The Benefits of Abilify, Plus What to Know About Side Effects, Uses, and Costs
Key takeaways:
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication. It’s used to treat mental health and neurological conditions in adults and children.
Abilify is available as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you save over 99% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
Rexulti (brexpiprazole) is a newer alternative to Abilify. It’s a brand-name medication used to treat schizophrenia. It can also be added to other medications for depression.
Table of contents
In 2002, Abilify (aripiprazole) was FDA approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. Fast forward about 20 years later, and this little pill has become one of the most commonly prescribed medications in its class. Plus, it’s now approved to treat several other medical conditions.
Until 2015, Abilify was only available as a brand-name medication. Now, you can find it as a lower-cost generic. This means that cost may no longer be an obstacle for many people who need to access it.
But the question you might ask next: What are the benefits of taking Abilify? And is it right for me?
What is Abilify used for?
Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic medication. We don’t know exactly how it works. But we do know that it helps regulate the chemical messengers dopamine and serotonin in our brain. By balancing these, Abilify is thought to help regulate mood and help with a variety of mental health conditions.
Abilify is available as a regular or orally-disintegrating tablet, oral solution, and injection. We’ll just focus on the tablets for now. These are available in strengths ranging from 2 mg up to 30 mg.
1. Schizophrenia
Abilify is approved for schizophrenia in adults and adolescents ages 13 to 17 years old. Experts don’t recommend one antipsychotic over another for schizophrenia. So, the best choice may depend on your medical history, preferences, and medications you’ve tried before.
If side effects are a concern, Abilify may be a good choice. That’s because it may be less likely than other options to cause certain side effects, such as weight gain, sedation, and changes in blood pressure and blood sugar. Even so, side effects can vary by person.
And if your symptoms have been resistant to prior treatments, other options may be preferred instead.
2. Bipolar I disorder
Abilify can also be used to treat acute manic and mixed episodes in both adults and adolescents ages 10 to 17 with bipolar I disorder. It can be used alone or in combination with another medication, like lithium or valproic acid.
According to clinical experts, olanzapine (Zyprexa) has the best evidence for this use, followed by Abilify and paliperidone (Invega). Your healthcare provider can determine which option is best for you.
3. Depression
Sometimes, Abilify is added to another antidepressant medication to help treat depression in adults. Studies have shown that it can help reduce depressive symptoms and may limit their effects on everyday life.
Abilify isn’t used alone for depression. But it may be an option if prior antidepressants haven’t worked well for you, and your current antidepressant isn’t improving your symptoms by itself.
4. Autism-related irritability
Along with risperidone (Risperdal), Abilify is one of two antipsychotic medications approved to help with autism-related irritability. It’s approved for this use in children and adolescents, ages 6 to 17 years old with autism.
Experts recommend either medication, along with behavioral strategies, for symptoms like irritability and severe disruptive behavior. Your child’s healthcare provider can determine which medication to recommend for their specific needs.
5. Tourette syndrome
Abilify can also be used for Tourette syndrome in children and adolescents ages 6 to 18. Tourette syndrome is characterized by tics — sudden and repetitive vocal sounds or movements. Along with a few other medications, Abilify may be able to reduce tic severity.
Experts recommend weighing the benefits and risks of treating tics with an antipsychotic medication. And there are pros and cons with each medication, too. Your healthcare provider can determine which is best for you or your child.
How long does it take for Abilify to work?
Abilify should start working within 1 to 2 weeks after you start taking it. This is the amount of time it takes to build up steady levels of the medication in your body. You may even notice continued improvement through the first 3 to 4 months.
Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage based on how you’re responding to the medication.
Does Abilify give you energy?
As mentioned above, Abilify helps regulate certain brain chemicals. Both dopamine and serotonin play an important role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle.
Some people may feel higher energy levels while taking Abilify. But others might feel more sleepy. Researchers are looking more into how Abilify can help with boosting energy. It’s even being studied as a way to help people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Does Abilify cause weight gain?
Weight gain is a known side effect of antipsychotic medications. Compared to other options, Abilify may be less likely to cause weight gain. But if you gain weight and how much you gain can vary by person.
Weight gain from Abilify can start shortly after you start taking it — sometimes within a few weeks. Your healthcare provider may have you monitor your weight during treatment. They can also give you tips for how to prevent or manage any weight changes.
Other Abilify side effects
Side effects you might experience while taking Abilify can depend on why you’re taking it. And there might be some differences across dosage forms, like with the Abilify injection. But a few common ones in adults include:
Agitation
Insomnia
Anxiety
Vomiting
Additionally, children may also experience:
Sleepiness
Tiredness
Appetite changes
Drooling
Nasal congestion
Tremor
Abilify has more serious side effects to know about, like movement problems, compulsive behaviors, and a life-threatening condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome. It also has strong warnings about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. And older adults with dementia-related psychosis may have a higher risk of death.
Your healthcare provider can weigh the benefits and risks of Abilify in your specific situation. They can also discuss potential side effects and how to manage them.
How to save on Abilify
There are many ways to save on Abilify, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.
Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 99% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Abilify at certain pharmacies is less than $4 with a free GoodRx discount.
Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Abilify’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
Rexulti vs. Abilify
After Abilify went generic in 2015, its manufacturer launched Rexulti (brexipiprazole). Rexulti is structurally and chemically similar to Abilify. But it isn’t approved for all the same uses, and Rexulti is only available as an oral pill.
Like Abilify, Rexulti is approved to treat schizophrenia in people ages 13 and older. And it can be used as an add-on treatment for depression adults. The two medications haven’t been studied head-to-head. But it’s thought that Rexulti may be less likely to cause certain side effects.
One major difference between Rexulti and Abilify is cost. As mentioned above, Abilify has a generic version available for under $10 with GoodRx. Rexulti is only available as a brand-name medication. You can save about 15% off the average retail price with a GoodRx discount.
If you have commercial prescription insurance, you may be able to save more. Rexulti’s manufacturer offers a savings card where you can pay as little as $15 per month after getting the first 2 months at no cost.
The bottom line
Abilify is used to treat several different mental health and neurological conditions in adults and children. Like many antipsychotic medications, it can cause side effects. But certain ones may be less common with Abilify.
Generic versions of Abilify are now available, making it a more affordable option. Rexulti is a newer Abilify alternative. But it’s only available as a brand-name medication. And Rexulti isn’t approved for all the same uses.
Your healthcare provider can weigh the benefits and risks of using Abilify for your medical condition. They can help you decide if it’s right for you.
Why trust our experts?
References
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