[iknowpi]

I have been taking Abilify, 15mg per day for 14 days now. For schizophrenia.

I have horrible tremors that come and go, blurred vision, joint pains, I'm sleepy during the day, but sometimes restless at night.

My head seems clearer. But I still have the voices / see things. And I catch myself thinking very irrational things.

I guess my question is, what is Abilify supposed to help with? All it seems to have done is given me a bunch of side effects on top of my other problems.

Has anyone personally had success with this drug?

Thanks in advance.

--Pi

[abilifyguy]

Hang in there. Abilify is supposed to help with the hallucinations and disordered thinking. The side effects you mentioned might go away with time. Two weeks is about how long it takes for the drug to reach steady state in your system.

I hope this works for you. The side effects are a nuisance, but hopefully they will subside as you get used to the drug and the benefits will start kicking in. Otherwise you may have to try something else.

I started at 15mgs too, but eventually had to go to 30 to get complete remission of symptoms. I don't have any side effects now except occasional blurred vision, but I can shake that off.

I'm sorry to hear that your having a rough time with side effects. I hope it gets better for you soon!

I've been on Abilify for about 6 yrs. for bipolar 1. I have found it incredibly helpful for getting rid of delusional thinking & returning me to being a productive member of sociey. I take 20 mg, but recently had a manic episode when it was increased to 25 mg for a week & that brought me down so I'm back on 20. I don't know if I'd stay on it with all those side effects, but maybe they will dissipate with time. Talk to your doc, for sure.--Suzy P.S. I have a friend of Abilify for schizophrenia & he is doing well, except for sleeping 12 hrs. a day. I take stimulants to combat that.

[iknowpi]

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback. I suppose all this is complicated by living on campus, in a dorm, at a university and taking 14 credit hours, while trying to adjust to meds for the first time. But, I'm still taking them!

[abilifyguy]

Good luck with everything. You sure have a lot on your plate. Keep us posted how it goes.

[iknowpi]

I went back today. He upped my dosage to 30mg. I hope it does something (other than more side effects)!

[tweak]

Have you gained weight from Abilify?
I didn't give it much of a chance but I'm really wanting to get off all the get fat stuff.
Depakote and Cymbalta do a real number.

[Bethsway]

I lost weight on abilify...but now that I am taking clonazepam too...I am eating more....don't like it!!

I gained 50 lbs. on Abilify (but I'm taking Lamictal, too). I have several friends from my support group that have gained on Abilify, too. It is the only med that worked for me so I want to stay on it, but I am having a hard time losing weight which is causing some depression.--Suzy