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Abilify Withdrawal
If you abruptly stop taking Abilify, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Some of these possible withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, symptoms of bipolar disorder, and symptoms of schizophrenia. When you stop taking Abilify, your healthcare provider may wean you off the drug slowly to prevent these and other symptoms from occurring.
Abilify® (aripiprazole) is a prescription medication approved to treat schizophrenia, major depression, autism, or bipolar disorder. As is the case with most medications for mental illnesses, it is not recommended that you stop Abilify without your healthcare provider's approval. Although Abilify is not addicting and is not likely to be abused, the brain may need time to adjust after you stop taking Abilify.
Abilify withdrawal symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- Insomnia
- Symptoms of schizophrenia (such as hallucinations or delusions)
- Bipolar disorder symptoms (such as mania or depression).
These symptoms may not improve with time, as they may be symptoms of the underlying disorder -- that is, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Your healthcare provider may decide to wean you off Abilify slowly to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms, though this may not be necessary in all situations. Even if you are switching to another medication, your healthcare provider may still recommend stopping Abilify slowly.
Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider before stopping Abilify. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you notice any bothersome symptoms after stopping Abilify.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD