Abilify (aripiprazole) is a brand-name drug prescribed for certain mental health conditions in adults and some children. Abilify comes as an oral tablet that’s typically taken once per day. The dosage can vary depending on what condition you are using the drug to help treat. Other forms of Abilify are available under different brand names.
The drug comes in the following forms and brand names:
- oral tablet (Abilify)
- oral tablet with sensor (Abilify MyCite)
- extended-release intramuscular injection given by your doctor or another healthcare professional (Abilify Maintena, Abilify Asimtufii)*
Abilify is approved to treat the following:
- major depressive disorder (MDD), commonly called depression, in adults†
- schizophrenia in adults and children ages 13 to 17 years
- Tourette syndrome in children ages 6 to 18 years
- irritability related to autism spectrum disorder in children ages 6 to 17 years
- mania and mixed episodes due to bipolar I disorder in adults and children ages 10 to 17 years‡
Abilify MyCite, Abilify Maintena, and Abilify Asimtufii are approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder‡ in adults. Abilify MyCite is also approved to treat MDD in adults.
Abilify belongs to a drug class called antipsychotics. Abilify oral tablet is available in a generic version called aripiprazole. (Note that aripiprazole is also available as a generic-only orally disintegrating tablet.) Abilify MyCite, Abilify Maintena, and Abilify Asimtufii do not have generic versions.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Abilify, including its strengths and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Abilify, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Abilify provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Abilify dosage that’s right for you.
* Extended release means the active drug releases in your body over a period of time. For more details about the dosages of Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii, as well as how they differ, see the “Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii dosing” section below.
† For this purpose, Abilify is used in combination with an antidepressant.
‡ For this purpose, Abilify is used alone or in combination with lithium or valproate.
You’ll find a summary of the dosages of Abilify and Abilify MyCite tablets in this section. For information on the typical dosing for Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii, see the “Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii dosing” section below.
Note: There is no “normal” or “average” dosage of Abilify. Your doctor will base your dosage on your condition and other individual factors. For more information about these, see the “Factors that affect your dosage” section below. Your doctor will prescribe the best dosage for you.
Abilify forms
Abilify comes in several forms:
- oral tablet (Abilify)
- oral tablet with sensor (Abilify MyCite)
- extended-release intramuscular injection given by your doctor or another healthcare professional (Abilify Maintena, Abilify Asimtufii)*
* Extended release means the active drug releases in your body over a period of time. For more details about the dosages of Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii, as well as how they differ, see the “Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii dosing” section below.
Abilify strengths (2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg)
Abilify comes in the following strengths:
- Abilify: 2 milligrams (mg), 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg
- Abilify MyCite: 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg
- Abilify Maintena: 300 mg and 400 mg
- Abilify Asimtufii: 960 mg per 3.2 milliliters (mL) and 720 mg/2.4 mL
Typical dosages
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then they will adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes commonly used or recommended dosages for Abilify and Abilify MyCite. However, be sure to take the Abilify oral dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Abilify dosages for bipolar I disorder, schizophrenia, and depression in adults
The table below summarizes the typical dosages of Abilify and Abilify MyCite based on the condition you are using one or the other to treat.
Depending on how well you respond to treatment, your doctor may increase your starting dosage. They’ll determine the maintenance (long-term) dose based on your response to treatment.
| Condition | Starting dosage of Abilify or Abilify MyCite | Maintenance dosage of Abilify or Abilify MyCite | Maximum dosage of either drug |
| major depressive disorder | 2 mg to 5 mg per day | 5 mg to 10 mg per day | 15 mg per day |
| schizophrenia | 10 mg to 15 mg per day | 10 mg to 15 mg per day | 30 mg per day |
| bipolar I disorder | 15 mg per day when used alone, or 10 mg to 15 mg per day when used with lithium or valproate | 15 mg per day | 30 mg per day |
If you have questions about your Abilify or Abilify MyCite dosage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Children’s dosages
Abilify is approved to treat certain conditions in children. Below are the typical dosages for Abilify in children. Your child’s doctor will determine the best dosage for your child’s condition. If you have questions about your child’s dosage, talk with their doctor or pharmacist.
Dosage for bipolar I disorder in children
Abilify is approved to treat bipolar I disorder in children ages 10 to 17 years. The starting dose of Abilify, when used alone or in combination with lithium or valproate, is 2 mg once per day.
After 2 days of treatment, your child’s doctor may increase the dosage for your child to 5 mg once per day. After another 2 days, they may increase your child’s dosage to 10 mg once per day. This would be the maintenance (long-term) dosage.
Your child’s doctor may increase the Abilify dosage by 5 mg per day to a maximum dosage of 30 mg per day.
Dosage for schizophrenia in children
Abilify is approved to treat schizophrenia in children ages 13 to 17 years. The typical starting dosage is 2 mg once per day.
Your child’s doctor may increase your child’s dosage to 5 mg once per day after 2 days of treatment. Then, 2 days later, they’ll typically increase the dosage to 10 mg once per day. This will be the maintenance dosage.
Your child’s doctor may continue to increase your child’s dosage by 5 mg per day. This may be to a maximum dosage of 30 mg per day.
Dosage for Tourette syndrome in children
Abilify is approved to treat Tourette syndrome in children ages 6 to 18 years. For this use, the dosage is based on your child’s weight in kilograms (kg). (1 kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].)
The typical starting dosage for children weighing less than 50 kg (about 110 lb) is 2 mg once per day. After 2 days of treatment, your child’s doctor will typically increase the dosage to 5 mg once per day.
If your child is still having symptoms after 1 week of treatment, their doctor may increase the dosage to 10 mg once per day. Your child’s doctor will typically adjust your child’s dosage slowly once per week until their symptoms are managed. The maximum dosage for this use is 10 mg once per day.
For children who weigh 50 kg (about 110 lb) or more, the starting dosage is 2 mg once per day. Then their doctor will increase the dose to 5 mg, to be taken for the next 5 days. They’ll eventually increase the dose to reach 10 mg once per day by day 8 of treatment.
If your child is still experiencing symptoms, their doctor may increase the dosage to a maximum of 20 mg once per day. They’ll do this by slowly increasing the daily dose by 5 mg once per week.
Dosage for irritability related to autism in children
Abilify is approved for use in children ages 6 to 17 years with irritability related to autism spectrum disorder. The typical starting dosage for this use is 2 mg once per day.
After 1 week, your child’s doctor may increase your child’s dosage to 5 mg once per day. If your child is still having symptoms, their doctor may increase the dosage to a maximum of 15 mg per day. They’ll do this by slowly increasing your child’s daily dose by 5 mg once per week.
Long-term treatment
Abilify is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Abilify is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term. Your doctor will also monitor you during your treatment to determine whether you should still take the drug.
Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe low dose Abilify off-label to treat certain other conditions. Low dose Abilify refers to taking a smaller dose of Abilify than typically prescribed. Off-label drug use is when a drug that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is used for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.
For example, your doctor may prescribe low dose Abilify for anxiety disorder or chronic fatigue syndrome. However, these are not approved uses for this drug. So there are no recommended dosages of Abilify for treating these conditions. Your doctor can determine whether low dose Abilify treatment is right for you.
Low dose aripiprazole (the active ingredient in Abilify) improved symptoms in a
If you have questions about low dose Abilify, talk with your doctor. They can give you more information about its uses and the dosage that’s best for you.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Abilify and its dosages.
Is there a maximum dose of Abilify?
Yes. The maximum dose or the highest dose of Abilify depends on several factors, including:
- the condition the drug is being used to treat
- your response to treatment
- your age
- drug form
- whether you have any other medical conditions that affect how Abilify breaks down in your body
For more information about the maximum dosage of Abilify and Abilify MyCite, see the “Abilify dosage” section above. For more details about the dosage of Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii, see the “Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii dosing” section below.
Your doctor will prescribe the dosage that best manages your condition while lowering your risk of side effects. If you have questions about your dosage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How do the dosages of Abilify and Aristada compare?
Abilify and Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil) are both approved to treat schizophrenia. Both drugs belong to the antipsychotics drug class.
Abilify comes in both oral and injection forms. However, Aristada and another version of the drug, called Aristada Initio, only come as injections given by your doctor or another healthcare professional. Aristada Initio is a form of Aristada that’s given as a starting dose when you begin Aristada treatment. Abilify also has a starting dose.*
Below is a table summarizing the dosage differences between Abilify and Aristada for treating schizophrenia:
| Typical maintenance (long-term) dosages for schizophrenia treatment | |||
| Abilify or Abilify MyCite | Abilify Maintena | Abilify Asimtufii | Aristada |
| • 10 mg to 15 mg tablet once per day | • 400 mg injection once per month, which your doctor may lower to 300 mg per month depending on your response to treatment | • 960 mg injection once every 2 months, which your doctor may lower to 720 mg once every 2 months depending on your response to treatment | • 441 mg once per month • 662 mg once per month • 882 mg once per month or every 6 weeks • 1,064 mg once every 2 months |
For more details about Aristada’s dosages and how it compares with Abilify, see this article. Your doctor can also provide more information about the differences and similarities between Abilify and Aristada dosing.
* For more details about Abilify’s dosages, see the “Abilify dosage” section above and the “Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii dosing” section below.
Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii are extended-release intramuscular injections that your doctor or another healthcare professional gives you.* Abilify Maintena comes as a powder that is mixed with liquid before injection. It’s also available as a prefilled single-dose syringe. Abilify Asimtufii comes as a liquid suspension in prefilled single-dose syringes.
Abilify Maintena injection dosing is once per month. The typical starting dosage and maintenance (long-term) dosage is 400 milligrams (mg) once per month. Your doctor may lower the dose to 300 mg based on how you respond to treatment. Dosages above 400 mg every month have not been evaluated in clinical trials.
Abilify Asimtufii injection dosing is once every 2 months. The typical starting dosage and maintenance dosage is 960 mg once every 2 months. Your doctor may lower the dose to 720 mg based on how you respond to treatment. The effectiveness of dosages above 960 mg every 2 months is unknown.
You may be able to switch from Abilify Maintena to Abilify Asimtufii if you prefer fewer trips to a doctor’s office to receive your dose.
You may also be able to switch from Abilify Maintena or Abilify Asimtufii to Abilify if your doctor recommends it.
Typically, Abilify Maintena 400 mg once monthly is equivalent to a daily oral dose of 20 mg of Abilify. And Abilify Maintena 300 mg once monthly is equivalent to a daily oral dose of 15 mg of Abilify. Abilify Asimtufii 960 mg once every 2 months is about equivalent to a daily oral dose of 20 mg of Abilify. And Abilify Asimtufii 720 mg once every 2 months is about equivalent to a daily oral dose of 15 mg of Abilify.
If you’re interested in taking Abilify tablets instead of Abilify Maintena or Abilify Asimtufii injections, talk with your doctor. They can tell you more about the dosing differences between the drugs.
* Extended release means the active drug releases in your body over a period of time.
If you forget to take your usual dose of Abilify or Abilify MyCite tablets, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s too close to your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your usual schedule for Abilify. Do not take two doses of Abilify at once. This can increase your risk of side effects. (To learn more about the side effects of Abilify, see this article.)
If you miss a dose of Abilify Maintena or Abilify Asimtufii, call your doctor’s office to reschedule your injection as soon as you remember. Depending on how long it’s been since your last dose, your doctor will determine whether you need a new dosing schedule.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
The Abilify dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition Abilify is used to treat
- the form of Abilify you use
- your age
- other medications you may be taking
- other medical conditions you have that may affect how Abilify works in your body
- how you respond to treatment
Dosage adjustments
Your doctor may adjust your Abilify dosage if you take certain medications. These include CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers, and CYP2D6 inhibitors.* Taking these drugs may affect the level of Abilify in your body. They could decrease Abilify’s effectiveness or increase your risk of side effects from the drug.†
Tell your doctor about all medications you take. They’ll prescribe the Abilify dosage that’s best for you based on other drugs you may be taking.
* To learn about possible drug interactions with Abilify, refer to this article.
† For details about side effects of Abilify, refer to this article.
Below is information about how Abilify is administered:
How to take Abilify and Abilify MyCite
Abilify and Abilify MyCite come as tablets that you’ll swallow.
Abilify MyCite contains a special sensor on the tablet. You’ll also use MyCite patch strips, which you place on a specific area of your body, and the Abilify MyCite app, which you download to your cellphone. These components monitor when you swallow the tablet. This allows you and your doctor to track your treatment plan.
Do not crush, chew, or split Abilify or Abilify MyCite tablets. Be sure to swallow them whole. You can take Abilify or Abilify MyCite with or without food.
Abilify tablets are typically taken once per day. However, the drug’s manufacturer doesn’t recommend a specific time to take the drug. It may be helpful to take Abilify around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Abilify can work effectively. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist about when to take Abilify tablets.
If your doctor prescribes Abilify tablets and you have trouble swallowing them, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.
How Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii are given
Your doctor or another healthcare professional will inject Abilify Maintena and Abilify Asimtufii into your muscle. You will receive the injection at a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital.
Abilify Maintena is injected into your deltoid (shoulder) or gluteal (buttock) muscle. Abilify Asimtufii is injected only into your gluteal muscle. Your doctor will help schedule your doses of Abilify Maintena or Abilify Asimtufii.
If you have questions about what to expect during your injection appointment, talk with your doctor.
Abilify is not known to cause misuse and isn’t considered a controlled substance. With misuse, a drug is taken in a way or for a purpose that it’s not prescribed for. Controlled substances are substances that have an increased risk of physical dependence. With physical dependence, you need to take a certain substance for your body to feel as usual.
The different forms of Abilify have not been studied* in humans for their ability to cause tolerance (reduced response to a drug), physical dependence, or misuse. However, animal studies of the drug have shown it may cause physical dependence in animals.
If you have a history of substance misuse or addiction, your doctor may suggest a different medication. If they recommend Abilify treatment as the best option for you, they’ll monitor you more closely.
If you have questions about Abilify and misuse, talk with your doctor. For details about withdrawal and dependence, see the “Abilify and withdrawal and dependence” section below.
* For more information about Abilify’s clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Abilify, Abilify MyCite, Abilify Maintena, and Abilify Asimtufii.
If you take more Abilify or Abilify MyCite tablets than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects. It’s important that you do not take more Abilify than your doctor advises.
Symptoms of an overdose
Overdose symptoms of Abilify can include:
- sleepiness
- tremors
- vomiting
If you take more than the recommended amount of Abilify
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Abilify. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
It’s not known for sure whether Abilify causes physical dependence in humans. With physical dependence, you need to take a certain substance for your body to feel as usual.
However, suddenly stopping Abilify may lead to withdrawal. With withdrawal, you experience uncomfortable side effects after you stop taking a certain substance. Symptoms of withdrawal may include nausea, headache, and increased heart rate. Withdrawal effects were seen in animal studies when Abilify treatment was suddenly stopped.
If you’d like to stop Abilify treatment, talk with your doctor first. This is because it’s possible to experience withdrawal effects if you suddenly stop taking Abilify. Your doctor will advise gradually reducing your dosage in stages to lower the risk of withdrawal symptoms.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Abilify for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes. As with any drug, never change your dosage of Abilify without your doctor’s recommendation. If your doctor prescribes Abilify Maintena or Abilify Asimtufii, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
If you have questions about the dosage of Abilify that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Abilify. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Abilify. For information about other aspects of Abilify, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about the side effects of Abilify, see this article. You can also look at the Abilify prescribing information for Abilify and Abilify MyCite.
- Drug comparison. Find out how Abilify compares with Abilify Maintena, Rexulti, and Latuda.
- Cost. If you’d like to learn about Abilify and cost, see this article.
- Interactions. For details about what Abilify interacts with, see this article.
- Details about your condition. For details about your condition, see our:
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
