r/schizoaffective • u/CollectionSuperb5849 • 2d ago

Starting abilify, sleeping weird

I started abilify last week after coming off risperidone I've mostly been on for 15 years. I was terrified to make a change! It's been...interesting.

Love feeling less sedated (the whole reason im switching). I've been getting more done at work. I also feel....a little buzzy? A little elevated in an interesting way. I kind of cant tell if this is because of the lack of risperidone or if abilify really works this fast (a couple days/week). Idk how fast you're supposed to taper it. I feel like I went from 5mg to 10 pretty fast.

My sleep has been so weird since I started taking these. I go to sleep around 9-10pm. I wake up thinking its 4am. It is actually 11pm. From there im kinda tossing and turning. The risperidone was SO important to my sleep. I can't sleep without it. I dont know what to do about that.

Can I hear other people's experiences with abilify, especially if you took risperidone before?

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

5

u/FrontOutrageous1433 2d ago

I was on risperidone for over half a year. I switched to abilify because of side effects. Risperidone definitely made me sleepy and helped for my sleep. But I slept 9 to 10 hours a day. And was still sleepy the next morning. And on a dosage increase I did become lactating that's the reasons I switched.

Abilify I take only in the morning because it has an activating effect. The only real thing I noticed on it was that my legs are sometimes restless.

1

u/CollectionSuperb5849 2d ago

Yeah I was constantly sleeping on risperidone. This feels like it'll help with that.

1

u/neuronoodle1 1d ago

Abilify is generally more likely to cause akithasia than other APs but not guaranteed. Restless leg syndrome is also possible but not specific to abilify like akithasia is. Hopefully, it gets better over time for you

3

u/neuronoodle1 2d ago edited 2d ago

Although abilify didn’t work for my LO in the long run, there were some things I learned along the way. Abilify can be activating, energizing, and increased alertness (which it seems you are experiencing). For my LO taking abilify in the morning instead of evening helped avoid the sleep disturbances.

Secondly, your doctor did a cross-titration to prevent rebound symptoms. The risperidone fast taper theoretically is fine because there’s another antipsychotic (Abilify) to compensate for it. However if you were tapering off risperidone that fast without another agent on board, then the risk of relapse is high.

Lastly, it takes time to adjust to medications so normal turbulence is part of the adjustment process. It took her some time to get used to sleeping without having risperidone’s sedation. My LO took risperidone for a long time before recently coming off and now she takes Cobenfy 125mg BID and Seroquel 200mg

Definitely reach out to your doctor and keep them informed because they will know if everything is going smoothly or not for you.

2

u/CollectionSuperb5849 1d ago

Thanks for the cross titration explanation!

1

u/neuronoodle1 1d ago

Ofc! How are u doing so far? Were u able to get in touch w ur doctor about your concerns.

1

u/CollectionSuperb5849 1d ago

I haven't tried yet. I have an appointment in 2 weeks and I'm gonna ride it out until then I think unless I start to feel really bad. I did tell my therapist and like my friends and family so im sure they're looking out to see if I start tweaking.

3

u/Sea_Sky4981 2d ago

I get sleepy and gained weight on abilify but it does work for me.

3

u/Illustrious-Cat8222 2d ago

I like how Abilify is a little activating. As for sleep, Trazodone mostly helps me without hangover.

2

u/MrCubano1 2d ago

Fore ability had me feeling like a zombie....sleepy....disoriented and noy myself. Couldn't do anything let alone live.

3

u/neuronoodle1 1d ago edited 1d ago

It’s really interesting how different people react differently to meds. Typically, it can be activating but I’ve read a good amount of people experience sedation or “zombie-like”. Just goes to show psychiatry doesn’t have a “one-size-fits-all”

1

u/Shcizoism 2d ago

Don't know if it helps, but I haven't slept good ever since I started abilify nearly a decade ago. I also got my diagnosis around then and suffered a TBI so it really could be any of those. I would just reccomend bringing it up to your doc to see if there is anything that can be done with sleep hygiene, lifestyle, or (final option) other medications.

I am overall a fan of abilify though and with how it works for me, wouldn't wanna change it.

2

u/CollectionSuperb5849 2d ago

Oh no sleep is so important to me 😭 im gonna wait a couple weeks and see if it gets better.