Taking ABILIFY.

ABILIFY is approved for the treatment of Schizophrenia in adolescent patients 13 to 17 years of age, as part of a total treatment program.





While there is no cure for Schizophrenia, there are effective approaches to help manage the symptoms. Some options may include talk therapy, group therapy and prescription medications, or any combination of these.

Effectiveness of ABILIFY

ABILIFY is effective at treating the symptoms of Schizophrenia. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of Schizophrenia are:


  • Hallucinations — sensing things that others do not sense
  • Delusions — false beliefs that may become fixed despite evidence to the contrary
  • Altered emotions — having feelings that don't seem right for what is going on, or having no feelings at all
  • Lack of motivation or desire to do the things you used to enjoy doing
  • Difficulty staying focused and completing tasks
  • Disorganized thinking, speaking, or behavior

Keep in mind that as with all medicines, every patient responds differently, and it is important to give your teenager’s body time to adjust to the medicine, and continue to talk to the doctor about how they are feeling. It’s also important to give the medicine time to work.

Encourage your teenager to talk to the doctor about how they are feeling. Be sure your teenager understands the importance of telling the doctor about any changes they notice in their thought patterns or behavior, even while on medication.

How ABILIFY is thought to work

The exact way ABILIFY (or any other medication for Schizophrenia) works is unknown. However, it is thought that ABILIFY may work by adjusting the level of certain chemicals (dopamine and serotonin) in the brain. Dopamine and serotonin are called neurotransmitters because they help information travel inside the brain. Watch a video about how ABILIFY is thought to work .

What to expect with ABILIFY

ABILIFY is taken once a day, with or without food. If your teen misses a dose, don’t “double up.” Instead, take the next scheduled dose. Be sure your teen takes ABILIFY as prescribed by their doctor. Talk to your healthcare professional before stopping ABILIFY or changing your dose.