[stayingafloat]

My pdoc put me on 10mg as a replacement for the ineffective zyprexa and risperdal, it was fine after a few days but gradually i began to lose sleep... not sure if stopping risperdal or zyprexa abruptly can cause it but i sleep fine without abilify.
So does abilify cause insomnia and should i stop taking?

What time of day are you taking the Abilify? Taking it at night *can* cause insomnia for some people.

[Sunflower123]

When I take Abilify too late in the day, I find myself sleeping very few hours. Try taking it earlier in the day and see if that helps. Best wishes.

[still_crazy]

hi. my bottle once had "take before 10 AM" written on it. Apparently, Abilify can be somewhat stimulating, at least stimulating enough to hamper sleep if one takes it later in the day. Some people get more stimulation from Abilify than others, especially early on in treatment (this from my current psychiatrist). I think lower doses tend to be somewhat more stimulating.

If the Abilify helps, but sleep is a problem, maybe talk to your doctor about a short term sedative (?).

[stayingafloat]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

What time of day are you taking the Abilify? Taking it at night *can* cause insomnia for some people.

I took it at night, but taking it in the day is the same for me, idk why its still able to screw up my sleep with the timing so far apart

I have been instructed to take my Abilify first thing I get up in the morning.

[still_crazy]

hi. the psych drugs you were on before are sedating. maybe that's part of the problem? I've read that some people who switch from treatment with other antipsychotics to Abilify sometimes run into some problems...over-activtion, insomnia, anxiety, etc...that one doesn't see with a switch to other tranquilizers/antipsychotics.

if the Abilify is keeping your problems under control and you aren't having too many other problems from it, I guess try to see about a short term sedative of some sort, and then see if the insomnia begins to resolve as you adjust to the Abilify.

sorry about this. on the plus side, my current psychiatrist tells me that Abilify is one of the "cleanest" tranquilizers available right now. no prolactin elevation, less weight gain than other options, far less sedation, decent EPS profile. The risk of TD from long term treatment is a little less clear. I've been told its lower than with other options, but I've also read that cases are popping up somewhat frequently, especially in "off label" use.

Anyway...hope you can get some sleep.