In fact, my overall symptoms continued to worsen, and my overall health was deteriorating.

In spring of 2014, I switched to another psychiatrist. Again, highly rated.

And again, I was prescribed the same protocol treatment plan of medication.

I Increased one drug, decreased another one. I tried a new drug and stopped another one. I played the trial-and-error game for close to another year.

Still, I continued to have hope.

My reaching point came when this psychiatrist out of nowhere decided I should see a colleague in his practice instead of himself. This brought me to a new low.

I came to the realization that I was living a life of drugs, and I didn’t know how I got here.

I now was losing all hope for a better lifestyle.

Still striving for the life and health I wanted to obtain, I once again changed to a different psychiatrist.

The new psychiatrist again came highly rated with many years of experience in the field. I, along with my mom, had confidence in her knowledge and ability to help me.

By the time I first saw the new psychiatrist, Abilify was taking a toll on me mentally and physically. My mom insisted it was more detrimental to me than not.

I discussed this with my new psychiatrist, Dr. S., a motherly figure who seemed compassionate and had the willingness to help.

I was told by her that Abilify was part of my base medication, and it should be left alone. She did, however, switch the Abilify to nightly instead of a morning time.

I eliminated a chasteberry supplement under her advisement.

At this time, I was prescribed a new drug to add to the mix, Depakote.

In a couple of weeks, she increased the new drug as well as the Abilify. Again having me cut the Abilify pill to get a 3mg dosage.

I saw Dr. S. from November 2015 until November 2016.

During this time on her medication plan or as she referred to it as “the cocktail,” my health drastically deteriorated both physically and mentally.

I mentioned numerous times about the Abilify and the side effects. I also mentioned inaccuracy of the dosage by cutting the pill. But I felt my comments went unheard.

Eventually, I took charge and insisted on getting off of Abilify. 

To begin my withdrawal, I was required to cut the tip of the abilify pill once again, so I could gradually lower my dosage.

I continued doing this for a few months until on September 1, 2016, when I had a major reaction after taking my Abilify.

At first, I became extremely high and then I mentally crashed down.

I felt as though my brain was splitting apart. I started to hallucinate and my thoughts went wild.

This lasted for a few minutes and stopped. Ten minutes later, it started again. To this day, I believe I had a seizure, but no one would attempt to confirm this.

After this episode, I was extremely scared to take Abilify; but I was also scared to stop it all at once. So, I switched to Abilify liquid in order to be able to take smaller dosages during detoxification.

When I took the Abilify liquid on the third day, I immediately started to vomit and hallucinate.

It was at this point I realized I cannot do this anymore. I truly believed my brain would not survive. I stopped Abilify completely…

and withdrawals came the next day.

The Facts

Abilify was prescribed to me by four different medical health prescribers from February 2011 to September 2016 even though I openly discussed the side effects I was having.

By my last dosage of Abilify, I experienced major depression, irritability, a rash, high anxiety, stomach burning, crazy thoughts, hallucinations, changes in appetite, weight gain, speech loss, memory loss, physical pain, and changes in vision.

Most of these are clearcut Abilify side effects. Some are from the combination of drugs prescribed to me as well as the withdrawals from the increases and decreases of these drugs.

After seven years on prescription drugs, I realize most of what I went through I still cannot fully comprehend. I live with the realization that years of my life passed that I have little to no memory of.

My story unfortunately is not unique. I know that I am not alone with this journey. This is why I write with my mom to give you the information and strength needed to find a wellness path that is right for you.