Problems with Abilify?? I don't know but I'm scared

So my doctor put me on Abilify about a month ago, and it seems ever since I went on it I have horrible insomnia. I had been having trouble sleeping full night sleeps prior to being put on this but it seems that after being put on this things are getting alot worse. On top of that I've been becoming more anxious and I have been having bouts of extreme sadness, worry, dread, and feelings of impending doom (I think this is what it is anyway). It's now 1:23 am on Dec. 27 wednesday morning, I have slept a grand total of about 2 hours (went to bed about 9:40 am after taking a Unisom sleep aid) and I simply can't sleep. Also the doctor recently upped my dosage and ever since she upped it my insomnia seems to have gotten worse. I haven't been sleeping properly these past few weeks, and it's only been about a month since my doctor put me on this medicine. She claims since the dosage is so low that these symptoms are something else, but I've never ever felt like this before. I had taken a HUGE break off medications following a mess at the beginning of this year. I don't know if this insomnia is based off the abilify or its just me?

I'm actually quite scared as I'm not getting sleep, my anxiety is getting worse, I'm actually starting to have minor-mid panic attacks and I simply don't know what to do.

It sounds to me like Abilify isn't working at all for you and it should be kicking in after a month, especially if the dose has been increased too. When do you see your doctor again? I would try to get an appointment as soon as possible and ask her if there's another medication you can try. Good luck and welcome to PsychCentral!

well I feel excessive anxiety so I would think this would be fixed by the abilify? I also feel muscle weakness too but the last time I told my psychiatrist anything like this she upped the dosage :/. She told me that the dosage was so low that it wouldn't affect it. What if this isn't the abilify but my anxiety getting horribly worse? I'm very scared right now and I feel the world crashing in on me, I am half tempted to drag myself to the local ER to see what they can do but I'm worried that they won't be able to help.

I'm sorry that you're having a lot of anxiety. Muscle weakness sounds like a serious side effect, too. Can you talk to your general physician about it, if your psychiatrist seems reluctant to change your meds? If you're really feeling terrible, the ER might be your best bet. They usually have a consulting psychiatrist available to help.

I agree it sounds like abilify isn't for you. Do you take it in the morning or night. I take mine in the morning and have no insomnia from it.

Abilify didn't work for me. I don't remember insomnia, but I did take a sleeping pill when I was on it. I also started having severe panic attacks and such. My meds got switched.

I take it in the morning. I have my psychiatrist in about 2 hours. I have my therapist right before so I dont know. I feel so fatiqued and exhausted. I'm scared -_-. I keep thinking this is going to be like this all the time now and I'm going to have physical problems or something. Probably just my anxiety but.

Ya I took a Unisom several days and it doesn't work. My panic attacks increased in number that I recall the last few days.

Well my psychiatrist gave me Trazodone so hopefully this works.

So far it didn't work. Talked with my psych she upped the dosage on the trazodone. Lets hope tonight is sleep night!

Abilify makes me sleepy now but initially it made me feel anxious and irritable. I did not want to quit because I took the other medications, such as Geodon, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Riseperdal, Haldol, Clozapine, etc and they all gave me severe side effects. So, I stuck with Abilify for about two months before it started to have effect. I thought I was going to go insane with the anxiety and the insomnia but slowly I started feeling calm. I have been taking it now daily for five years and have remained out of the hospital. I wish you the best!!