I don't remember the first day or even first weeks. I know that at some early point it gave me mild akathisia, but on that med it wasn't a deal breaker. I do recall going on it in the hospital with Lamictal. Obviously, the Lamictal level wasn't that high at first, but it was raised over some weeks. I did very gradually grow manic. It was slow enough that I was thinking life was great again. [Honestly, it hasn't been that great for so long since.] I think I might have been working again, at least part-time. I remember having oodles of energy and taking a lot of ballroom dancing classes. I know that my thinking grew faster and more "manic" over some weeks before going haywire enough for hospitalization. They took me off both Lamictal and Abilify during that hospitalization. Were both activating? Or was it just the Lamictal and the Abilify wasn't strong enough to keep it in check? I know Lamictal is activating for me. That's been proven for me a few times. My pdoc never increases my dose above 100 mg, and only with powerful enough other bipolar meds also in place.

My experience will not be all other people's experiences.