Taking aripiprazole for schizoaffective disorder
Article Continues Below
Abilify Side Effects
Abilify’s common side effects include headaches and insomnia, while severe side effects include seizures and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Abilify is an antipsychotic drug used in the treatment of conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and Tourette’s syndrome.
Article Continues Below
- Written By
Last Modified: August 13, 2024
Medically Reviewed
Board-certified physicians medically review Drugwatch.com content to ensure its accuracy and quality.
Drugwatch.com partners with Physicians’ Review Network Inc. to enlist specialists. PRN is a nationally recognized leader in providing independent medical reviews.
Reviewer specialties include internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, orthopedic surgery and psychiatry.
Drugwatch.com has been empowering patients for more than a decade
Drugwatch.com has provided reliable, trusted information about medications, medical devices and general health since 2008. We’ve also connected thousands of people injured by drugs and medical devices with top-ranked national law firms to take action against negligent corporations.
Our team includes experienced medical writers, award-winning journalists, researchers and certified medical and legal experts. Drugwatch.com is HONCode (Health On the Net Foundation) certified. This means the high-quality information we provide comes from credible sources, such as peer-reviewed medical journals and expert interviews.
The information on Drugwatch.com has been medically and legally reviewed by more than 30 expert contributors, including doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, patient advocates and other health care professionals. Our writers are members of professional associations, including American Medical Writers Association, American Bar Association, The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates and International Society for Medical Publication Professionals.
About Drugwatch.com
- Assisting patients and their families since 2008.
- Helped more than 12,000 people find legal help.
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- 5-star reviewed medical and legal information site.
Testimonials
“Drugwatch opened my eyes to the realities of big pharmacy. Having a family member with major depression and anxiety, I was looking for information on her medications. I found information that was very helpful, that her psychiatrist never told her.”
Marianne Zahren Patient’s Family Member
Side Effects of Abilify
Common side effects Blurred vision, constipation, choking or trouble swallowing, drooling, drops in blood pressure when standing up, headache, insomnia, vomiting, weight gain and nausea
Serious side effects Increased cholesterol, insulin resistance, involuntary muscle movements, low white blood cell counts, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and seizures
Boxed warning Older patients with dementia are at an increased risk of death. Individuals using Abilify with antidepressants, especially children, adolescents and young adults, have a higher chance of experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Latest Abilify Side Effect Information
As of March 31, 2024, the most reported adverse side effect in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Events Reporting System was weight gain, followed by anxiety, suicidal ideation and insomnia.
| FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) Data for Abilify Side Effects | |
|---|---|
| Total cases reported | 59,662 |
| Serious cases (including deaths) | 33,306 |
| Deaths | 2,495 |
Disclaimer: Reports sent to the FDA don’t necessarily mean the drug caused an adverse event. Consult a health care professional before stopping or changing medication.
The FDA has received over 59,000 adverse reaction reports combined for five versions of Abilify. This information indicates that over half of all reported adverse reactions are serious. Death occurred in just over 4% of all reported cases.
Boxed Warnings for Abilify Updated
A boxed warning is the highest safety-related warning that the Food and Drug Administration can assign to medications. As of June 5, 2024, Abilify has two boxed warnings.
Older patients with dementia-related psychosis are at an increased risk of death when treated with antipsychotic medications such as Abilify. In clinical trials, older people who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and treated with atypical antipsychotics like Abilify were 1.6 to 1.7 times more likely to die than those in the control group.
In children, adolescents and young adults, the use of Abilify with antidepressants increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In patients 24 and older, short-term studies of Abilify being used in combination with antidepressants did not show the same adverse effects. For patients aged 65 or older, there was a decrease in the risk of suicidal tendencies when using Abilify with antidepressants.
Drug-Placebo Difference in Number of Cases of Suicidal Tendencies per 1000 Patients Treated
| Age Range | Amount of Cases Compared to Placebo |
|---|---|
| Less than 18 | 14 additional cases |
| 18-24 | 5 additional cases |
| 25-64 | 1 fewer case |
| 65 and older | 6 fewer cases |
Health care providers should closely monitor patients who begin antidepressant therapy while on Abilify for emerging or worsening suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Likewise, patients using this combination of medications should communicate their symptoms with a health care provider.
Abilify FDA Warnings
On May 3, 2016, the FDA released a warning of potential impulse control problems coinciding with the use of Abilify. Such compulsions include gambling, binge eating, shopping and sex. These uncontrollable urges are rare, and patients have reported that the urges stopped within days to weeks of discontinuation of the medication.
As of March 31, 2024, there are 1,832 reports of gambling or gambling disorder, according to the FDA.
Common Abilify Side Effects
Abilify has a variety of side effects such as restlessness and nausea, but most are mild.
Common Adult Side Effects of Abilify
- Akathisia (severe restlessness)
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Vomiting
The side effects on children are not well-researched. Because of this, researchers writing in the Journal of the Canadian Academy of Adolescent Psychiatry recommend that people should consider Abilify as a second-line treatment for children and adolescents with Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia.
Pediatric Patient Side Effects
- Common cold
- Fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Increased urge to sleep
- Muscle twitching
- Weight gain
Patients experiencing disruption from these side effects should be aware that suddenly stopping Abilify may cause withdrawal. Abilify withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, panic attacks and sweating. If you choose to stop Abilify, taper the medication by following your physician’s recommendations.
Serious Side Effects of Abilify
While rare, some Abilify side effects can greatly impact a patient’s quality of life or lead to death.
Serious Side Effects of Abilify
- Allergic reaction
- Blood disorders like leukopenia and neutropenia
- Body temperature dysregulation
- Compulsive behaviors
- Difficulty swallowing
- Drop in blood pressure when standing
- Falls due to loss of balance
- Metabolic changes
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a rare condition involving stiff muscles and fever)
- Potential for cognitive and motor impairment
- Seizures or convulsions
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- Tardive dyskinesia (drug-induced movement disorder)
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
A potentially fatal side effect of antipsychotic drugs, including Abilify, is neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Fever, muscle rigidity, altered mental state and instability are all visible signs of NMS. Although rare, affecting less than .05% of patients according to WebMD, it is important to be aware of these signs of NMS if you take any antipsychotic drug.
Researchers have yet to fully understand its underlying mechanisms, but it’s possible that decreased levels of dopamine cause NMS.
Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia, or involuntary muscle movements, is a potentially irreversible side effect of Abilify. This condition primarily affects older patients, especially women. The risk of permanent TD increases with long-term use and higher doses of Abilify.
Weight Gain
People taking Abilify may gain 1 to 10 pounds during treatment, and weight gain accounted for about 8% of all reported Abilify side effects. However, significant weight gain, defined as a 7% or more increase in body weight, is uncommon. Some studies found that 13% of patients experienced clinically significant weight gain, while others found it occurred in less than 5% of patients.
While weight gain is possible in adults, this side effect primarily affects adolescents who take aripiprazole, the active drug in Abilify. A 2022 review in Australasian Psychiatry examined 11 studies and found that adolescents, with a mean age of 18, gained an average of 2.7 kg (6 pounds) while on aripiprazole. Those who took the drug for over 12 weeks gained more weight than those who took it for a shorter period.
Impulse Control
In 2022, researchers conducted a review of FAERS reports relating to impulse control, including pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, increased appetite and hypersexuality, dating back to December 2020. This review in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology concluded that aripiprazole was involved in 94% of all the adverse drug reaction reports of impulse control disorders.
Hundreds of people have filed Abilify lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, the companies behind Abilify. Plaintiffs claim that the impulsive side effects they experienced when taking the drug irreparably altered their lives. In 2016, the FDA warned consumers about a connection between aripiprazole and new and worsening impulse control issues.
Impulse control problems related to Abilify often go away with the reduction or elimination of the medication. If you take Abilify and struggle with impulse control, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose or stopping the medication. Do not lower your dosage or quit taking your medication without consulting your care provider, as this could lead to withdrawal.
Case Study: Gambling Disorder Claimed After Use of Abilify
According to court records, Joseph Edgar, a resident of Pennsylvania, was prescribed Abilify, an antipsychotic medication, from April 2009 to April 2014.
Development of Compulsive Behaviors
During his use of Abilify, Edgar developed compulsive gambling behaviors. The U.S. label for Abilify did not include adequate warnings about the risk of pathological gambling or other compulsive behaviors until January 2016.
Edgar experienced significant financial losses exceeding $36,000, along with emotional and physical distress due to his compulsive gambling. These behaviors ceased after discontinuing the medication.
Despite stopping Abilify, court documents claimed Edgar continued to suffer from the neuropsychiatric and economic impacts of the medication, emphasizing the need for comprehensive labeling and adequate patient and physician warnings regarding potential compulsive behaviors.
Abilify Alternatives
Because Abilify is used to treat several conditions, it has many alternatives depending on your needs.
Alternative Medications
- Caplyta (lumateperone) for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- Clozaril (clozapine) for treatment-resistant schizophrenia
- Geodon (ziprasidone) for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- Latuda (lurasidone) for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- Risperdal (risperidone) for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and irritability caused by autism
- Saphris (asenapine) for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- Seroquel (quetiapine) for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression
- Vraylar (cariprazine) for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression
- Zyprexa (olanzapine) for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- Non-drug alternatives such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, diet and exercise
Regulators and public health agencies stress the importance of careful monitoring and individualized treatment plans, particularly in vulnerable populations such as older adults and those with pre-existing conditions.
If Abilify does not seem to decrease your symptoms or you experience side effects, speak with your care provider about changing your dosage or switching to a different medication.
Editor Lindsay Donaldson contributed to this article.
Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.
- Share this page on Twitter
- Share this page on Facebook
- Copy Link
Taking aripiprazole for schizoaffective disorder
My advice to anyone else taking medication for their mental health is don’t be scared or embarrassed about taking or needing medication.
My name is Emma, I am 24 years old, and I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder 18 months ago. Schizoaffective disorder is a condition where you experience symptoms of psychosis alongside symptoms of a mood disorder, like mood swings.
Being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder was scary because I had never heard of it before and didn’t know anybody else with it. But after researching it, everything made sense, and I wasn’t as scared anymore. If you have a mental health diagnosis, it’s important to remember that your diagnosis doesn’t define you.
If you have a mental health diagnosis, it’s important to remember that your diagnosis doesn’t define you.
Taking aripiprazole for the first time
I was 21 years old when I first got prescribed aripiprazole. My psychiatrist wanted me to try an antipsychotic as a mood stabiliser to help with the mood swings I was experiencing. It didn’t completely stop my mood from fluctuating, but it brought it more under control.
I’ve been taking aripiprazole for over three years now, and it has really helped me. I take an antidepressant to support my antipsychotic, and together they have worked to keep my symptoms to a minimum.
I’ve been taking aripiprazole for over three years now, and it has really helped me.
My first experience of psychosis
Despite already being on an antipsychotic, I started to experience psychosis during the first lockdown. I got really stressed, and I found it difficult to cope. The news really got to me. There were lots of unknowns that didn’t help my mental health.
My family first noticed something was wrong when I got stressed and started showing signs of paranoia. My depression also came back. We didn’t realise at the time that I was having delusions. I believed the Government put cameras around my house and put GPS trackers in my tablets.
The delusions made me feel scared and isolated and I thought my family were in on it. My doctor reassured me that there were no hidden cameras and he also prescribed melt-in the-mouth aripiprazole tablets. The tablets really helped but I was still scared that there were cameras no matter how many times I was reassured. When I got more stressed, I began to get hallucinations. The more stressed I got, the worse my symptoms got.
The more stressed I got, the worse my symptoms got.
I was scared to go outside because I believed somebody was following me. I felt frightened, and I didn’t know where to turn. It took a long time to feel safe outside. Now, with the help of my family and medication, I no longer feel worried about being followed.
I believed my thoughts were rational and made sense, despite my family saying the opposite. I was adamant that I was right about everything. I didn’t think that I had delusional thoughts until I started to come out the other side. My family were so supportive throughout the whole lockdown. They helped me through a really tough time.
I was scared to go outside because I believed somebody was following me.
Increasing my dose of aripiprazole
When I told my psychiatrist about how I was feeling, he increased my dosage of aripiprazole. We upped it little by little because we didn’t want to do it too fast with too high a dose. The increased medication took a little while to work, but it really helped me when it took effect. We thought about changing my aripiprazole to another antipsychotic but decided not to as it was starting to get rid of my symptoms.
My doctor also decided I would benefit from being given a support worker. She rang me every few days to check on me and see if my medication was working yet. She was so kind and supportive. She listened to what I had to say and didn’t judge me. It was nice to talk to somebody who wasn’t family. I think talking to somebody is vital because you can tell them all of your worries and they will listen. I believe talking is just as important as taking medication.
I think talking to somebody is vital because you can tell them all of your worries and they will listen. I believe talking is just as important as taking medication.
Where I am now
It’s been two years since the start of my psychosis, and I’m doing really well now. My symptoms have lessened a lot, and that’s largely because of the antipsychotic. I have been stable with no mood episodes for over a year. I also haven’t experienced psychosis that has interfered with everyday life in nearly a year. I wish I could go back in time and give myself a hug and tell my younger self it will all be okay.
Without a doubt, my medication has saved my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. There are side effects of aripiprazole, such as drowsiness and weight gain, but the positives outweigh the negatives. In my experience, my medication took a while to take effect. Don’t worry if your medication doesn’t work straight away. Give it time. Medication is not an immediate thing.
My advice to anyone else taking medication for their mental health is don’t be scared or embarrassed about taking or needing medication. Whatever you’re worried about, speak to somebody you trust about your concerns. In my experience, talking to the people closest to me was the best decision because they could give me the support I needed. Asking for help is really scary, but you’re so brave for doing so.
