Abilify to treat depression

In simple terms, depression is caused by a change in chemistry inside the brain. However, the results of this are quite physical and out there for everyone to see. The mood-offs, lack of interest, insomnia, stress etc. can quietly disrupt normal life and often push people into darker abysses of depression. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of effective drugs out there than can help bring you back to normal life. Of these drugs, one of the most popular one is Abilify. It is mainly prescribed for patients with bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia.

How does Abilify work?

Abilify is the brand name of Aripiprazole and falls under the classification atypical antipsychotics. So how does it work? One of the major causes that bring about the onset of depression in people is the change in production of dopamine, which is a hormone. When the levels of dopamine change, the mood of the individual also changes, eventually pushing him into depression. Therefore, any drug aimed at treating depression should be able to control this fluctuation in dopamine to bring about any relief to the patient.

Abilify works by controlling the neurotransmitters responsible for mood fluctuation, dopamine in this case. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the early part of the 20th century.

Precautions to be taken

As the case is with all depression treating drugs, Abilify comes with its own share of side effects and warnings. There are a lot of people out there who can be potentially affected by exposing them to a continuous dose of Abilify. This is why it is extremely important to consult a doctor. It is highly recommended that you never start a dose of Abilify without consulting a medical practitioner. If anyone you know does that, it is high time that you discouraged them from doing it.

A doctor will study your entire medical history such as blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, heart condition, cancer history in the family, WBC count and a whole lot of other tests before they can determine the dosage of Abilify. A wrong prescription can be fatal and even result in the death of the patient. Adults with a history of dementia are advised against taking this drug.

All said and done, generic Abilify is one of the most effective and safer options out there to treat depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.