[ghostfox85]

can abilify cause extreme anxiety? since starting it my anxiety has worsened.

[WastingAsparagus]

Anxiety in what sense? Abilify can cause restlessness--does that sound at all similar to the experience you're having--or if not, what kind of anxiety is it?

I have experienced restlessness with Abilify before, but that was about 9 years ago when I first started taking it. I don't experience it anymore, and I still take 30 mg of Abilify.

Perhaps it'd be best to discuss this anxiety with your prescriber? Maybe he or she could give you something to help with the anxiety or could give you a time frame as to when the anxiety might go away, if at all. Or, you could discuss switching to another drug with your prescriber as well.


Abilify, for me, has been very good at eliminating my depression. I don't know what the reason is that it was prescribed to you, but it would also help to know that, if you know.

[bshaffer836]

I agree it causes restlessness

[~Christina]

For me it caused akathesia and it’s hell on earth.

I had to stop taking it because even taking Cogentin to counter act the akathesia it didn’t get rid of it all

Pure misery

[Guiness187055]

I take 20mgs of Abilify a day. I find it very activating so I have to take it in the morning.

[bpforever1]

I get a monthly shot and am doing well now. It does initially cause anxiety and insomnia. After a few months, these side effects wear off and now I experience somnolence and no anxiety. I feel good about myself now. I rarely ever experience depression. My psychosis has abated too. I think medication is not one size fits all. Thus, one has to find the right medication from trial and error. For me, abilify does wonders.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

For me it caused akathesia and it’s hell on earth.

I had to stop taking it because even taking Cogentin to counter act the akathesia it didn’t get rid of it all

Pure misery

^^^ same. I wouldn't touch Abilify again.

[still_crazy]

yes. there's akathisia (hell on earth), there's also anxiety, some people find it oddly activating/too stimulating. depends on the individual, other drugs in the mix. fun fact...some people respond to antipsychotics with severe anxiety, even full on panic attacks. something about the dopamine blocking action making anxiety -intense- in susceptible people. and now you know...

[still_crazy]

oh, and...it just dawned on me that the promazine (an older, I think lower potency drug) with the Abilify could potentially be part of the problem. some people do well on 2 antipsychotics, everything's fine. other people...would do better on just 1, perhaps at a higher dose.

[bpcyclist]

Yeah, Abilify is a weird drug. Some people definitely get the activation/akathesia thing. I can't tell I'm on it, until or unless I am having some movement issues in my hands, which I occasionally do. That said, I just had a big psychotic/manic episode off Abilify, so maybe it was helping me. Am on it again, needless to say.

[downandlonely]

I only take 2 mg of Abilify to augment my anti-depressants (Cymbalta and Wellbutrin). It has helped a lot. I take it at night and it helps me sleep. I also experience no negative side effects. But everyone's experience is different. The best thing to do is talk to your doc about it.