Medication Guide
Aripiprazole (Abilify) Side Effects and Uses
A plain-language guide to Aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic. Learn how it helps, what it treats, how to take it and which side effects to know about.
Quick answer. Aripiprazole (Abilify) is an atypical antipsychotic. Common aripiprazole side effects include restlessness, nausea, headache and trouble sleeping or sleepiness. The rare but serious ones, and when to get help, are listed under aripiprazole side effects below. Never stop or change your dose on your own.
How Aripiprazole Can Help You
Aripiprazole is sold as Abilify. It is an atypical antipsychotic. It treats schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and a few other conditions. It can also be added to an antidepressant when depression has not fully lifted. It can quiet voices, racing thoughts and big mood swings.
It works a bit differently from most drugs like it. It is a partial dopamine agonist. That means it can calm dopamine where there is too much. It keeps some signal where there is too little.
Some people notice calmer days and better sleep in one to two weeks. Fuller gains in mood, drive and clear thinking often take four to six weeks. Many people describe a quieter mind and steadier feelings. It tends to cause less sleepiness and weight gain than many drugs like it. So it is often chosen when those side effects are a worry.
Uses for Aripiprazole
- Schizophrenia in adults and teens
- Bipolar I mania and mixed episodes
- Bipolar I maintenance
- Add-on care for major depression
- Irritability linked to autism
- Tourette's disorder
How to Take Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole is usually taken once a day, with or without food. Tablets are the most common form. There are also long-acting shots. Your prescriber decides the dose. They will usually start low and go slowly. The right amount depends on why you take it and how you respond.
Your prescriber will check weight, blood sugar and cholesterol from time to time. This is done for all drugs like it. Tell your prescriber about any restlessness. It is one of the more common side effects. If you miss a dose, take it when you remember, unless the next dose is close. Never double up. Do not stop on your own, since stopping fast can bring symptoms back.
Aripiprazole Side Effects
Common Side Effects
- Restlessness (akathisia)
- Nausea
- Headache
- Trouble sleeping or sleepiness
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
Serious: Get Medical Help Promptly
- Death risk in older adults with dementia and psychosis (boxed warning)
- Suicidal thoughts in young people (boxed warning)
- Tardive dyskinesia (movements you cannot control, which may last)
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (high fever, stiff muscles, confusion)
- New urges to gamble, spend, binge eat or have sex
- Big changes in blood sugar or cholesterol
- Severe allergic reaction
What Abilify Is Approved to Treat
Abilify is the brand name. Aripiprazole is the generic name. The FDA has approved it for schizophrenia in adults and in teens 13 and older. It is approved for bipolar I disorder in adults and in kids 10 and older.
It is also approved as an add-on for depression in adults. For kids and teens, it is approved for irritability linked to autism from ages 6 to 17. It is approved for Tourette's disorder from ages 6 to 18. Your prescriber explains which use applies to you.
Generic aripiprazole tablets have been sold for years. There are also long-acting shots given every one to two months. A trained health worker must give these shots in person. So they cannot be given during a video visit.
How Aripiprazole Works and Its Half-Life
Aripiprazole partly turns on dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. It also blocks serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. In simple terms, it works like a dimmer switch, not an off switch. It turns dopamine down where it runs too high. It keeps some signal in place.
Aripiprazole has a half-life of about 75 hours. Its main active breakdown product lasts even longer, about 94 hours. It takes about two weeks to reach a steady level. That is why dose changes take time to show. It is also why the medicine leaves the body slowly after the last dose.
Benefits and Tradeoffs of Aripiprazole
Next to many drugs like it, aripiprazole tends to cause less weight gain and sleepiness. It also raises the hormone prolactin less. That can make it a good fit for people who need to stay alert for work or school.
It has tradeoffs too. Some people feel wired or have trouble sleeping. It is used for depression, so it has the same boxed warning as antidepressants. That warning is about suicidal thoughts in young people. It also has the boxed warning all drugs like it share. That one is for older adults with dementia and psychosis.
Watch for any new or worse suicidal thoughts, mostly early on or after a dose change. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. Family can help by noticing changes and speaking up.
Interactions to Know About
Some medicines raise aripiprazole levels. Fluoxetine, paroxetine and bupropion can do this. So can some drugs for fungal or germ infections, such as ketoconazole and clarithromycin. Carbamazepine does the opposite and lowers it. When one of these starts or stops, your prescriber may change the plan.
Alcohol and sedating medicines add to dizziness and drowsiness. Blood pressure medicines can add to a drop in pressure when you stand. Aripiprazole can make it harder for your body to cool down. So drink enough fluids in hot weather. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk it through with your prescriber.
Is Aripiprazole Right for You?
Only a full evaluation with a prescriber can tell you if Aripiprazole fits your symptoms, history and goals. Harpal Singh, PMHNP-BC offers psychiatric evaluations and ongoing medication management by telehealth anywhere in California.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT CALL (888) 457-8124
Related Medication Guides
Other guides in the same group, written the same simple way. Being in one group does not mean you can swap one medicine for another.
- Haloperidol (Haldol), typical (first-generation) antipsychotic
- Lurasidone (Latuda), atypical antipsychotic
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa), atypical antipsychotic
- Paliperidone (Invega), atypical antipsychotic
- Quetiapine (Seroquel), atypical antipsychotic
- Risperidone (Risperdal), atypical antipsychotic
FAQ
Questions About Aripiprazole
What is Abilify used for?
Abilify is approved for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. It is also approved as an add-on for depression, for irritability linked to autism and for Tourette's disorder. Some uses are approved for children and teens as well as adults. Your prescriber explains which purpose it serves for you.
Is aripiprazole an antidepressant?
Not exactly. It is an atypical antipsychotic, but the FDA has approved it as an add-on to antidepressants when depression has not fully improved. In that role it can boost the effect of the antidepressant you already take. Your prescriber will explain which purpose it serves in your plan.
What is the half-life of Abilify?
The half-life of aripiprazole is about 75 hours. Its main active breakdown product has a half-life of about 94 hours. It takes about two weeks to reach a steady level in the body, which is why dose changes take a while to show.
What is good about Abilify compared with other antipsychotics?
Many people find it causes less weight gain and less sleepiness than several other antipsychotics. It also tends to raise prolactin less. The most common tradeoff is restlessness, so report it early.
Will aripiprazole make me gain weight?
Aripiprazole is one of the more weight-neutral atypical antipsychotics, but some people do gain weight on it. Your prescriber will check your weight and metabolic labs from time to time. Healthy eating and regular activity help lower the risk.
What is akathisia and what should I do if I feel it?
Akathisia is an uncomfortable inner restlessness, a feeling that you cannot sit still. It is one of the more common side effects of aripiprazole, especially early on or after a dose change. Tell your prescriber soon, because a change in the plan often relieves it.
Can Abilify help with anxiety?
Abilify is not FDA approved for anxiety disorders. Some people feel less anxious when their mood or psychosis improves. If anxiety is your main concern, your prescriber can explain other options.
Is there a generic Abilify?
Yes. Generic aripiprazole tablets have been sold for years and contain the same active medicine. The long-acting injections are brand-name products. Your pharmacy can tell you which versions are covered.
Can I drink alcohol while taking aripiprazole?
It is best to avoid alcohol or keep it to a strict limit. Alcohol can add to drowsiness and dizziness and can worsen the mood symptoms the medicine treats. Talk with your prescriber about what is safe for you.
How long will I need to take aripiprazole?
That depends on the condition and your history. Some people take it for months, and others need longer treatment to prevent relapse. Never stop on your own, because your prescriber can help you taper safely if the time is right.