Uses, Side Effects, Dosage — Talkspace
Abilify Uses
Many people wonder what is Abilify used for? Abilify is an effective medication for various mental health conditions.
“Abilify is indicated and approved for schizophrenia; return of manic and mixed episodes of bipolar; one disorder adjunct treatment for major depressive disorder; autistic disorder irritability symptoms; and Tourette’s disorder.”
Abilify for bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme shifts in mood — from manic highs to depressive lows. Abilify has been studied and shown to help stabilize bipolar mood swings by balancing out dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. In addition, when taken with other medications, Abilify can significantly reduce mania symptoms in more than just one medication alone.
Abilify for depression
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental health condition characterized by sadness, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts that lasts for weeks or months. Abilify has effectively treated major depressive episodes, especially with antidepressant medications like SSRIs or SNRIs. One clinical trial found that people who took both an antidepressant plus Abilify experienced more significant improvements than those who only took an antidepressant alone.
Abilify for schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness marked by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and behavior problems such as aggression or agitation. Research shows that Abilify can be an effective treatment for schizophrenia.
While more research is still needed, some studies suggest that combination therapy — adding Abilify to traditional antipsychotics — may help improve positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia like delusions, hallucinations, social withdrawal or lack of motivation. Taking both drugs together can also help reduce the risk of relapse compared to using either medication alone.
Abilify for Tourette syndrome and symptoms related to autism
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements called tics. Tics may include facial grimacing, eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, vocalizations, and more. For some people with severe cases, research supports the clinical efficacy of low doses of Abilify and behavioral therapy to treat Tourette syndrome.
Research also suggests that Abilify can be beneficial in reducing irritability associated with an autism spectrum disorder in children aged 6 – 17. It’s now FDA-approved, but due to its potential side effects, it should only be prescribed to pediatric patients after careful consideration between the doctor and the patient/caregiver.
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