I had what me and my doctors thought was depression from age 14 to 18. As I went to college at age 18 I started experiencing manic episodes and my diagnosis was switched to bipolar disorder. The doctor I was seeing near my university in New Orleans prescribed me Abilify (5mg-10mg) and Klonopin (0.25mg-0.5mg). I was relieved. Finally, after so much confusion and worry things were going to get better. That's where I was wrong. A few days after starting the medications it became harder to sleep, harder to sit still, and harder to eat. After a few more days I couldn't eat a full meal, I was literally shaking all day every day, and I couldn't sleep a wink. After three days without real sleep my father flew down from Minnesota to help me get a medical withdrawal from my classes, as well as to fly me back to Minnesota for hospitalization. Upon intake, the psychiatrist I met with said I was having an akathisiatic reaction to Abilify and prescribed me a sedative (Seroquel) in order to force my body into sleeping. I was in the hospital for six days before enough of the Abilify was out of my system to where I could go home and somewhat function. The memory from the hospital that sticks with me the most is how, after waking up one morning I saw around 15 cups of water on my shelf - I would bring cups back to my room only to instantly forget that I had done so only to do it again. I don't know why I feel the need to share this. Maybe just to get it out of my system, maybe to vent a little. I still have memory and cognitive issues, although it's possible that those could be coming from new medications I'm on. I don't mean this to be a warning against Abilify specifically, I have no clue how common this reaction is. I just felt like I had to share this.

PS - Some of my earlier posts were made while I was in a manic state. I now realize that they may have been hurtful and I deeply and wholeheartedly apologize for them.