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Aripiprazole, also known by its brand name Abilify, is a prescription antipsychotic medication most commonly used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as an add-on medication for depression. Abilify is typically taken by mouth, but it is also available as a combination medication in injection form.
Aripiprazole doesn’t treat drug or alcohol withdrawals, but it is often started or continued during detox when individuals have co-occurring psychiatric disorders, helping stabilize symptoms while they receive treatment.
Yes. In most cases, people continue taking aripiprazole while they are going through alcohol detox.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, stopping aripiprazole abruptly is dangerous and may lead to returning bi-polar or schizophrenia symptoms, which complicates drug and alcohol withdrawals and makes it more difficult to focus on getting healthy during treatment. ⓘ
Those with addiction and mental health disorders benefit from dual-diagnosis treatment, so choose a detox that specializes in both medical drugs and alcohol detox and mental health treatment. At The Haven Detox Group, the clinical team that is overseeing the detox will monitor both withdrawal symptoms and mental health symptoms to ensure that you feel as comfortable as possible during the process.
Regardless of where you detox, it is important that your doctor knows your plan, including when and how you plan to stop, so they can help you monitor symptoms and prevent interactions with other medications.
Abilify is not a standard detox medication for treating alcohol or drug withdrawals, but it is used during detox to help manage symptoms of the following conditions ⓘ:
Medical staff will assess every person that enters detox for drugs or alcohol, including a full mental health assessment. Then the patient and the medical team will work together to develop a treatment plan for during and after detox, including any medications to help address mental health.
Often, people come into detox already on aripiprazole and simply continue their dose throughout the course of treatment while being monitored for side effects. There are also times where it is prescribed by the medical team while they are in detox to begin stabilization of symptoms as soon as possible.
No, taking Abilify will not make alcohol withdrawal symptoms worse. Occasionally, side effects from the medication will overlap with alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can cause some discomfort. However, these side effects are generally temporary and do not interfere with the withdrawal process. Your clinical team will weigh the potential side effects against the benefits of controlling your symptoms before recommending Abilify. ⓘ
Abilify works by stabilizing two important brain chemicals, dopamine and serotonin ⓘ :
Together, these effects help reduce symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, mood swings, irritability, and disorganized thinking while often causing fewer side effects than other antipsychotic medications. ⓘ
Because alcohol withdrawal places significant stress on the brain, keeping psychiatric symptoms under control can be an important part of a safe and successful detox.
Even after completing detox, many patients continue to benefit from medications like Abilify that help address co-occurring mental health conditions and support long-term recovery. Addiction treatment centers, like The Haven Detox Group, that specialize in dual-diagnosis treatment are the best option because they provide integrated treatment for both conditions at the same time, with physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, and therapists working together to manage medications, monitor symptoms, and develop a comprehensive recovery plan. Treating both conditions simultaneously is associated with better outcomes and a lower risk of relapse than treating either condition alone.
Generally speaking, Abilify starts to improve symptoms around 1-2 weeks after you start taking it, but it can take several months to feel full symptom relief. However, the actual length of time it takes to get relief from symptoms depends on the specific condition that it is being used to treat. ⓘ
Most people do not notice that taking Abilify makes them “feel” different. Instead, they gradually notice improvements in their symptoms.
The effects of Aripiprazole vary depending on the dosage and what condition you are taking it for, but in general you can expect:
Because these improvements often occur gradually, your doctor, counselor, or family members may start noticing positive changes before you do. ⓘ
Abilify (aripiprazole) is available in several dosages depending on which condition it is being used to treat. When taken by mouth, it is available in 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg pills. ⓘ
During detox, doctors often begin with a lower dose and adjust it gradually based on symptom improvement and side effects.
The most common side effects of taking Abilify are:
Many of these side effects improve as the body adjusts to the medication.
There are more serious, but rare, side effects as well. If you experience any of the side effects below after taking Abilify, contact your healthcare provider immediately ⓘ:
Yes. Abilify (aripiprazole) and Ativan (lorazepam) are commonly prescribed together during alcohol detox. They treat different conditions and work in different ways, so taking them together is often part of a comprehensive treatment plan. ⓘ
Ativan is a benzodiazepine that is often used during alcohol detox to prevent and treat withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, seizures and delirium tremens (DTs). It is considered one of the preferred medications for managing alcohol withdrawal.
Although they can be taken together, both Ativan and Abilify can cause dizziness, drowsiness, especially when you first start taking them. People that are taking both medications should be closely monitored by medical professionals throughout detox and treatment.
No, you should continue taking Abilify after detox unless you are directed to stop by your doctor or the clinical staff at an addiction treatment center. ⓘ
Before you leave detox, the medical staff will work with you to create a treatment plan, including a list of all of your medications, the dosages, and how long you should continue taking them.
When it comes to mental health and drug or alcohol detox, the most important thing is to find a treatment center that specializes in treating both alcohol & drug detox and mental health conditions, like The Haven Detox Group. There, you’ll have full access to a team of treatment specialists that will work with you to create a customized treatment plan and figure out a medication schedule that helps you feel stabilized so you can focus on getting better.
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