Abilify (Aripiprazole) as a Depression Treatment: Our Review
Overview: Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic that was developed for the treatment of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It has gained popularity as an add-on Depression Treatment and has been marketed as such.
History:
Aripiprazole was approved for medical use in the United States in 2002. It is available as a generic medication. In 2020, it was the 89th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 8 million prescriptions. In 2007, aripiprazole was approved by the FDA for the treatment of unipolar depression when used adjunctively with an antidepressant medication.
Uses:
Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder
Major depression
Autism
Tic disorders
Obsessive–compulsive disorder
Mechanism of Action:
Primary action is on the Dopamine 2 receptor. It differentiates itself from other atypical antipsychotics because it is only a partial agonist of the D2 receptor. Other Atypicals are full agonists of the D2 receptor.
Effectiveness:
It’s proven effective for the indicated conditions of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It is also FDA approved to effectively treat depression (MDD) as an add on therapy. This means that Abilify is helpful for depression when used in combination with an antidepressant.
Side Effects:
Headache, extrapyramidal symptoms, drowsiness, restlessness, fatigue, sedation, agitation, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, cholesterol abnormalities, increased glucose, nausea, vomiting, constipation, application site rash, tremor
Aripiprazole may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems. Long term (months or years) of elevated prolactin can lead to osteoporosis or increased risk of bone fractures.
Some people may develop muscle-related side effects while taking aripiprazole. The technical terms for these are “extrapyramidal symptoms” (EPS) and “tardive dyskinesia” (TD). Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness. TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements.
Personal Experience:
I currently take Abilify as part of my medication combination. At the time of writing this article, I have been on ability for about 6 months. I experienced some side effects at first that quickly abated. They included fatigue, insomnia, headaches and dry mouth. I started taking 2mg of Abilify but found that it made me too tired. I asked the doctor if we could cut the dose in half, to which he agreed. The second week after I cut the dose, I had some serious withdrawal symptoms which included a return of insomnia, headaches, agitation, anger, and impulsiveness. This lasted for about a week until all side effects subsided. I have experienced some great positive effects from the medication such as increased mood, less anxiety, and more motivation.
The Anxious Resistance Take:
This medication has shown to have less side effects than other atypical antipsychotics. This is likely because it is only a partial agonist of the D2 receptor. I have personal experience taking Abilify and recommend it if you aren't receiving adequate relief from your antidepressant alone. Smaller doses are often effective for MDD which mitigates the side effects. This also may be a good drug for those suffering with Bipolar or Schizophrenia with less side effects than other Atypical Antipsychotics.
