotic drugs causing high fever, sweating, confusion, stiffness, and blood pressure instability
• Problems with impulse control Gambling, shopping, binge eating, engaging in sexual activity
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Seizures
• Trouble swallowing
• Stroke
• Uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other body parts
• Low white blood cell count

As your body adjusts to the medication, the following side effects might get better with time. If you experience these symptoms again or if they get worse over time, contact your doctor right away.

Common Side Effects

Adults:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Constipation
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Insomnia (trouble falling asleep)
• Restlessness or can’t stay still

Children:

• Sleepiness
• Insomnia (trouble falling asleep)
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tiredness
• Greater appetite
• Weight gain
• Upper respiratory infection (common cold)
• Uncontrollable body movements (restlessness or shaking)

Potential Risks For Abilify

Serious health problems can be brought on by aripiprazole (Abilify). In fact, for some groups, this risk might be even higher. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options

Higher Risk Of Death In Elderly People With Dementia

In those over 65 with dementia who take drugs like aripiprazole (Abilify) to treat psychosis, there is a higher risk of death. aripiprazole (People with psychosis associated with dementia cannot be treated with Abilify.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

This rare but potentially fatal condition is connected to antipsychotic drugs. High fever, rapid heartbeat, the rigidity of the entire body, and confusion are all symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, get help right away from a doctor. It’s likely that your doctor will find another drug for you that will work better.

High Blood Sugar, High Cholesterol, And Weight Gain

High cholesterol, diabetes, high blood sugar, and weight gain are all potential side effects of aripiprazole (Abilify). Your risk of heart disease and stroke may increase as a result of these changes. Discuss your risks and possible preventive measures with your healthcare provider.

Difficulty Controlling Movements

Tardive dyskinesia, a condition where you feel restless all the time and can’t sit still, has been linked to the long-term use of the drug aripiprazole (Abilify). If not stopped in time, this could become permanent. Lip-smacking, grimacing, and atypical eye blinking are some symptoms. If this occurs, speak with your doctor right away.

Changes In Blood Pressure And Heartbeat

Your blood pressure and heart rate may change if you take aripiprazole (Abilify). Being up after sitting or lying down for a while during the first few days of taking aripiprazole (Abilify) may cause you to feel faint and even cause you to trip. Ask your doctor if you should take anything else besides aripiprazole (Abilify) if you’ve ever experienced issues with your heart or heart rhythm. Aripiprazole (Abilify) users should also get in touch with their doctor if they feel dizzy or experience any irregular heartbeats.

Seizures

The anticonvulsant drug aripiprazole (Abilify) increases your risk of seizures. Inform your physician if you have a history of seizures or a medical condition that puts you at risk for seizures before beginning this medication.

Impulse-control Problems

You may experience issues with impulse control while taking aripiprazole (Abilify), which may result in behaviors like compulsive eating, gambling, shopping, and sex. If you experience issues with impulse control while taking aripiprazole (Abilify), your doctor may reduce your dosage or stop the medication altogether.

Some Pharmacist Tips For Abilify

Your body may struggle to cool off if you take aripiprazole (Abilify). To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout. You should also limit your time spent in the sun.

Although it’s less likely to do so compared to other similar medications, aripiprazole (Abilify) can increase your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Your doctor might advise routine lab work to look for any changes in your health.

Although it is less likely than older antipsychotic drugs to do so, aripiprazole (Abilify) can cause uncontrollable movements of the face, tongue, or other body parts. If you notice that you are making uncontrollable facial expressions, such as blinking your eyes or sticking out your tongue, speak with your healthcare provider.

After opening, the liquid form of aripiprazole (Abilify) should only be used within six months; the expiration date should not be exceeded. Never take this medication after the expiration date has passed.

Possible Interactions Between Abilify And Other Medications

With some drugs or dietary supplements, aripiprazole (Abilify) may interact. If you are taking any other medications or supplements, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or dietary or herbal supplements, make sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know. Aripiprazole (Abilify) may interact with additional medications, some of which are not listed below. Please note that the list below only includes the drug’s generic name.

Abilify Generic Vs. Brand Name

The generic version of Abilify is known as aripiprazole, as was mentioned in the introduction paragraph. The Abilify version is just branded because the pharmaceutical company that creates a new drug owns the naming rights; otherwise, they are the same chemical compound.

A thorough medical analysis comparing the efficacy of name-brand and generic medications discovered that there was generally no difference, which is not surprising given that the active ingredients are the same.

We advise low-income patients considering treatment with this medication to talk to their doctor about aripiprazole rather than Abilify because of this. Particularly for patients without health insurance who must pay out-of-pocket, generic medications frequently come at a significant discount.

Price Of Abilify

Aripiprazole (Abilify) is offered as a generic drug and may be considerably less expensive than the brand name. The generic version of the drug will be more affordable unless there is a specific reason why you must have the brand. Use a GoodRx coupon to further reduce costs and pay a small portion of the suggested retail price.

Abilify (brand) Lowest GoodRx Price $585.91

Aripiprazole (generic) Lowest Price on GoodRx: $9.00

What Are Users Saying About Abilify?

From 303 reviews, Abilify has received an overall rating of 6.4 out of 10. It is used to treat depression. 55% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 32% reported a negative experience.

• “The best thing to happen to my son was the discovery of Abilify.”
• “Schizo-Affective Type My mental illness is severe and persistent. I mix my Risperdal and Abilify dosages. I declare that this is my happiest moment in years. Recently, I’ve been able to tell myself I’m pretty when I look in the mirror. Prior to now, I couldn’t do that. “
• “It terrified me that after taking Abilify for a few months, my memory started to deteriorate and my muscles started to harden. These two effects led me to give up. Lithobid, Trileptal, and Neurontin are some of my additional medications.”
• “My miracle drug, if you will! I’m doing great on Abilify after experiencing severe mania on Geodon and cognitive impairment on Risperdal. After 16 years, I feel like I am just now beginning to awaken. Fortunately, Medicare part D covers it. The only drawback is a significant amount of trembling and yes, some raciness (but I can still sleep).”
• “My son’s symptoms were not at all improved by taking Abilify.”
• “I took Abilify for three years, during which time I struggled to fall asleep. (I would sleep for a total of 1-2 hours every 3 days.) It can’t be Abilify, according to my doctor. Insomnia began the first day I took Abilify and ended 2 weeks ago when I stopped taking it. He also put me on three other sleep medications, none of which worked while I was taking Abilify. Since I stopped taking the Abilify, I had excellent sleep and have been able to stop taking three other medications.”
• “The worst drug available is this one. As a result, I put on more than 50 pounds and started to gamble compulsively. Bristol-Meyers Pharmaceuticals asserts that they did nothing wrong. My life was ruined by this drug, which also made me much more depressed than I had been.”

Conclusion

Abilify is an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety in adults. Off-label, it is sometimes used to treat ADHD symptoms.

Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be many natural treatments for psychosis that are supported by research, and the drug has some serious side effects to take into account.

However, we were unable to find any medical studies demonstrating a supplement or lifestyle change was effective for treating psychosis. Normally, we mention a natural alternative in our pharmaceutical review articles to give consumers a treatment option to discuss with their doctors that may be less risky.

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