Abilify (Aripiprazole): Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and Warnings

Abilify is a prescription antipsychotic medication that helps manage symptoms of certain mental health conditions. If your doctor has prescribed Abilify, understanding how it works and what to expect can help you get the most benefit from your treatment.

This guide covers everything patients need to know about Abilify, including how to take it safely, potential side effects to watch for, and important precautions.

What Is Abilify Used For?

Abilify contains the active ingredient aripiprazole and belongs to a class of medications called antipsychotic agents. These medications work by helping to balance certain chemicals in the brain that affect thinking, mood, and behavior.

Schizophrenia Treatment

Abilify is primarily used to treat schizophrenia, a mental health condition that causes disturbances in thinking, emotions, and behavior. It helps reduce symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

Bipolar 1 Disorder (Manic Episodes)

Abilify may also be prescribed for acute manic episodes in adults with Bipolar 1 Disorder. During manic episodes, people may experience periods of unusually elevated mood, excessive energy, reduced need for sleep, rapid speech with racing thoughts, and sometimes severe irritability.

Your doctor may prescribe Abilify for other conditions not listed here. If you’re unsure why you’ve been prescribed this medication, ask your healthcare provider.

How to Take Abilify

Taking Abilify correctly helps ensure it works effectively while minimizing potential side effects.

Dosage Instructions

Unless your doctor gives you different directions, take Abilify once daily. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food—whichever works best for your routine.

Try to take your dose at the same time each day. This helps maintain consistent medication levels in your body and makes it easier to remember.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you forget to take Abilify at your usual time, here’s what to do:

If it’s almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then resume your normal timing.

Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one. This increases your risk of side effects.

Available Tablet Strengths

Strength	Color	Shape	Markings
5mg	Blue	Rectangular	A-007, 5
10mg	Pink	Rectangular	A-008, 10
15mg	Yellow	Round	A-009, 15
20mg	White/Pale Yellow	Round	A-010, 20
30mg	Pink	Round	A-011, 30

Abilify Side Effects

Like all medications, Abilify can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention. Knowing what to watch for helps you respond appropriately.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care. However, speak with your doctor if they persist or become bothersome:

Digestive issues: Indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and constipation are commonly reported.

Sleep and energy changes: You may experience insomnia, drowsiness, or feeling less alert than usual.

Mood and movement: Agitation, anxiety, and restlessness—including difficulty sitting still or an urge to move your arms and legs—can occur. This restless feeling is called akathisia.

Other common effects: Headache, light-headedness (especially when standing up), dizziness, and weight changes.

Serious Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention

Impulse Control Issues

Some patients taking Abilify have experienced unusual urges they find difficult to resist. These may include compulsive gambling, excessive spending, binge eating, or increased sexual urges. If you notice any of these behaviors developing, tell your doctor right away—a dosage adjustment may help.

Important Warnings and Precautions

Who Should Not Take Abilify

Do not take Abilify if you’re allergic to aripiprazole or any of its ingredients. Signs of an allergic reaction include skin rash or hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Abilify is not recommended for children under 18 years of age, as safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.

Medical Conditions to Discuss With Your Doctor

Before starting Abilify, tell your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Heart problems or blood vessel disease
• Low blood pressure
• Epilepsy, seizures, or history of fits
• Diabetes or high blood sugar
• Liver problems
• Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
• History of alcohol or drug dependence
• Risk of blood clots
• Sleep apnea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Lactose intolerance

Elderly Patients With Dementia

Elderly patients with dementia who take Abilify may face increased risks of serious side effects, including stroke, mini-stroke, pneumonia, and heart problems. These can be life-threatening. If you’re caring for an elderly person with dementia, discuss these risks thoroughly with their doctor.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Abilify is not recommended during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately to discuss your options.

Babies exposed to antipsychotics during the third trimester may experience shaking, muscle stiffness, feeding difficulties, or withdrawal symptoms after birth.

Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Abilify, as the medication may pass into breast milk.

Drug Interactions

Several medications can interact with Abilify, potentially affecting how well it works or increasing side effects. Always tell your doctor about everything you take, including:

• Other medications for mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, mood disorders, insomnia)
• Epilepsy medications
• Parkinson’s disease treatments
• Blood pressure medications
• Antifungal medications
• Heart rhythm medications
• Antibiotics or antiviral medications
• Cyclosporin (Neoral, Sandimmun)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)

Grapefruit interaction: Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may affect how Abilify works in your body. Discuss this with your doctor.

Alcohol and Abilify

Be cautious about drinking alcohol while taking Abilify. Alcohol can intensify certain side effects like drowsiness and dizziness. Your doctor may recommend avoiding alcohol entirely during treatment.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Abilify can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and light-headedness in some people. Before driving, operating machinery, or doing anything requiring alertness, make sure you know how this medication affects you.

If you feel dizzy or faint when standing up, try getting up slowly from sitting or lying positions.

Temperature Regulation

Abilify may affect your body’s ability to regulate temperature. During hot weather, you may have difficulty sweating and could feel dizzy or faint if you overheat.

To stay safe in hot weather: Wear light clothing, stay in air-conditioned spaces when possible, drink plenty of water, take cool showers instead of hot baths, and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest parts of the day.

Storing Abilify

Store Abilify in a cool, dry place below 30°C (86°F). Keep it away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight—don’t store it in the bathroom or car.

Keep this medication out of reach of children. A locked cabinet at least 1.5 meters above the ground is ideal.

Don’t use Abilify after the expiry date on the packaging. If you need to dispose of unused medication, take it to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

What to Tell Your Healthcare Providers

Always inform any doctor, dentist, or pharmacist you visit that you’re taking Abilify. This is especially important before any surgery requiring general anesthesia.

Keep all scheduled appointments so your doctor can monitor your progress and adjust treatment if needed.

Overdose Information

If you think you’ve taken too much Abilify, seek medical help immediately—even if you feel fine.

Signs of overdose may include severe drowsiness, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, and reduced consciousness.

In an emergency: Call your local poison control center, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest emergency department.

Frequently Asked Questions About Abilify