Abilify and Insomnia (Cont.)

Suggestions for Abilify and Insomnia

If you have difficulty sleeping while taking Abilify, there are some things you may try. Some tips for better sleep include:
 
  • Keeping a regular sleep-wake cycle. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same times every day.
  • Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine in the four to six hours before bedtime.
  • Avoiding exercise within two hours of bedtime. Exercising five or six hours before bedtime may help you sleep more soundly.
  • Avoiding large meals within two hours of bedtime.
  • Napping no later than 3 p.m.
  • Sleeping in a dark, quiet room with a comfortable temperature.
  • Doing a quiet activity somewhere else if you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes. Return to bed when you're sleepy.
  • Winding down in the 30 minutes before bedtime with a relaxing pre-sleep ritual, such as a warm bath, soft music, or reading.
     
(Click Good Sleep Habits for more suggestions.)
 
Remember that it is impossible for your healthcare provider to know beforehand whether you will develop insomnia while taking Abilify. Also, if a person does develop insomnia while taking Abilify, it can be challenging to know whether it is caused by the condition being treated or by the medication itself. This is because insomnia is common with a number of the conditions that Abilify is used to treat (for example, a number of people with bipolar disorder report insomnia).
 
If you are taking Abilify and insomnia becomes a problem, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. There are other treatments that he or she may be able to recommend, including insomnia medications, adjusting the Abilify dosage, or trying another bipolar, depression, or schizophrenia medication.

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;