Abilify can you get high

If the movements are severe then you might find it difficult to speak, eat or breathe. These are called extrapyramidal side effects EPS. Aripiprazole is less likely to cause these movements than some of the other antipsychotics. A subgroup of the movement side effects is called tardive dyskinesia.

This is an uncommon side effect of aripiprazole. It occurs in less than one in people and can be a legacy of taking earlier antipsychotics. The first sign might be some movements of your tongue that you cannot control, and they may be quite regular and rhythmic. The problem with tardive dyskinesia is that it might not stop, even if you stop taking your medicine.

You should have your weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure checked regularly while you are taking aripiprazole. Your doctor should also do blood tests to check your liver, blood sugar, and some hormones before and regularly during your treatment. You may also have a heart test called an electrocardiogram ECG before you start treatment - and periodically while taking aripiprazole - if you are at risk of heart disease.

In the first two or three weeks of taking aripiprazole, side effects such as feeling agitated and restless, or feeling sick may make you feel generally worse. They should wear off quite quickly but if they are a problem, speak to your doctor or care team.

The side effects that come with aripiprazole are different to those of many other antipsychotics, but they can be serious. Do not stop taking the tablets until you talk to your doctor, or you may get withdrawal symptoms as well. There are other side effects that you can get when taking this medicine — we have only included the most common ones here. Please look at the paper leaflet inside your medicine box, or ask a doctor or pharmacist, if you want to know if you are getting a side effect from your medicine.

If you do get a side effect, please think about reporting it to the 'Yellow Card' scheme. Aripiprazole has also been known to make people feel like gambling to extremes. If you have ever had problems with gambling in the past, you should talk to your doctor about this before you take it.

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Guide Menu for Aripiprazole. Hide Show guide menu. Guide contents jump to section About aripiprazole Aripiprazole and everyday life Uses, warnings, safety and side effects About this information More information and advice. About aripiprazole. Please note. Always talk to your doctor about your situation and whether this medication is for you. Thinking about trying medication? Read our guide.

How aripiprazole works. Aripiprazole and everyday life. Frequently asked questions. How long does it take to start working? What effects will it have on my body? It is very difficult to know how it will affect each person who takes it. Your doctor should measure your weight regularly when you are taking aripiprazole.

Should I tell my family and friends I am taking it? Will it affect my sleep? Aripiprazole may make you feel very sleepy but may also make it hard to get to sleep.

Sleepiness has been shown to affect young people more than adults. See how it affects you for the first few days of taking it. Go back to your doctor if this causes a big problem for you. Can I drink alcohol and take street drugs while taking it? Alcohol You can drink alcohol while taking aripiprazole, but the two together could make you very sleepy.

If you want to drink alcohol, plan how you will get home safely if you feel sleepy. Street drugs Be careful if you are also using street drugs. Cannabis can make drowsiness worse with aripiprazole.

Methadone can make drowsiness worse with aripiprazole. Can I take it with other medications? I have allergies and food intolerances. Is there anything I need to know?

Can I drive while taking it? Do not drive a car or ride a bike just after you start taking aripiprazole. Do not worry - most people drive as normal while taking aripiprazole. Can I take it if I am pregnant or breastfeeding? Pregnancy There is nothing to suggest aripiprazole will harm the developing baby during pregnancy.

Post-natal Aripiprazole can cause some symptoms in newborn babies — for instance, your baby might be born a little earlier than expected and may suffer from agitation, muscle spasm or weakness, shaking, drowsiness, feeding problems or breathing problems.

Breastfeeding Aripiprazole is passed to the baby in breast milk in small amounts. Will it affect my sex life or fertility? Sex Aripiprazole is unlikely to cause side effects that affect your sex life and is also less likely to do so than other antipsychotic medications. Fertility There is no information to suggest aripiprazole has any effects on fertility. Will it affect my ability to play sports? Lithium and valproate are other drugs used to treat bipolar disorder.

For adults with schizophrenia , the starting dosage of Abilify for this condition is typically 10 mg to 15 mg once daily.

The typical maintenance dosage range of Abilify for schizophrenia is 10 mg to 30 mg daily. However, dosages of 10 mg to 15 mg daily seem to be the most effective for the condition.

Dosages greater than 15 mg daily may not be more effective than those less than 15 mg daily. For schizophrenia, the maximum daily dose of Abilify is 30 mg. Below we describe Abilify dosages for children with certain conditions that the drug is approved to treat.

Abilify is approved for use in children ages 13 to 17 years old with schizophrenia. The typical starting dosage of Abilify for this use is 2 mg once daily. After an additional 2 days, the doctor may increase the Abilify dose to 10 mg daily.

Doses between 10 mg and 30 mg have been studied in children. However, it seems that a dosage of 10 mg daily is just as effective as a dosage of 30 mg daily.

Abilify is approved for use in children ages 10 years to 17 years old with manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder. After an additional 2 days, their doctor may increase their Abilify dose to 10 mg daily. If the doctor believes that your child needs a higher dose of Abilify, the dosage may be increased by 5 mg each day, up to a maximum of 30 mg daily. Keep in mind that if your child is taking lithium or valproate along with Abilify, the recommended dosages of Abilify are the same as those described above.

Then the daily dose can be increased to 5 mg daily after at least 1 week. Following this, the daily dose can be increased to 10 mg to 15 mg daily.

At least 1 week should pass between each dosage increase. If you miss a dose of Abilify, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. If you have any questions about when to take your next dose of Abilify after a missed dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A medication timer may be useful, too. Abilify is meant to be used as a long-term treatment.

Abilify may also be used off-label for other conditions. Abilify is approved for use as an adjunct treatment in adults with major depressive disorder MDD. An adjunct treatment is used with other drugs for a specific condition. So as an adjunct treatment for MDD, Abilify is used with other drugs. MDD, which is often simply called depression , is a serious disease that affects your mood and actions. People with MDD often feel sad or anxious. This condition may affect your daily life, and you possibly may not be able to eat or sleep like usual.

Other symptoms of depression include feeling hopeless and not having interest in activities that you used to enjoy. Some people with depression may even have suicidal thoughts or behaviors, which are serious and may be life threatening. If you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, talk with your doctor right away. Your doctor can recommend treatment options, which may include Abilify.

In clinical trials , Abilify was effective in treating MDD. Two different studies compared MDD treatment with Abilify to that of a placebo treatment with no active drug.

Test scores on this scale range from 0 to Abilify is approved to treat manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder. For this use, Abilify can be given to adults and children ages 10 years and older. Bipolar disorder affects your brain and causes you to have changes in your mood and behavior. With bipolar I disorder, you may have manic episodes.

During these episodes, you can feel energetic or extremely irritable. And your thoughts may be racing, making it difficult for you to concentrate.

During mixed episodes, you have manic symptoms and depression symptoms at the same time. Symptoms of depression can include feeling sad or hopeless, or lacking interest in activities that you used to enjoy. Some people with depression may have suicidal thoughts or behaviors, which are serious and may be life threatening. With mixed episodes, you can have large changes in your mood. In clinical trials , Abilify was effective in treating manic and mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder.

Below, we present some of the results of these studies. Four different studies looked at treatment with Abilify compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug. Higher Y-MRS scores indicate worse mania symptoms than lower scores indicate. The studies showed that:. A clinical trial also compared treatment with Abilify plus either lithium or valproate to that of a placebo plus either lithium or valproate.

This trial showed that:. Abilify is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults and children ages 13 years and older. Many different things can cause schizophrenia. These include genetics and changes in certain neurotransmitters brain chemicals. Usually, schizophrenia begins to affect people during their teenage or young adult years.

Symptoms of schizophrenia vary, but they can include:. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in treating schizophrenia. Test scores from this scale range from 30 to These studies showed that:. Abilify is approved to treat irritability related to autism in children ages 6 years and older. In addition to the uses listed above, Abilify may be prescribed off-label for other uses.

And you may wonder if Abilify is used for certain other conditions. Below is information on other possible uses for Abilify. Anxiety can refer to a range of conditions, which are explained in a bit more detail below. These conditions include:. Some studies have shown that Abilify may be a treatment option for certain people with anxiety. However, in some people, Abilify may actually cause symptoms of anxiety. So Abilify may not be right for everyone with anxiety.

With GAD, you may feel restless or irritable. And you may have trouble falling or staying asleep. This study showed that there may be a benefit from Abilify treatment in people with GAD.

You may also have compulsions repetitive actions. For example, obsessions may include being afraid of germs or feeling that things need to be in a certain order. Examples of compulsions may include constantly cleaning or repeatedly checking to make sure the oven is turned off.

These obsessions and compulsions from OCD can cause anxiety. These other treatments may include drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. So for this condition, your doctor may recommend that you take a low dose of Abilify along with an SSRI.

And that event may cause flashbacks and nightmares that lead to anxiety. For example, people with trouble sleeping may be unable to drive or focus on tasks. One study showed that Abilify may help people with sleep disorders to fall asleep more quickly and to sleep better. Another study looked at why Abilify may work for people with sleep disorders. Because Abilify can cause insomnia as a side effect, a dose of the medication during the day may help people stay awake.

And this could cause them to feel tired at night and be able to sleep better. But the drug is being studied for this use. You may also have hyperactivity, which makes you unable to stay still. ADHD may also affect your ability to focus and learn. DMDD causes irritability, moodiness, and temper tantrums.

In this study, people took Abilify along with methylphenidate Ritalin, Metadate. People with psychosis may have trouble figuring out what is real and what is imagined. A review was done to see if Abilify may be a treatment option for people with psychosis. Abilify is still being studied for use in people with psychosis.

If you have questions about using Abilify to treat psychosis, talk with your doctor. Abilify is approved for use in children with certain mental health conditions.

Below, we describe the use of Abilify for these conditions. Keep in mind that Abilify may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults ages 24 and younger. Because of this risk, Abilify should be used cautiously in people ages 24 and younger. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in treating schizophrenia in children ages 13 and older. In a study, Abilify treatment was compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug.

Test scores from this test range from 30 to Higher scores indicate worse schizophrenia symptoms than lower scores indicate. The study showed that:. Abilify is approved to treat manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder in children ages 10 years and older. For this condition, Abilify is approved for use on its own. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in treating manic and mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in children.

One study looked at Abilify treatment compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug. Test scores from this scale range from 0 to Higher scores indicate worse mania symptoms than lower scores indicate. For this use, Abilify can be prescribed for children ages 6 years and older. Autism symptoms vary across a spectrum. For example, some children with autism are able to function at a very high level, while other children with autism need more care.

Autism is often diagnosed in children around the age of 2 years, when they may be having trouble with development. Specifically, Abilify is used to treat irritability in children with autism.

Irritability includes symptoms such as tantrums, injuring yourself, or having aggressive behaviors. Two different studies looked at Abilify treatment compared with that of a placebo treatment with no active drug.

ABC test scores from this scale range from 0 to Higher ABC test scores indicate worse irritability symptoms than lower scores do. It causes involuntary movements and sounds that happen repetitively. These movements and sounds are also called tics. Examples of movement-related tics include repetitive eye blinking or head jerking. Examples of sound-related tics include those that affect speech, such as repeating things that other people are saying.

In some cases, tics can be dangerous. In fact, sometimes tics may cause a person to hurt themselves. It often improves and may even disappear as people age into adulthood. The TTS scale ranges from 0 to Higher TTS scores indicate worse tic symptoms than lower scores indicate. For some of its approved uses, Abilify may be used in combination with other drugs. However, when treating major depressive disorder MDD , Abilify is always used with other drugs. MDD is also simply called depression. For MDD, Abilify is approved as an adjunct treatment.

Adjunct treatments are used in combination with other drugs to treat certain conditions. So as an adjunct treatment for MDD, Abilify is only used with other drugs. Below, we describe some of the drugs that may be used with Abilify. Or your doctor may change your medication regimen altogether.

If you have questions about using medications with Abilify, talk with your doctor. They can recommend an appropriate treatment plan for your condition. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with antidepressants to treat your condition.

Some examples of antidepressants that may be taken with Abilify include:. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with mood stabilizers to treat your condition.

Some examples of mood stabilizers that may be taken with Abilify include:. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with stimulants to treat your condition. Some examples of stimulants that may be taken with Abilify include:. Your doctor may prescribe Abilify along with other antipsychotic drugs to treat your condition. Some examples of other antipsychotics that may be taken with Abilify include:. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others.

They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed below are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. This means that Abilify is only used with other drugs for MDD.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat manic and mixed episodes related to bipolar I disorder include:.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat schizophrenia include:. You may wonder how Abilify compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Abilify and Abilify Maintena are alike and different. Both Abilify and Abilify Maintena contain the same active drug: aripiprazole. But even though these medications contain the same active drug, they act slightly differently inside your body.

Abilify Maintena is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults. The typical dosage of this drug is mg given once each month. Because Abilify and Abilify Maintena both contain the same active drug, their mild and serious side effects are the same. Also, because Abilify Maintena is an injectable medication, you may have pain at your injection site after receiving a dose of the drug.

In some cases, you may actually start out by taking Abilify. Then if your condition responds well to the drug, you may start taking Abilify Maintena instead. One study looked at people who took Abilify and then transitioned to Abilify Maintena.

These people had more benefit in decreasing their schizophrenia symptoms when they switched to Abilify Maintena. But separate studies have found both Abilify and Abilify Maintena to be effective in treating schizophrenia. According to estimates on GoodRx. The cost also depends on whether you receive doses of either drug from a pharmacy or a medical facility. Abilify and Abilify Maintena are both brand-name drugs. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics cost.

Like Abilify Maintena, discussed above, other medications are also prescribed for similar uses as Abilify is. Here we look at how Abilify and Rexulti are alike and different. Abilify contains the active drug aripiprazole , while Rexulti contains the active drug brexpiprazole. Both Abilify and Rexulti are approved to treat schizophrenia.

For this use, Abilify can be prescribed for adults and children ages 13 years and older. However, Rexulti is only approved for use in adults.

Abilify and Rexulti are also both approved for use in adults as adjunct treatments for major depressive disorder MDD , which is also simply called depression. Unfortunately, those dopamine pathways do not know the difference between improving a skill by one's own efforts and getting lucky.

The same principle applies to a gambler. It can lead to a form of addiction — and as many recovering addicts will testify, it finally gets to the point that the activity no longer brings pleasure — but they are compelled to continue with the behavior simply in order to keep from feeling bad. Dopamine agonists such as aripiprazole activate dopamine receptors in the brain, literally opening up those pathways. Among the resulting side effects are euphoria, increased orgasmic activity and pathological addictions that include compulsive gambling, shopping, binge eating and sexual behavior.

One of them is the 5-HT2C receptor, which binds to serotonin.