Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Using Abilify for Treatment of Bipolar Disorder By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 17, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Eric Audras / ONOKY / Getty Images Abilify, known by the generic name aripiprazole, is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is approved to treat a number of disorders, including bipolar disorder. It's used specifically to treat manic and mixed episodes in bipolar disorder, either alone or in combination with other anti-manic medications. What Is Abilify Used to Treat? Abilify is approved to treat the following health conditions: Schizophrenia in people age 13 or olderBipolar I disorder in people age 10 or olderMajor depressive disorder in adults (used in combination with another antidepressant when a person does not respond to that single antidepressant)Agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar maniaAgitation associated with autism spectrum disorder in children ages 6 to 17Tourette syndrome in children and adolescents age 6 and older Common Abilify Side Effects In adults, common side effects include: Akathisia Anxiety Blurred vision Constipation Dizziness Fatigue Headache Insomnia Nausea Side effects in children are similar, with the addition of nose congestion, drooling, and changes in appetite. Potential Serious Abilify Side Effects Abilify may cause serious side effects, like: Change in cholesterol levels Difficulty swallowing Increase in blood sugar Leukopenia, neutropenia, and agranulocytosis, which cause severe and dangerous decreases in white blood cell count, have also been reported and are potentially fatal Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which is a potentially fatal complication characterized by symptoms like high fever, rigid muscles, and rapid swings in blood pressure Orthostatic hypotension, or feeling lightheaded when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position too quickly, due to a drop in blood pressure Seizures Tardive dyskinesia, which is a disorder that causes uncontrolled facial and other movements Weight gain Impulse-control problems including pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, and compulsive eating may also occur. In such cases, your prescribing doctor may recommend reducing your dose or discontinuing the medication. Helpful Tips When Taking Abilify Speak to your prescribing doctor right away if you are planning on getting pregnant or are pregnant. Animal studies suggest that Abilify may be harmful to the fetus, but it's not clear if that risk applies to humans. Your doctor can help you determine whether the benefits of taking Abilify outweigh any potential problems. Furthermore: Never stop taking Abilify or change its dosage without first consulting with your healthcare provider.Be sure to notify your doctor of all your medications, as your dose of Abilify may need to be changed based on this information. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Abilify.Avoid overheating and dehydration while on Abilify.Abilify may also pass into breast milk, so be sure to discuss your therapy plan if you are breastfeeding or planning on breastfeeding. Two Black-Box Warnings on Abilify Black box warnings are included on medications when they have the potential to cause serious, life-threatening side effects. Abilify carries two black box warnings from the FDA: Increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis: Abilify is not FDA-approved to treat people with dementia-related psychosis, although it is sometimes used for this purpose. Treating older adults with dementia-related psychosis with an antipsychotic medication puts them at a somewhat increased risk of death. Suicidality and antidepressant drugs: Although it is not an antidepressant, Abilify carries the standard warning that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Brown R, Taylor MJ, Geddes J. Aripiprazole alone or in combination for acute mania. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Dec 17;12:CD005000. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005000.pub2 Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Abilify (aripiprazole) tablets. By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.