Abilify (aripiprazole) is a prescription drug that helps treat certain mental health conditions. Abilify can cause side effects (also called adverse effects) that range from mild to serious. Examples include restlessness, drowsiness, and metabolism changes.

Specifically, Abilify is used to treat:

The active ingredient in Abilify is aripiprazole. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The drug comes as a tablet that you swallow.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Abilify can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Note: This article focuses on the side effects of the Abilify tablet. The drug also comes in other versions, which are not discussed in this article: Abilify MyCite, which is a tablet containing a sensor, and Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii, which are injections given into muscle. To learn more about these other forms, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Some people may have mild to serious side effects during their Abilify treatment. Examples of Abilify’s commonly reported side effects include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Abilify include:

  • restlessness
  • sleepiness or drowsiness
  • tremors
  • trouble sleeping
  • fatigue (low energy)
  • nausea or vomiting
  • making more saliva than usual
  • headache
  • the common cold
  • hair loss
  • weight gain
  • constipation
  • sexual side effects*
  • akathisia*
  • mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And don’t stop taking Abilify unless your doctor recommends it.

Abilify may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Abilify, visit MedWatch.

Side effects from Abilify are usually mild. But the drug may also cause serious side effects. Serious side effects that have been reported with Abilify include:

* Abilify has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Abilify, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

  • Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
  • Listen to the person without judgment.
  • Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
  • Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
  • Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours per day when you call 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 800-273-8255.

Click here for more links and local resources.

In most cases, children taking Abilify have similar side effects as those of adults taking the medication. But in addition to the side effects listed above, Abilify may also commonly cause other side effects in children. These include:

Abilify can cause weight gain. In studies, this was a common side effect reported by people taking the drug.

Abilify may cause changes in your metabolism. These changes include increased blood sugar levels and increased cholesterol levels. As a result, the drug may increase your risk of weight gain.

During treatment with Abilify, your doctor will monitor your weight. You may also monitor any weight changes at home.

If you notice large or unexpected changes in your body weight, talk with your doctor. They’ll be able to recommend ways to help manage your weight, such as diet or exercise changes. If your weight gain is severe or bothersome, your doctor may recommend a different treatment that does not cause weight gain.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Abilify’s side effects.

Does Abilify cause sexual side effects?

Yes, it’s possible for Abilify to cause sexual side effects, though they’re rare. These include:

To learn more about the sexual side effects Abilify may cause, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Do Abilify’s side effects go away on their own?

It’s possible that side effects from Abilify may go away on their own. But some may be long term. How long side effects last can depend on how your body adjusts to Abilify as well as which side effects you experience.

For example, if you develop nausea at the beginning of Abilify treatment, your body may adjust to this side effect. Over time, you may notice your nausea decreasing or even going away completely.

But other side effects, such as decreased white blood cell levels, may be more long term. These side effects may not go away on their own. And they may last even after you’ve taken Abilify for a long time.

If you’re concerned about side effects that you’re experiencing from Abilify and how long they may last, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss whether your side effects may ease or go away on their own. In addition, they may be able to recommend ways to treat side effects that you’re experiencing.

Do Abilify’s side effects vary depending on strength (such as 5-mg tablets vs. 10-mg tablets)?

It’s possible for Abilify’s side effects to vary based on what strength of the medication you’re taking. Abilify tablets are available in several strengths: 2 milligrams (mg), 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg.

People taking a higher strength of Abilify may have more side effects from the drug. Your doctor can determine what the best strength of Abilify may be for you. They’ll prescribe the strength that’s effective without causing bothersome side effects.

Is hair loss a side effect of Abilify?

Yes, hair loss is a possible side effect of Abilify. But in studies of the drug, this side effect was rare.

If you notice hair loss that’s severe or bothersome to you during Abilify treatment, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to decrease hair loss. For example, they may recommend using an over-the-counter medication, such as Rogaine (minoxidil), to treat this side effect.

Will I experience withdrawal side effects if I stop taking Abilify?

Maybe. Withdrawal side effects are side effects that can happen when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on. (With drug dependence, your body needs a drug to function as usual.)

There have been a few isolated reports of withdrawal symptoms in people who suddenly stopped taking Abilify. But the exact reason for these symptoms isn’t fully understood. So it’s not known for certain whether Abilify causes withdrawal side effects.

If you would like to stop treatment with Abilify, it’s important that you talk with your doctor first. They may recommend slowly decreasing your dose of Abilify so that your body can adjust to not having the drug. They may also suggest that you take another medication to treat your mood disorder.

Learn more about some of the side effects Abilify may cause.

Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain younger people

Abilify has a boxed warning for increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adults ages 24 years and younger.

Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

This side effect may occur with Abilify and with other drugs used to treat depression. So when you’re taking Abilify, you should watch for symptoms, which can include:

What might help

Due to the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, your doctor will monitor you for changes in your mood during Abilify treatment regardless of your age. They may monitor you more closely when you first start taking Abilify and when your dose of the drug changes. These are the times that you may have the highest risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Consider asking your family, caregivers, or friends to also monitor you for mood changes during treatment.

If you or someone you know notices any changes in your mood or worsening symptoms of depression, contact your doctor. If your mood worsens or you develop suicidal thoughts or behaviors, your doctor may recommend stopping Abilify treatment. They may also suggest trying a different medication to treat your condition.

If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, go to a hospital or call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

Risk of death in older people with psychosis due to dementia

Abilify has a boxed warning for the risk of death in people ages 65 and older with dementia-related psychosis.

Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

It’s possible that antipsychotic medications such as Abilify may increase the risk of stroke or even death in older people with psychosis due to dementia.

What might help

Due to the risk of death, doctors usually will not prescribe Abilify to older people with dementia-related psychosis. Before starting treatment with Abilify, tell your doctor about any medical conditions that you have. This can help your doctor recommend the best treatment option for you.

Tardive dyskinesia

People who take antipsychotic medications such as Abilify may develop tardive dyskinesia (TD). This condition causes uncontrolled movements, such as grimacing or twitching. While this side effect can occur in anyone, it most often occurs in older adults.

In studies of Abilify, TD was not a commonly reported side effect.

Symptoms of TD include:

  • stiff or jerking movements of your face or tongue
  • blinking frequently
  • sticking out your tongue
  • uncontrolled leg or arm movements

What might help

If you develop symptoms of TD during Abilify treatment, tell your doctor. They may recommend that you stop taking the drug. After stopping treatment, TD symptoms may decrease or go away completely. But it’s possible that this side effect may not go away, even after stopping treatment.

If Abilify is working for you and your TD symptoms are manageable, your doctor may recommend that you continue taking Abilify. In this case, they may monitor you more often for worsening TD symptoms.

Your risk of developing TD may increase if you take Abilify for a longer period of time or at a higher dosage. Due to this risk, your doctor will recommend taking the lowest possible dose that’s effective for treating your condition.

If you have concerns about developing TD while taking Abilify, talk with your doctor.

Sexual side effects

It’s possible to have sexual side effects from taking Abilify. But such side effects were not commonly reported in studies of the drug.

Sexual side effects that may occur during treatment with Abilify include:

What might help

If you have any sexual side effects during your treatment with Abilify, talk with your doctor. Some of these side effects may lessen with a lower dose of Abilify. So your doctor may suggest lowering your dosage of the drug.

Your doctor may also recommend other medications to help prevent sexual side effects. For example, if you have ED, they may prescribe a medication to treat this condition, such as Viagra (sildenafil).

Akathisia

You may experience akathisia, muscle twitching that causes your legs to move involuntarily, during treatment with Abilify. In studies, this was one of the most common side effects reported by people taking the drug.

With akathisia, you have a need to move. This is different from tardive dyskinesia (TD), another movement condition that Abilify may cause. (For more information about TD, see the section just above.)

TD causes uncontrolled movements that a person may not even realize are occurring. But akathisia results in a constant urge to move, and moving can help ease this condition.

People with akathisia often develop symptoms affecting their legs. Examples include:

  • rocking back and forth
  • pacing
  • constantly crossing or uncrossing the legs

What might help

If you notice symptoms of akathisia during treatment with Abilify, tell your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to ease this side effect, such as lowering your dosage of Abilify.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Abilify can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Abilify, they’ll decide whether you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Abilify, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Abilify treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Abilify affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Abilify comes with several warnings, which may affect whether the drug is a good treatment for your condition.

Before you start treatment with Abilify, tell your doctor about any medical conditions that you have. This can help them determine whether Abilify is a safe treatment option for you.

Boxed warnings

Abilify has boxed warnings about the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain younger people and the increased risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

  • Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain younger people. Children and adults ages 24 years or younger who take antidepressants such as Abilify have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. If you have a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, tell your doctor. They’ll discuss with you whether Abilify is safe for you to take.
  • Risk of death in older adults with psychosis related to dementia. Abilify may increase the risk of death in people ages 65 years and older with dementia-related psychosis. Doctors usually won’t prescribe antipsychotics such as Abilify to people with this condition. They’ll recommend other treatments instead.

To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section above.

Other warnings

Abilify may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether Abilify is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Abilify. The list below includes factors to consider.

Diabetes. Abilify may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. For people who have diabetes, taking Abilify may worsen this condition. Before you start taking Abilify, tell your doctor if you have diabetes. They can determine whether it’s safe for you to take the drug. If they prescribe Abilify, they may recommend more frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels during treatment.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Abilify or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Abilify. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

High cholesterol. Abilify may increase cholesterol levels. If you already have high cholesterol, taking Abilify may make your condition worse. Before starting Abilify treatment, tell your doctor if you have high cholesterol. They may recommend monitoring your cholesterol levels throughout your treatment.

Blood pressure problems. Abilify may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up quickly. People with low blood pressure may have an increased risk of developing this side effect. If you have any problems with your blood pressure, tell your doctor. They may recommend monitoring your blood pressure more often during treatment with Abilify.

Low white blood cell levels. It’s possible for Abilify to decrease levels of white blood cells. If you already have a condition that decreases your white blood cell count, taking Abilify may worsen your condition. If you have this kind of condition, let your doctor know. They may recommend monitoring your white blood cell levels throughout your treatment.

Seizures. It’s possible for Abilify to increase the risk of seizures in people who have a seizure disorder. Before starting treatment with Abilify, tell your doctor if you have this condition. This can help them determine whether Abilify is a safe treatment option for you.

Heart problems or stroke. Abilify may increase the risk of heart problems, such as low blood pressure when standing or sitting up. If you have heart problems, tell your doctor. They may monitor your heart more often during treatment with Abilify. Or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Alcohol and Abilify

There aren’t any known interactions between alcohol and Abilify. But it’s possible that taking Abilify and drinking alcohol may increase your risk of certain side effects. Examples include:

  • nausea or vomiting
  • headache
  • sleepiness
  • dizziness
  • changes in blood pressure

Talk with your doctor to find out whether it’s safe for you to drink alcohol during treatment with Abilify.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Abilify

Below you’ll find information on taking Abilify during pregnancy or while breastfeeding

Taking Abilify during pregnancy

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Abilify during pregnancy.

It’s also important to note that untreated mood conditions may have a negative effect on a developing fetus.

Taking Abilify during the last third of pregnancy may increase the risk of extrapyramidal symptoms, which affect movement in infants. Taking the drug late in pregnancy can even cause withdrawal symptoms in infants.

A pregnancy registry is available for people who take medications such as Abilify while pregnant. It collects information on drug side effects that may occur during pregnancy, which can help improve safety information. For more information or to enroll, call 866-961-2388 or visit the registry webpage.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Abilify during this time.

Taking Abilify while breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Abilify while breastfeeding.

Abilify does pass into breast milk. It’s possible that Abilify may cause a breastfed child to have trouble gaining weight. And the drug may decrease breast milk supply.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Abilify while breastfeeding.

It’s not known for certain whether Abilify has a risk of misuse. Misuse of a drug means using it in a different way than how it was prescribed. Examples include taking more than the recommended dosage and taking a medication prescribed to someone else.

Abilify misuse was not reported in studies. But based on animal studies, the drug may cause dependence, which means your body gets used to a drug and needs it to feel as it usually feels. It’s possible for dependence to lead to drug misuse.

Since the drug was approved, there have been reports of possible Abilify misuse. But more research is needed to fully understand whether Abilify increases the risk of misuse and whether the drug causes dependence.

While you’re taking Abilify, your doctor may monitor you for symptoms of drug misuse. If you have a history of drug misuse, tell your doctor before starting Abilify treatment. They may monitor you more often.

If you have concerns about Abilify and misuse, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You may have side effects from taking Abilify. Most side effects from this drug are mild, but it’s possible for serious side effects to occur.

If you have questions about side effects from Abilify, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Below are a few questions you may want to ask:

  • Does Abilify cause any long-term side effects?
  • Is my risk of side effects increased due to other medications that I’m taking for my condition?
  • How does my risk of side effects from Abilify compare with those of other drugs used to treat my mood condition?
  • What should I do if I become pregnant while taking Abilify?

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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.