Abilify (aripiprazole) is used to treat certain mental health conditions or mood disorders. It may be prescribed to adults and some children. The drug comes in oral tablet and injection forms, taken daily or monthly.

Abilify is used to treat these conditions:

The active ingredient in Abilify is aripiprazole. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Abilify belongs to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics.

This article describes the dosages of Abilify, as well as its strengths and how to take it. Some forms discussed are called Abilify MyCite and Abilify Maintena. To learn more about Abilify overall, see this in-depth article.

Below are the usual doses of Abilify in adults.

Note: This chart highlights the basics of Abilify’s dosage in adults. Be sure to read on for more detail, including specific dosages for children.

FormsStrengthsUsual dosage
• oral tablet
• oral tablet with sensor 		• 2 milligrams (mg)
• 5 mg
• 10 mg
• 15 mg
• 20 mg
• 30 mg 		• major depressive disorder: 2 mg to 15 mg once per day
• manic episodes and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder: 15 mg once per day
• schizophrenia: 10 mg to 15 mg once per day
• powder in a single-dose, prefilled syringe
• powder in a single-dose vial 		• 300 mg
• 400 mg 		• 400 mg once per month

What are the forms of Abilify?

Abilify comes in the following forms:

  • oral tablet that you swallow (Abilify)
  • oral tablet with an embedded sensor, which you swallow (Abilify MyCite)*
  • powder for mixing with sterile water in a single-dose, prefilled dual-chamber syringe, which is injected into a muscle (Abilify Maintena)
  • powder for mixing with sterile water in a single-dose vial, which is injected into a muscle (Abilify Maintena)

* A sensor is embedded in the tablet. You must wear an accompanying patch that records information from the sensor. The information is then sent to a smartphone.

What strengths does Abilify come in?

Abilify oral tablet and Abilify MyCite oral tablet come in the following strengths:

  • 2 mg
  • 5 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 15 mg
  • 20 mg
  • 30 mg

Abilify Maintena syringe and vial come in the following strengths:

  • 300 mg
  • 400 mg

What are the usual dosages of Abilify?

Your doctor will likely start by prescribing a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The information below describes dosages of Abilify and Abilify MyCite that are commonly prescribed or recommended for adults. (You’ll find Abilify Maintena dosages in “What are the usual dosages of Abilify Maintena?” below.) But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for depression

Abilify is approved to treat major depressive disorder in adults. This condition is often called depression.

The usual starting dose of Abilify is 2 mg to 5 mg once per day. If your doctor increases your dosage, each week they will usually add up to 5 mg to your daily dose. The drugmaker recommends a dosage range of 2 to 15 mg once per day. The maximum dosage is 15 mg once per day.

Dosage for bipolar I disorder

Abilify is approved to treat manic episodes and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults. For this condition, Abilify is usually taken with another drug, either lithium or valproate.

The usual starting dosage of Abilify is 15 mg once per day. This is also the recommended maintenance dosage. (This is the dosage you’ll continue to take at the completion of your starting dosage.) The maximum dosage is 30 mg once per day.

Dosage for schizophrenia

Abilify is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults.

The usual starting dosage of Abilify is 10 mg to 15 mg once per day. This is also the recommended dosage range. If your doctor increases your dosage, they may wait 2 weeks to learn how the drug affects you. The maximum dosage is 30 mg once per day.

What are the usual dosages of Abilify Maintena?

Abilify Maintena is a long-acting form of Abilify prescribed only to adults, not children. It is given by a healthcare professional as an injection into your muscle.

People who are already taking Abilify tablets can receive Abilify Maintena. Likewise, people who are starting Abilify for the first time can receive Abilify Maintena. Continue reading to learn more about its usual injection dosage.

Dosage for bipolar I disorder

Abilify Maintena is approved to treat manic episodes and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults.

The usual dosage is 400 mg once per month. For 14 days after the first injection, you’ll usually take 10 mg to 20 mg of Abilify oral tablet as well. (This is to help keep a steady level of the drug in your body.) But you might already be taking a different oral antipsychotic drug. In this case, you’ll continue that drug for 14 days after your first Abilify injection.

If you have side effects with the Abilify 400-mg injection, your doctor may decrease your dosage to 300 mg once per month.

Dosage for schizophrenia

Abilify Maintena is approved to treat schizophrenia in adults.

The usual dosage is 400 mg once per month. For 14 days after the first injection, you’ll usually take 10 mg to 20 mg of Abilify oral tablet as well. (This is to help keep a steady level of the drug in your body.) But you might already be taking a different oral antipsychotic drug. In this case, you’ll continue that drug for 14 days after your first Abilify injection.

If you have side effects with the 400-mg injection, your doctor may decrease your dosage to 300 mg once per month.

What’s the dosage of Abilify for children?

The information below describes dosages of Abilify that are commonly prescribed or recommended for children. Be sure to give your child the dosage that your child’s doctor prescribes. They will determine the dosage that best fits your child’s needs.

Dosage for bipolar I disorder

Abilify is approved to treat manic episodes and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in children ages 10 to 17 years. For this condition, Abilify may be used alone or with another drug, either lithium or valproate.

Your child’s Abilify starting dosage will typically be increased in the first week. As such, the starting dosage schedule may be as follows:

  • 2 mg once per day for the first 2 days
  • 5 mg once per day for the next 2 days
  • 10 mg once per day after that

The recommended maintenance dosage is 10 mg once per day. (The maintenance dosage is what your child will continue to take at the completion of the starting dosage.) The maximum dosage is 30 mg once per day.

Dosage for schizophrenia

Abilify is approved to treat schizophrenia in children ages 13 to 17 years.

Your child’s Abilify starting dosage will typically be increased in the first week. As such, the starting dosage schedule may be as follows:

  • 2 mg once per day for the first 2 days
  • 5 mg once per day for the next 2 days
  • 10 mg once per day after that

The recommended maintenance dosage is 10 mg once per day. (The maintenance dosage is what your child will continue to take at the completion of the starting dosage.)

The doctor may decide to increase your child’s dosage to more than 10 mg once per day. If so, they will usually increase it by 5 mg at a time. During the first week of treatment, the first two dose increases will be every 2 days. Additional increases, if any, will occur after the child has completed at least 1 week at the previous dose. The recommended maximum dosage is 30 mg once per day.

Dosage for irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder

Abilify is approved to treat irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder in children ages 6 to 17 years.

Your child’s Abilify starting dosage will usually be 2 mg once per day. Then the doctor may increase it to a dosage of 5 mg once per day. After that, they may increase it to a dosage of 10 mg or 15 mg once per day. The maximum dosage is 15 mg once per day.

When your child’s doctor increases the dosage, it is best done slowly. The dose increase should not be more than 5 mg. During the first week of treatment, the first two dose increases will likely be every 2 days. Additional increases, if any, may occur after your child has completed at least 1 week at the previous dose.

Dosage for Tourette syndrome

Abilify is approved to treat Tourette syndrome in children ages 6 to 18 years. Your child’s dose will depend on their body weight. (For reference, 1 kilogram [kg] is about 2.2 pounds [lb].)

Children who weigh less than 50 kg (less than about 110 lb). Your child’s usual starting dosage will be as follows:

  • 2 mg once per day for the first 2 days
  • 5 mg once per day for the next 5 days
  • 10 mg once per day after that

The maximum dosage is 10 mg once per day.

Children who weigh 50 kg or more (about 110 lb). Your child’s usual starting dosage will be as follows:

  • 2 mg once per day for the first 2 days
  • 5 mg once per day for the next 5 days
  • 10 mg once per day after that

If your child’s doctor increases the dosage to more than 10 mg once per day, they may do so slowly. The increases will likely not occur more often than once per week and 5 mg at a time. The maximum dosage is 20 mg once per day.

Is Abilify used long term?

Yes, Abilify is usually prescribed as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

Dosage adjustments

Some people have certain liver conditions that cause their body to break down Abilify more slowly. If you have a certain liver condition, your doctor may start by prescribing a lower dose. You can find out more about genetic testing for these conditions in this article.

Some drugs interact with Abilify. If you take one of these drugs, your doctor may adjust your Abilify dosage. Or they may adjust your dosage of the other drug. Examples of these drugs include:

  • paroxetine
  • clarithromycin
  • carbamazepine
  • clonazepam

Talk with your doctor about all the medications you take before starting Abilify. And let them know if you plan to start any new medications.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Abilify’s dosage.

What is Abilify’s maximum dosage?

Abilify has maximum dosages for some conditions it’s approved to treat. The highest dose of Abilify that you’ll take daily depends on the condition you’re taking it to treat.

Below are maximum dosages of Abilify for several conditions:

  • major depressive disorder in adults: 15 milligrams (mg) once per day
  • manic episodes and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults and children: 30 mg once per day
  • schizophrenia in adults and children: 30 mg once per day
  • irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder in children: 15 mg once per day
  • Tourette syndrome in children: 10 mg or 20 mg once per day depending on body weight

Talk with your doctor if you think your dosage of Abilify may need to be increased. Do not try to increase or change your dosage on your own.

Is there less risk of side effects from Abilify if I take a lower dose of the drug, such as 5 mg?

Yes, sometimes a lower dose of Abilify may lessen the risk of side effects.

Some people process the drug more slowly. An example is people who have certain liver conditions. In this case, a lower dose can lessen their risk of side effects.

Your doctor usually will prescribe the lowest starting dosage recommended for your condition. For treating some conditions, they may then increase your dosage slowly.

You and your doctor can discuss the risk of side effects and the benefits of treating your condition.

Abilify is sometimes prescribed off-label at different dosages. Off-label means a drug is prescribed for a condition it is not officially approved to treat. Expert medical opinion and ongoing research determine the dosages for off-label uses.

When Abilify is taken off-label, it’s usually prescribed at doses lower than what the drugmaker recommends. This is often called low dose Abilify.

Some very early research has used lower doses of Abilify. This research includes:

Anxiety often accompanies other mental health conditions that Abilify treats. Some early research has studied Abilify for treating anxiety. It found that high dose or low dose Abilify may help for anxiety.

But in the treatment of certain conditions, side effects may include anxiety and agitation. These side effects may occur when treating schizophrenia with Abilify.

Each person responds to medications differently. With Abilify, it’s possible that your anxiety might lessen, get worse, or stay the same. Talk with your doctor about your options for managing anxiety.

* Chronic fatigue syndrome is usually called myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is not the same as mild fatigue (low energy).

The dosage of Abilify that a doctor prescribes may depend on several factors. These include:

  • the kind and severity of the condition you’re taking the drug to treat
  • your age
  • your liver function
  • side effects you may experience
  • the form of Abilify you’re taking
  • other conditions you may have (see “Dosage adjustments” in the “What is Abilify’s dosage?” section above)

You’ll swallow Abilify tablets once per day with or without food.

If you take Abilify MyCite tablets, you’ll also swallow them once per day with or without food. With this form of Abilify, you’ll also wear a MyCite Patch that has a sensor. The sensor in the patch receives information from the sensor in the tablet. It also sends information to a smartphone to help keep track of your dosages. Read more about this process on the drugmaker’s website and in the Abilify MyCite medication guide.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.

With Abilify Maintena, a healthcare professional will give you the injection once per month. They will inject it into the muscle of your arm or buttock. Read more about this process on the drugmaker’s website.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Abilify, see this article.

Accessible drug containers and labels

Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

  • have large print or use braille
  • feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your pharmacy might offer these accessibility features. If they don’t, ask your doctor or pharmacist if they can recommend pharmacies that do.

If you have trouble opening medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to supply Abilify in an easy-open container. They may also have tips to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.

Read more about what to do in the event of an Abilify, Abilify MyCite, or Abilify Maintena missed dose.

Abilify and Abilify MyCite. If you miss your Abilify dose, take the dose when you remember. But if your next dose is due soon, skip the missed dose. Then take your next dose at the planned time. Do not take two doses at a time.

If you’re unsure whether to take a missed dose, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Abilify Maintena. If you miss your Abilify Maintena injection, the action you’ll take depends on your dosage schedule. It also depends on the time that has passed since your last injection.

If you miss a second or third injection

  • If 4 to 5 weeks have passed since your last injection, a healthcare professional may give the dose right away.
  • If more than 5 weeks have passed since your last injection, you may need to restart the injection schedule. Your doctor may also prescribe oral Abilify for 2 weeks.

If you miss a fourth or later injection

  • If 4 to 6 weeks have passed since your last injection, a healthcare professional may give the dose right away.
  • If more than 6 weeks have passed since your last injection, you may need to restart the injection schedule. Your doctor may also prescribe oral Abilify for 2 weeks.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Abilify on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone. You can also use an alarm or reminder app to remind you of injection appointments.

Yes, there may be a risk of misuse with Abilify. Misuse was not reported in studies, but it is possible because the drug affects your mental state.

If you have a history of drug misuse or dependence, you may be at higher risk of these problems with Abilify. (With misuse, the drug is taken in a way that’s different from its prescribed use. With dependence, your body needs the drug to function as usual.)

Talk with your doctor about warning signs of misuse or dependence with Ability. These include developing a tolerance for the drug and unintentionally increasing your dosage.

Do not take more Abilify than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

  • fast heartbeat
  • convulsions
  • heart rhythm changes
  • aggression
  • tremor
  • sleepiness
  • vomiting
  • atypical lab test results
  • blood pressure changes
  • slowed breathing
  • loss of consciousness
  • coma

What to do in case you take too much Abilify

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Abilify. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Some people who take Abilify may develop a dependence on the drug. (With dependence, your body needs the drug to function as usual.) So Abilify may lead to withdrawal symptoms if you stop it abruptly.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

  • fast heart rate
  • nausea
  • headache

You may also experience returning symptoms of your medical condition if you stop taking Abilify to treat it.

If you’re considering stopping Abilify treatment, talk with your doctor first. They will usually create a taper schedule for you to stop the drug. A taper schedule lowers your dosage gradually to decrease the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

The sections above describe the usual dosages provided by the drugmaker. If your doctor recommends Abilify for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Abilify without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Abilify exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Does my dose of Abilify need to change because of other medications I take?
  • What might increase the possibility of side effects?
  • How fast will my Abilify dosage be increased?
  • Should my oral dosage be for Abilify or Abilify MyCite?
  • If Abilify is not working to manage my symptoms, should my dosage increase?

To learn more about Abilify, see these articles:

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.