Hi Wildflower.

I am bipolar 1 as well. I suffered full blown mania before I seek help. After recovering from that (using Zyprexa) I went back to work.

I was on Abilify, Zyprexa, and Celexa for a short period of time (probably 6 months at most).

Abilify did nothing to reduce my depression. I'm not sure if Zyprexa would do much better for depression but it did slow me down enough that's for sure. My feeling is that it would do a better job than Abilify. Abilify just made me jittery and did not work as a mood stabilzer even though its marketed as such.

I would consider Zyprexa if you are suicidal over Abilify. It worked for me.

However, I would not consider Abilify a maintenance med for bipolar no matter the advertizing campaign saying it works great for depression. I think its a new medication that has not been proven out at all.