Brands: Abilify, Abilify Maintena, Aristada, Aristada Initio
Type: Antipsychotic
Dosages: 5, 10, 15, 30mg,
Max Dosage: 30mg Per Day
About Aripiprazole:Aripiprazole was discovered in 1988 by scientists at the Japanese firm Otsuka Pharmaceutical, but these days it is a common prescription worldwide. When it comes to atypical antipsychotics this is probably the strongest of them all and is mostly used for the treatment of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (as well as BPD of course). The exact mechanism of action which causes Aripiprazole to work is unknown. As with most antipsychotic medication it blocks receptors on nerves in the brain for several neurotransmitters, causing the person to feel less overwhelmed by the thoughts both during mania and depression.
Common Aripiprazole Side Effects Include:
Aggression
Alopecia
Cardiac Arrest
Chest Pain
Hypertension
Musculoskeletal Stiffness
Pathological Gambling
Photosensitivity Reaction
Speech Disorders
Suicidal behaviour
Urinary Incontinence
Weight Decreased
Less Common To Rare Aripiprazole Side Effects Include:
Vomiting
Changes in an electrocardiogram
Tremors
Fatigue
Confusion
Agitation
Heart Block
Hyperthermia
Hypotension
Seizures
Coma
Personal Experience of Using Aripiprazole: Being almost 40 years of age I do get the feeling that the younger you are, the stronger dose of Aripiprazole you will need. I personally was on only 5mg per day and to be honest, it almost put me into a walking coma. But that was no bad thing as it did numb the negative thoughts and feelings that I had at the time, but I personally felt that I wasn’t able to do therapy while under such a high dose of it. So having dropped down to just 2mg per day I was still feeling numb, but more in control physically. Apart from feeling incredibly tired all the time I really didn’t notice any negative side effects. I was told once that Aripiprazole goes up to 30mg, which I can only presume is for large mammals like rhinos and elephants as 30mg of Aripiprazole would be enough to knock anyone out cold.
