Why Abilify can cause addiction problems

Is it because its a dopamine agonist? Shopping, gamling, eating, sex, etc addictions reported on the FDA and Health Canada websites. These are also written with the instructions paper that come with Abilify since 2017.

Dopamine dysregulation syndrome ( DDS ) is a dysfunction of the reward system observed in some individuals taking dopaminergic medications for an extended length of time. It typically occurs in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who have taken dopamine agonist medications for an extended period of time. It is characterized by self-control problems such as addiction to medication, gambling, or sexual behavior.

2 Likes

On Abilify I just didn’t feel the worth of money and how hard it is to get. I emptied my 15 000$ bank account in a few years and got thousands in debt on my Visa eventhough I was working full time. Now I don’t work, on disability, and I am more rich and cautious/responsible with money.

I’ve been on abilify injection for 2 years, and no addictions at all. I believe your mind is very undisciplined, to have all those addictions. I don’t think its the drug, I think its the undisciplined mind. Do monks with schizophrenia have addictions?

1 Like

The FDA are not dumb lol Abilify has more than 3000 lawsuits about causong addictions lol

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that compulsive or uncontrollable urges to gamble, binge eat, shop, and have sex have been reported with the use of the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole (Abilify, Abilify Maintena, Aristada, and generics). These uncontrollable urges were reported to have stopped when the medicine was discontinued or the dose was reduced. These impulse-control problems are rare, but they may result in harm to the patient and others if not recognized.”

FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about new impulse-control problems associated with mental health drug aripiprazole (Abilify, Abilify Maintena, Aristada) | FDA).

All these addictions stopped after 2 weeks of stopping Abilify.

I think a disciplined mind wouldn’t have a problem with addictions. Just my 2 cents

Yeah man, I got these too. Unfortunately, mine haven’t stopped.

1 Like

Well how did all these addictions stop after stopping Abilify?

Did they get less after stopping Abilify?

1 Like

Yes, and its dwindling more and more. I used to overdose on a medication all the time, but that stopped after discontinuing abilify.

1 Like

Hopefully with time you won’t have them at all anymore like me.

1 Like

I think its like putting a match to gasoline. The match is abilify and the gas is an undisciplined mind. With an unruly mind alot of drugs could trigger an addiction within that person.

I just know that I have no addictions at all now on Risperdal, since stopping Abilify.

My only problem now are treatment resistant severe negative symptoms. I prefer them over addictions any day. I didn’t have negative symptoms on Abilify. Now I just need a med like Abilify but that doesn’t cause addictions.

Look for the term ‘‘Euphoria’’, and which part of the brain affected. I am looking right now but cant seem to find any information. Only says about Dopamine.

1 Like

I don’t think its in a specific area but maybe in the nucleus accumbens? I took psychology and a neuroscience class in university so I know a bit about brain parts.

So Abilify, where does it work on, Glutamate, Serotonin, or Dopamine? Im no expert but trying to figure it out.

1 Like

the nucleus accumbens has a significant role in the cognitive processing of motivation, aversion, reward (i.e., incentive salience, pleasure, and positive reinforcement), and reinforcement learning (e.g., Pavlovian-instrumental transfer); hence, it has a significant role in addiction.

From Wikipedia.

I found this, ‘’ The nucleus accumbens definitely plays a central role in the reward circuit. Its operation is based chiefly on two essential neurotransmitters: dopamine , which promotes desire, and serotonin , whose effects include satiety and inhibition.’’

1 Like

Abilify is a partial dopamine agonist. Thats why I made this thread about dopamine dysregulation syndrome causing addictions in patients taking dopamine agonists.