Abilify as a Medication for Depression

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Abilify is available in various forms like oral solutions, orodispersible pills and injections. All of these contain a key agent called as aripiprazole, which is a part of a category of medications called as atypical antipsychotics. Abilify is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania. It’s also used as an adjunct or sole remedy for mixed manic / depressive episodes and as an add-on treatment to treat major depressive disease. Clinical studies have confirmed Abilify as an add-on treatment for treating unresolved signs of depression in adults, especially those who are using antidepressant drugs like Prozac, Paxil, Effexor XR, Zoloft and Lexapro, asserts the medicine manufacturer.

Feeling depressed or sad occasionally is not a reason to be bothered about, however it can be considered normal only if the feeling goes away after some time and the person feels normal again. A person suffering from depression or clinical depression, at times continues to be in a sad mind state and this interferes with his daily life. Although there are several types of depression, the most common are major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder.

Common signs of depression:

·       Feeling hopeless or pessimist

·       Feeling sad throughout the day

·       Difficulty while concentrating

·       Irritability, restlessness

·       Sudden loss of interest in tasks that otherwise he/she is usually interested in

·       Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping

·       Substantial change in weight

·       Thoughts about dying or committing suicide

How Abilify Treats Depression

While the actual reason for depression is yet not understood, it’s thought to be caused due to abnormality in the chemicals of the brain (neurotransmitters) like norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Even though the exact way in which Abilify or other antidepressants operate is still unknown, it’s believed that these achieve the expected outcome by affecting the neurotransmitters – it stabilizes the level of dopamine instead of blocking its production completely and it also balances serotonin. Dopamine may contribute to positive mood and happy feelings and serotonin may play a vital role in a person’s mood and emotions.

Studies have established that adults with depression improved significantly when Abilify was prescribed as an add-on therapy with other antidepressants.

How to Take Abilify With Current Antidepressants

You are usually advised by doctors to use Abilify in conjunction with your current antidepressant drug, not as a sole medicine. For most people, it’s recommended to be taken in the form of a tablet; however if it’s difficult for a person to swallow, other forms may be used. For speedy recovery and the most favorable results, you need to take the dose at the same time every day and avoid missing any. Also, it is necessary to complete the course recommended by the health-care-provider. If you fail to do so, the signs may relapse. In addition to this, if you stop taking the medicine all of a sudden, you will most likely suffer from certain withdrawal symptoms and this will extend the duration of the treatment. Therefore, keep using Abilify until your health-care-provider advices you to stop taking it. The most essential thing is that you must take your antidepressants and/or antipsychotics only under the supervision of a health care profession. So consult a doctor before using Abilify for treating any of the ailments mentioned above.