What Is Abilify Used For?

Abilify^® (aripiprazole) a prescription antipsychotic medication approved for treating various mental illnesses. Many people may wonder, "What is Abilify used for, specifically?" The medicine is licensed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.

 

Although psychotherapy may be helpful for schizophrenia, medication is often essential to schizophrenia treatment. Abilify can help improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. It also helps to prevent schizophrenia relapses (worsening of schizophrenia). However, the drug is not a cure for schizophrenia.

 

Abilify is approved to treat acute episodes of mania or mixed episodes (which involve symptoms of both mania and depression). The medicine is also approved for continued use once the acute episode has improved.

 

For most people, antidepressants can work wonders for depression treatment. However, some people do not respond adequately to antidepressants, even if different antidepressants are tried. In such situations, medications may be given to boost the effects of the antidepressant. This is known as augmentation. Abilify is approved for augmentation treatment (along with antidepressants) for the treatment of major depression.