How Long Does it Take for Abilify to Work?

What Is Abilify?

Abilify belongs to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics and it contains the active ingredient aripiprazole. It helps restore the balance of dopamine and serotonin, the natural chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain responsible for overall mental well-being and emotions. It can help people to feel less nervous, actively socialize, think positively, and promote self-confidence. Abilify can also decrease severe mood swings and their frequency, hallucinations, and improve cognitive attention.

It is approved to treat major depressive disorder in adults, schizophrenia in adults and adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, bipolar mania in adults and children 10 to 17 years, irritability associated with autistic disorder in children 6 to 17 years, and Tourette’s disorder in 6 to 18 years.^{1, 2}

Can You Feel the Effects of Abilify Right Away?

Individuals taking Abilify may not notice improvement in their symptoms immediately. It may take a few days or a few weeks to see the effect. Typically, it takes 2 to 3 months for the drug to have its complete outcome. Individuals with manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder may notice initial improvement within days of treatment, with continued progress over 1 to 2 weeks.³

Symptom relief for depression may take one week initially, with continued improvements over 6 to 12 weeks.⁴ It may take individuals with schizophrenia 1 to 2 weeks to notice any progress, with continued improvements through 4 to 6 weeks.⁵

Timeline for Abilify for Work

People react differently to antipsychotic drugs like Abilify. Some may experience relief soon after starting their first dose of Abilify, while others may require several months before noticing any improvement. The full benefits of Abilify treatment may take up to two to three months to become noticeable. It is important to note that Abilify is typically a lifelong medication for those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Here is the general timeline for Abilify to start working:

• First dose and the first few weeks: Initial improvement in symptoms of bipolar mania may be observed within a few days of the first dose of the treatment, with continued progress over 1 to 2 weeks. With a once-daily oral dose (between 15 and 30 mg/day), stable drug levels can be reached in two weeks.^{1, 3}
• By the end of the first two months: Improvement in schizophrenia may occur within 1 to 2 weeks of treatment, with continued improvements through 4 to 6 weeks. Over four weeks, Abilify (20 to 30 mg/kg/day) is significantly effective in reducing both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.^{1, 5}
• Beyond two months: Improvement in depression may occur within one week, with continued improvements over 6 to 12 weeks. The dose range is 2 to 15 mg/day, with gradual dose adjustments of 5 mg/day at weekly intervals.^{1, 4}

Factors that Affect the Onset of Action for Abilify

The action of Abilify can be affected by factors like a drug dose, a person’s age and body weight, drug metabolism, accompanied health problems (heart, kidney, and liver), and administering methods (injections or by mouth).

Metabolism

Clinical studies have shown that Abilify induces an increase in thyroid hormone (free T4 thyroxine) levels, enhancing the drug metabolism in young adults requiring higher doses for the optimum effect. In elderly adults, the suggested drug dose is lower due to slower metabolism and drug overdose side effects.⁶

Age

Age is an important factor in medication dosage. Younger people tend to break down the drug faster than older adults due to high metabolic rates as opposed to older adults. Functional changes in the liver and kidney may occur over time in elderly individuals who may require lower doses to avoid the drug’s side effects and toxicity.⁷

Drug Form

The onset of action of Abilify depends on its administration form. It is well absorbed if taken by mouth (oral), with a maximum level reached in 3 to 5 hours. When injected, maximum levels develop after 1 to 3 hours in individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar mania.¹

How Does Abilify Make You Feel at First?

Abilify may initially cause sleepiness, tiredness, agitation, or restlessness¹ before showing any improvement in your symptoms. However, the drug affects everyone differently, so it may take a few days or weeks to experience its potential benefits, with continued improvements over several weeks.

Since schizophrenia requires long-term treatment, it’s crucial to continue taking the drug even if you don’t feel better. The full effects of Abilify may be seen in four to six weeks. If you don’t see any improvements in symptoms after two or three weeks, talk to your doctor about your progress.⁸

Does Abilify Give You Energy?

Abilify regulates the chemical messengers dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which can improve an individual’s sleep and mental well-being and reduce tiredness.⁹ As a result, it may be used as an off-label treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Additionally, Abilify is an additional treatment for major depressive disorder for individuals who don’t respond enough to typical antidepressant therapy. Abilify may improve their energy and motivation levels and enhance their interest in social activities.¹

How Does Abilify Work on Mood?

Abilify has a unique drug profile that affects both dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain. This action helps stabilize mood, behavior, and thinking by normalizing neurotransmitter levels. It also reduces unwanted symptoms and regulates mood by preventing extreme shifts in energy and emotions.⁸

By increasing dopamine and serotonin activity in the brain, Abilify can be used as an additional therapy to antidepressants. For some, Abilify may relieve symptoms of depression, like low mood, loss of interest, and feelings of worthlessness.⁴

How Do You Know If Abilify Is Working?

Abilify is effective in treating the cognitive, positive, and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and is generally needed lifelong. The improvement in symptoms can usually be observed within the first 1 to 2 weeks, with continued improvements through 4 to 6 weeks. When a person stops hearing voices and false beliefs and starts socializing, organization in behavior and thinking indicates that the drug is working.⁵

Individuals may feel calmer, less upset, stay focused, and think clearly (reduction in bipolar manic symptoms) within days of Abilify treatment with continued improvements over 1 to 2 weeks.³ However, an improvement in depression may occur within one week, with continued improvements over 6 to 12 weeks. They start taking an interest in activities with high energy and motivation.⁴

What to Do When Abilify Is Not Working

It may take some time for you to see the potential benefits of Abilify. Do not make any changes to your drug routine or stop taking the medication without consulting with your doctor first. If there is no improvement or your health condition worsens, immediately inform your doctor.

When an individual fails to respond or develops a tolerance to the initial dose of Abilify after 14 consecutive days, the doctor may gradually increase the drug dose to the upper limit if it is tolerable. Otherwise, they may switch to another antipsychotic if the drug is not effective at all.

Switching to another antipsychotic can be considered two weeks after the initial antipsychotic due to a lack of response. However, in case of an emergency, doctors use an augmentation strategy. The effect of the originally prescribed antipsychotic can be increased by adding another one.¹⁰

Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About How Long Abilify Takes to Work

You may have questions about taking Abilify. Your doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist can help you understand how taking Abilify may help your symptoms and any risks that may be involved. Online psychiatry services can provide care that’s comparable to in-office visits.

Questions to ask your care team about how long it may take Abilify to work:

• How long will it take for Abilify to work?
• What changes can I expect, and what happens if I don’t notice any changes?
• What common side effects should I look out for?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• How long will it take for me to adjust to taking Abilify?
• Am I at risk for more severe symptoms if I am already taking other anxiety /depression medications?
• What is the best dosage to ensure fewer side effects?
• Are there drugs I am taking that could have negative interactions?
• When should I reach out to you if I am experiencing side effects?
• What should I avoid while taking Abilify?
• What do I need to tell my doctor before I take this drug?
• Are there any risks if I take Abilify for a long duration?
• What happens if I overdose on the drug?