MEpedia - User contributions [en]

Aripiprazole

2026-04-06T01:36:23Z

Liface:/* Clinicians */ Hector Bonilla

{{NeedsImage}}
'''Aripiprazole''', which is also sold under the brand names '''Abilify''' and '''Aripiprazol''', is an atypical [[Antipsychotic|antipsychotic drug]] and [[:Category:Anti-inflammatories |anti-inflammatory drug]] used for a number of different conditions including:
*Agitated state
*Autism
*Bipolar disorder (manic depression)
*[[Borderline Personality Disorder]]
*Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
*[[Post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD)
*Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
*Tourette's syndrome<ref name="drugscom">{{Cite web | url = https://www.drugs.com/international/aripiprazole.html | title = Aripiprazole | website = Drugs.com|language=en | access-date = 2020-10-04}}</ref>

==Theory==
One hypothesized theory of aripiprazole’s mode of action is that it may work as a biofilm disruptor<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Rajasekharan | first = Satish Kumar | last2 = Lee | first2 = Jin-Hyung | last3 = Lee | first3 = Jintae | date = Oct 2019 | title = Aripiprazole repurposed as an inhibitor of biofilm formation and sterol biosynthesis in multidrug-resistant Candida albicans |url =https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31173863/ | journal = International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents | volume = 54 | issue = 4 | pages = 518–523|doi=10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.05.016|issn=1872-7913|pmid=31173863|pmc=|quote=|via=}}</ref> and affect the gut-brain axis that way.

==Evidence==
About half of users report that Low dose Abilify's effect diminishes or stops working after some time. A break may restore them, or one can try switching to another D2 agonist.

Poll conducted on Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter:
If you saw a positive effect from LDA, did it regress?

* Stayed the same or increased: 28 (56%)
* Partially regressed: 14 (28%)
* Completely regressed: 8 (16%)
If benefits diminished, did a break restore them?

* Regained some benefit: 3 (37.5%)
* No benefit: 5 (62.5%)

==Clinicians==
Hector Bonilla out of Stanford popularized the use of low dose Abilify in ME in 2019.

==Risks and safety==

==Costs and availability==
Aripiprazole is not approved for use in [[ME/CFS]], and no clinical trials have been conducted with ME/CFS patients. Aripiprazole is approved by the FDA, by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and UK's Medicines Agency for schizophrenia, manic episodes in bipolar I disorder, and for irritability associated with autistic disorders, and other uses.<ref name="Abilify">{{Cite web | url = https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7148/smpc | access-date = 2021-11-03 | title = Abilify 5mg tablets | website = Electronic Medicines Compendium}}</ref> Aripiprazole is sometimes used as an add-on treatment together with an [[antidepressant]].<ref name="FDAleaflet" />

Aripiprazole, including the brand name Abilify, is an inexpensive prescription-only drug, available as an oral solution, tablet, disolvable powder, and as a powder for injections.<ref name="FDAleaflet">{{Cite web | website = Food and Drug Administration | url =https://www.fda.gov/media/73102/download | title = Ability medication guide | date = | access-date = 2021-11-03}}</ref><ref name="medicinesUK">{{Cite web | url = https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=Aripiprazole+ | title = Aripiprazole Search Results | last = | first = | author-link = | date = | website = Electronic Medicines Compendium| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2021-11-03}}</ref>

==Patient group statements==
*[https://meassociation.org.uk/2021/05/me-association-statement-aripiprazole-abilify-me-cfs/ ME Association statement on Aripiprazole (Abilify) for ME/CFS (2021)]
*[https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/responding-to-questions-about-abilify/ Responding to questions about Ability] - Action for ME (2021)
*[https://anzmes.org.nz/what-is-me/frequently-asked-questions/ What is M.E.? | FAQ] - Australia and New Zealand ME Association (2021)

==Talks, presentations and videos ==
*[https://meassociation.org.uk/2021/10/iacfs-me-conference-dr-hector-bonilla-on-case-presentation-treating-me-cfs-with-aripiprazole/ Case Presentation: Treating ME/CFS with Aripiprazole. IACFS/ME Conference 2021] - Hector Bonilla
*2021, [https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/dbds/documents/data-studio/abstract.20201118.pdf The Impact of Aripiprazole on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome] - Hector Bonilla

==Notable studies ==
* 2012, The role of Antipsychotics in the Management of Fibromyalgia<ref name="Calandre2012">{{Cite journal | last = Calandre | first = Elena P. | last2 = Rico-Villademoros | first2 = Fernando | date = 2012-02-01 | title = The Role of Antipsychotics in the Management of Fibromyalgia | url = https://doi.org/10.2165/11597130-000000000-00000 | journal = CNS Drugs|language=en | volume = 26 | issue = 2 | pages = 135–153|doi=10.2165/11597130-000000000-00000|issn=1179-1934}}</ref> - [https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/11597130-000000000-00000 (Abstract)]
* 2018, Low dose of aripiprazole advanced sleep rhythm and reduced nocturnal sleep time in the patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome: an open-labeled clinical observation<ref name="PMC5965391">{{Cite journal | last = Omori | first = Yuki | last2 = Kanbayashi | first2 = Takashi | last3 = Sagawa | first3 = Yohei | last4 = Imanishi | first4 = Aya | last5 = Tsutsui | first5 = Ko | last6 = Takahashi | first6 = Yuya | last7 = Takeshima | first7 = Masahiro | last8 = Takaki | first8 = Manabu | last9 = Nishino | first9 = Seiji | date = 2018-05-18 | title = Low dose of aripiprazole advanced sleep rhythm and reduced nocturnal sleep time in the patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome: an open-labeled clinical observation | url =https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5965391/ | journal = Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment | volume = 14 | pages = 1281–1286|doi=10.2147/NDT.S158865|issn=1176-6328|pmc=5965391|pmid=29849459}}</ref> [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5965391/ (Full text)]
* 2019, Aripiprazole repurposed as an inhibitor of biofilm formation and sterol biosynthesis in multidrug-resistant Candida albicans<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Rajasekharan | first = Satish Kumar | last2 = Lee | first2 = Jin-Hyung | last3 = Lee | first3 = Jintae | date = Oct 2019 | title = Aripiprazole repurposed as an inhibitor of biofilm formation and sterol biosynthesis in multidrug-resistant Candida albicans |url =https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31173863/ | journal = International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents | volume = 54 | issue = 4 | pages = 518–523|doi=10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.05.016|issn=1872-7913|pmid=31173863}}</ref>
* 2021, Off label use of Aripiprazole shows promise as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a retrospective study of 101 patients treated with a low dose of Aripiprazole<ref name="Crosby2021">{{Cite journal | last = Crosby | first = L.D. | author-link = Laurel Crosby | last2 = Kalanidhi | first2 = S. | author-link2 = | last3 = Bonilla | first3 = A. | author-link3 = | last4 = Subramanian | first4 = A. | author-link4 = | last5 = Ballon | first5 = J. S. | author-link5 = | last6 = Bonilla | first6 = H. | author-link6 = Hector Bonilla | date = 2021-02-03 | title = Off label use of Aripiprazole shows promise as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a retrospective study of 101 patients treated with a low dose of Aripiprazole | url =https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02721-9 | journal = Journal of Translational Medicine|language=en | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | pages = 50|doi=10.1186/s12967-021-02721-9|issn=1479-5876|pmc=PMC7860172|pmid=33536023|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02721-9 (Full text)]
::[https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-021-02875-6 correction]
*2021, Extremely Severe ME/CFS—A Personal Account <ref name="Dafoe2021">{{Cite journal | last = Dafoe | first = Whitney | author-link = | date = May 2021 | title = Extremely Severe ME/CFS—A Personal Account | url = https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/5/504 | journal = Healthcare|language=en | volume = 9 | issue = 5 | pages = 504|doi=10.3390/healthcare9050504|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.mdpi.com/1088982 (Full text)]

==Articles and blogs ==
*2021, [https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2021/03/09/abilify-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-promise/ Abilify shows promise in retrospective Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) study] - Cort Johnson, Health Rising

== Blogs ==
* Oct 2020,[https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2020/10/03/celebrating-whitney-dafoe-and-his-awakening-on-his-37th-birthday/ Celebrating Whitney's Dafoe and his "Awakening" on his 37th birthday] - Health Rising

==See also==
*[[Fibromyalgia]]
*[[Fibromyalgia drugs]]
*[[Myalgic encephalomyelitis]]
*[[Whitney Dafoe]]

==Learn more==
*[https://www.drugs.com/international/aripiprazole.html Aripiprazole] - Drugs.com
==References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Antipsychotics]]
[[Category:Potential treatments]]
[[Category:Anti-inflammatories]]

Aripiprazole

2026-04-06T01:31:22Z

Liface:/* Evidence */ added info about Abilify poll

{{NeedsImage}}
'''Aripiprazole''', which is also sold under the brand names '''Abilify''' and '''Aripiprazol''', is an atypical [[Antipsychotic|antipsychotic drug]] and [[:Category:Anti-inflammatories |anti-inflammatory drug]] used for a number of different conditions including:
*Agitated state
*Autism
*Bipolar disorder (manic depression)
*[[Borderline Personality Disorder]]
*Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
*[[Post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD)
*Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
*Tourette's syndrome<ref name="drugscom">{{Cite web | url = https://www.drugs.com/international/aripiprazole.html | title = Aripiprazole | website = Drugs.com|language=en | access-date = 2020-10-04}}</ref>

==Theory==
One hypothesized theory of aripiprazole’s mode of action is that it may work as a biofilm disruptor<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Rajasekharan | first = Satish Kumar | last2 = Lee | first2 = Jin-Hyung | last3 = Lee | first3 = Jintae | date = Oct 2019 | title = Aripiprazole repurposed as an inhibitor of biofilm formation and sterol biosynthesis in multidrug-resistant Candida albicans |url =https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31173863/ | journal = International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents | volume = 54 | issue = 4 | pages = 518–523|doi=10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.05.016|issn=1872-7913|pmid=31173863|pmc=|quote=|via=}}</ref> and affect the gut-brain axis that way.

==Evidence==
About half of users report that Low dose Abilify's effect diminishes or stops working after some time. A break may restore them, or one can try switching to another D2 agonist.

Poll conducted on Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter:
If you saw a positive effect from LDA, did it regress?

* Stayed the same or increased: 28 (56%)
* Partially regressed: 14 (28%)
* Completely regressed: 8 (16%)
If benefits diminished, did a break restore them?

* Regained some benefit: 3 (37.5%)
* No benefit: 5 (62.5%)

==Clinicians==

==Risks and safety==

==Costs and availability==
Aripiprazole is not approved for use in [[ME/CFS]], and no clinical trials have been conducted with ME/CFS patients. Aripiprazole is approved by the FDA, by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and UK's Medicines Agency for schizophrenia, manic episodes in bipolar I disorder, and for irritability associated with autistic disorders, and other uses.<ref name="Abilify">{{Cite web | url = https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7148/smpc | access-date = 2021-11-03 | title = Abilify 5mg tablets | website = Electronic Medicines Compendium}}</ref> Aripiprazole is sometimes used as an add-on treatment together with an [[antidepressant]].<ref name="FDAleaflet" />

Aripiprazole, including the brand name Abilify, is an inexpensive prescription-only drug, available as an oral solution, tablet, disolvable powder, and as a powder for injections.<ref name="FDAleaflet">{{Cite web | website = Food and Drug Administration | url =https://www.fda.gov/media/73102/download | title = Ability medication guide | date = | access-date = 2021-11-03}}</ref><ref name="medicinesUK">{{Cite web | url = https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=Aripiprazole+ | title = Aripiprazole Search Results | last = | first = | author-link = | date = | website = Electronic Medicines Compendium| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2021-11-03}}</ref>

==Patient group statements==
*[https://meassociation.org.uk/2021/05/me-association-statement-aripiprazole-abilify-me-cfs/ ME Association statement on Aripiprazole (Abilify) for ME/CFS (2021)]
*[https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/responding-to-questions-about-abilify/ Responding to questions about Ability] - Action for ME (2021)
*[https://anzmes.org.nz/what-is-me/frequently-asked-questions/ What is M.E.? | FAQ] - Australia and New Zealand ME Association (2021)

==Talks, presentations and videos ==
*[https://meassociation.org.uk/2021/10/iacfs-me-conference-dr-hector-bonilla-on-case-presentation-treating-me-cfs-with-aripiprazole/ Case Presentation: Treating ME/CFS with Aripiprazole. IACFS/ME Conference 2021] - Hector Bonilla
*2021, [https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/dbds/documents/data-studio/abstract.20201118.pdf The Impact of Aripiprazole on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome] - Hector Bonilla

==Notable studies ==
* 2012, The role of Antipsychotics in the Management of Fibromyalgia<ref name="Calandre2012">{{Cite journal | last = Calandre | first = Elena P. | last2 = Rico-Villademoros | first2 = Fernando | date = 2012-02-01 | title = The Role of Antipsychotics in the Management of Fibromyalgia | url = https://doi.org/10.2165/11597130-000000000-00000 | journal = CNS Drugs|language=en | volume = 26 | issue = 2 | pages = 135–153|doi=10.2165/11597130-000000000-00000|issn=1179-1934}}</ref> - [https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/11597130-000000000-00000 (Abstract)]
* 2018, Low dose of aripiprazole advanced sleep rhythm and reduced nocturnal sleep time in the patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome: an open-labeled clinical observation<ref name="PMC5965391">{{Cite journal | last = Omori | first = Yuki | last2 = Kanbayashi | first2 = Takashi | last3 = Sagawa | first3 = Yohei | last4 = Imanishi | first4 = Aya | last5 = Tsutsui | first5 = Ko | last6 = Takahashi | first6 = Yuya | last7 = Takeshima | first7 = Masahiro | last8 = Takaki | first8 = Manabu | last9 = Nishino | first9 = Seiji | date = 2018-05-18 | title = Low dose of aripiprazole advanced sleep rhythm and reduced nocturnal sleep time in the patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome: an open-labeled clinical observation | url =https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5965391/ | journal = Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment | volume = 14 | pages = 1281–1286|doi=10.2147/NDT.S158865|issn=1176-6328|pmc=5965391|pmid=29849459}}</ref> [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5965391/ (Full text)]
* 2019, Aripiprazole repurposed as an inhibitor of biofilm formation and sterol biosynthesis in multidrug-resistant Candida albicans<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Rajasekharan | first = Satish Kumar | last2 = Lee | first2 = Jin-Hyung | last3 = Lee | first3 = Jintae | date = Oct 2019 | title = Aripiprazole repurposed as an inhibitor of biofilm formation and sterol biosynthesis in multidrug-resistant Candida albicans |url =https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31173863/ | journal = International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents | volume = 54 | issue = 4 | pages = 518–523|doi=10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.05.016|issn=1872-7913|pmid=31173863}}</ref>
* 2021, Off label use of Aripiprazole shows promise as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a retrospective study of 101 patients treated with a low dose of Aripiprazole<ref name="Crosby2021">{{Cite journal | last = Crosby | first = L.D. | author-link = Laurel Crosby | last2 = Kalanidhi | first2 = S. | author-link2 = | last3 = Bonilla | first3 = A. | author-link3 = | last4 = Subramanian | first4 = A. | author-link4 = | last5 = Ballon | first5 = J. S. | author-link5 = | last6 = Bonilla | first6 = H. | author-link6 = Hector Bonilla | date = 2021-02-03 | title = Off label use of Aripiprazole shows promise as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a retrospective study of 101 patients treated with a low dose of Aripiprazole | url =https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02721-9 | journal = Journal of Translational Medicine|language=en | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | pages = 50|doi=10.1186/s12967-021-02721-9|issn=1479-5876|pmc=PMC7860172|pmid=33536023|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02721-9 (Full text)]
::[https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-021-02875-6 correction]
*2021, Extremely Severe ME/CFS—A Personal Account <ref name="Dafoe2021">{{Cite journal | last = Dafoe | first = Whitney | author-link = | date = May 2021 | title = Extremely Severe ME/CFS—A Personal Account | url = https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/5/504 | journal = Healthcare|language=en | volume = 9 | issue = 5 | pages = 504|doi=10.3390/healthcare9050504|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.mdpi.com/1088982 (Full text)]

==Articles and blogs ==
*2021, [https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2021/03/09/abilify-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-promise/ Abilify shows promise in retrospective Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) study] - Cort Johnson, Health Rising

== Blogs ==
* Oct 2020,[https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2020/10/03/celebrating-whitney-dafoe-and-his-awakening-on-his-37th-birthday/ Celebrating Whitney's Dafoe and his "Awakening" on his 37th birthday] - Health Rising

==See also==
*[[Fibromyalgia]]
*[[Fibromyalgia drugs]]
*[[Myalgic encephalomyelitis]]
*[[Whitney Dafoe]]

==Learn more==
*[https://www.drugs.com/international/aripiprazole.html Aripiprazole] - Drugs.com
==References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Antipsychotics]]
[[Category:Potential treatments]]
[[Category:Anti-inflammatories]]