How Long Does It Take for Abilify to Work? Plus 4 More Frequently Asked Questions
Key takeaways:
Abilify (aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic medication that’s prescribed for a few different mental health conditions. Abilify’s uses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Oral forms of Abilify may start to work within 1 to 2 weeks of taking it. But it can take about 2 to 3 months to experience its full effects.
Abilify is generally well tolerated. It has a low risk of weight gain and other metabolic side effects compared to other antipsychotics.
Abilify is available as brand-name medication. But you can also find it as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help make your prescription more affordable.
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Table of contents
Abilify (aripiprazole) is an atypical antipsychotic medication. It can be prescribed for a few different mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Abilify comes in several dosage forms, including oral tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, and an oral liquid. Short-acting and long-acting injectable forms are also available.
If you’re just starting Abilify, it’s common to have questions about it. How long it takes Abilify to work may be top of mind. Below, we’ll answer this and other frequently asked questions about Abilify.
1. How long does it take for Abilify to work?
Oral forms of Abilify can start working within 1 to 2 weeks. As you keep taking it, you may notice continued symptom improvement. It can take about 2 to 3 months to experience oral Abilify’s full effects.
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The short-acting injectable form of Abilify is given in hospital or similar healthcare settings. It works for agitation much quicker than other dosage forms — within 2 hours of injection.
It takes the body at least 2 weeks to fully absorb the first dose of the long-acting injections (Abilify Maintena, Abilify Asimtufii, Aristada). There’s a period of “oral overlap” where you’ll take oral Abilify for 2 to 3 weeks after your first injection. This helps your body to adjust to the medication while waiting for the injection to reach steady levels.
2. How long does oral Abilify stay in your system?
A dose of oral Abilify typically starts to wear off after about 3 to 4 days. But small amounts of the medication may still be present in the body for close to 3 weeks after your last dose. However, some people’s bodies may take longer to clear Abilify from their system.
This information is helpful when it comes to checking for drug interactions. Abilify could possibly interact with another medication for several days after your last dose. If you’ve recently stopped taking Abilify, it’s a good idea to include when you took your last dose on your medication list. This can help your healthcare provider and pharmacist identify interactions better.
3. What is Abilify used for?
Oral Abilify has a number of FDA-approved uses:
Schizophrenia in adults and adolescents ages 13 and older
Treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar 1 disorder for adults and children ages 10 and older
Major depressive disorder in adults, when taken together with an antidepressant
Autism-related irritability in children ages 6 to 17 years old
Tourette syndrome in children and teens ages 6 to 18 years old
The short-acting injectable form of Abilify is only approved for agitation related to schizophrenia or bipolar mania in adults. Abilify Maintena and Aristada are only approved to treat schizophrenia in adults. Abilify Asimtufii is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults and as a maintenance treatment for bipolar 1 disorder in adults.
4. How long do people usually take Abilify?
Many people will take Abilify for years or for the rest of their life. That’s because many mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are chronic conditions. And taking medications such as Abilify long-term can help lower the risk of worsening or returning symptoms and hospitalization.
Everyone’s mental health journey is unique. What works for one person may be different from what works for you. Discuss your treatment goals and preferences with your healthcare provider. They can help you determine whether you should continue taking Abilify.
5. Is Abilify safe to take?
Yes, Abilify is safe for most people to take. But it can cause side effects. Examples of common Abilify side effects include:
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Constipation
Trouble sleeping or sleepiness
Drooling (more common for children)
Feeling nervous or restless
All atypical antipsychotics, including Abilify, carry a risk for metabolic side effects. These include high cholesterol, high blood glucose (sugar), and weight gain. But compared to other atypical antipsychotics, Abilify has a very low risk for these side effects. In fact, studies suggest that it can help promote modest weight loss when added to an existing antipsychotic treatment regimen.
Serious side effects
Like all antipsychotics, Abilify can cause serious side effects. However, these happen very rarely. Discuss these risks with your healthcare provider.
Rare but serious Abilify side effects include:
Suicidal thoughts
Low blood pressure
Seizures
Low blood cell counts
Abilify can also raise the risk of stroke and death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. Because of this risk, it shouldn’t be taken for this condition.
How to save on Abilify
Abilify is available as both a brand-name and generic medications. GoodRx can help you navigate the ways you can save on your prescription.
Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price of the generic version of Abilify tablets. Generic Abilify’s price at certain pharmacies may be as low as $13.25 with a free GoodRx discount.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements, the price for brand-name oral Abilify and Abilify Maintena may be as low as $5 per month using a savings card from the manufacturer. There’s also a copay savings card available for Aristada, which may provide the medication for as low as $10.
The bottom line
Abilify (aripiprazole) is an atypical antipsychotic. It can be prescribed for certain mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. It takes oral forms of Abilify about 1 to 2 weeks to start working. But it may take 2 to 3 months to experience its full effects.
Most people take Abilify long term to help manage symptoms. While it’s safe to take long term, it can cause side effects. Serious complications with Abilify are rare, and it has a low risk of weight gain compared to other antipsychotics. Discuss the risks and benefits of Abilify with your healthcare provider.
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References
D’Souza, R. S., et al. (2023). Extrapyramidal symptoms. StatPearls.
Dean, L., et al. (2012). Aripiprazole therapy and CYP2D6 genotype. Medical Genetics Summaries.
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2024). Aripiprazole (Abilify).
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2024). PubChem compound summary for CID 60795, aripiprazole.
Ostinelli, E. G. (2018). Aripiprazole (intramuscular) for psychosis‐induced aggression or agitation (rapid tranquillisation). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (2022). Abilify - aripiprazole tablet, solution, tablet (oral disintegrating, injection (solution) [package insert].
Tiihonen, J., et al. (2018). 20-year nationwide follow-up study on discontinuation of antipsychotic treatment in first-episode schizophrenia. The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Tran, J. T., et al. (2023). Assessment of oral overlap with antipsychotic long-acting injectables initiated in an inpatient setting. The Mental Health Clinician.
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