What is the best antidepressant to take with Abilify? (3 important factors to be considered) 

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “What is the best antidepressant to take with Abilify?”. Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is used to treat a number of mental health-related illnesses. 

This medication is sometimes combined with an antidepressant for the treatment and management of psychosis comorbid with depression. This blog will cover the best antidepressant to be combined with Abilify. 

What is the best antidepressant to take with Abilify?

The best antidepressant to take with Abilify is Lexapro, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other drugs belonging to this class of antidepressants can also deliver promising results when combined with Ability. 

Several research studies have indicated that the concomitant use of Abilify and Lexapro can be quite beneficial in the treatment and management of psychosis comorbid with depression. The combination can also be used for major depressive disorder (MDD) at lower doses. 

However, make sure you only use this combination if prescribed by your healthcare provider. Although it can be quite effective in some people, surveys suggest that not everyone can benefit from this combination. 

Some people tried it but could not tolerate the effects of these two meds on their bodies. Abilify can also be paired with Zoloft (Sertraline), which is another SSRI, but the concomitant use can dangerously increase arrhythmia in some patients. 

This is why experts suggest that cardiac patients should not take this combination. There are a lot of factors that generally affect dose administration. 

People who are living with some underlying health conditions can not tolerate the drug as easily as healthy people do. This is why you should never start any combination treatment without your doctor’s approval. 

What factors should be considered before taking the combination of Abilify and Lexapro? 

There are several factors that should be considered before starting to use Abilify and Lexapro together. Some of these include:

• Risk-benefit ratio
• Any pre-existing health condition
• Appropriate dose

Risk-benefit ratio

As we all know, every single medication on this planet has some side effects. Some people are more sensitive to them, whereas some people end up tolerating the effects without much difficulty. Abilify and Lexapro, both of these meds can affect your brain and the chemical composition. 

If the treatment has to be started, the first step is to measure the risk-benefit ratio of this combination. The treatment should only be started if it is associated with more benefits as compared to risks. 

Most healthcare providers recommend this combination when they believe that it is the best possible choice of treatment and it will make good changes in the condition of the patient. 

If the treatment is associated with only risks and side effects, or the person can not tolerate the effects of the drug, then it is not recommended. However, there is no way to be certain if this treatment will work on you or not. 

The only way to find out is to actually take the combination. The treatment is usually initiated with the lowest effective doses of both of the drugs and the patient usually reports to the doctor after a week of using these two meds together. 

Some people show little to no side effects, so their doses are increased slowly until the doctor reaches the most appropriate dose which is required for a good therapeutic response. 

However, some people develop side effects and after a week, their doctor usually switches them to another combination. 1 to 2% of people exhibit signs of an allergic reaction and the treatment is stopped for them right away. 

In some practices, people share medications. They simply recommend the meds they have been taking if someone complains of similar kinds of symptoms that they have been going through. This is the worst practice ever.

You should always consult with your healthcare provider and take those meds only which are prescribed to you and only you. Never share your medications with other people, no matter how similar the symptoms seem to be.

Any pre-existing health condition

Pre-existing health conditions should be considered before taking the combination of Abilify and Lexapro. There are some people who are living with kidney diseases, liver diseases, metabolic diseases, cardiac diseases, etc.

Such people have a disturbed physiological combination and they may not be able to process this combination that well. 

Liver and kidney diseases can increase the stay time of the drug in your body because these two organs are largely associated with the metabolism and removal of the drug from your body. 

Some side effects of the combination of Abilify and Lexapro may exacerbate the symptoms of such pre-existing diseases, like heart diseases. Both of these meds can cause arrhythmia and may cause your heart to beat abnormally. 

This side effect can become life-threatening for such patients. This is why always give your medical history accurately so that your doctor will know for sure if this combination is the best possible option for you or not. 

Appropriate dose 

The appropriate dose is the most important factor for the maximum safety and efficacy of the concomitant use of Abilify and Lexapro. The combination treatment should always start with the lowest effective dose of both of the meds. 

There are some people who can not tolerate drugs that easily. For such people, lower doses can be easier to deal with if something goes wrong. 

Taking high doses from the start may cause unpredictable side effects and they are so pronounced at times that it becomes difficult to deal with them or stabilise the condition of the patient. 

Make sure you strictly stick to your doctor’s recommended dose and do not increase the frequency of dose administration on your own. 

What are the side effects associated with the use of Abilify and Lexapro? 

Abilify and Lexapro are usually associated with some side effects. Meds that can affect your brain are not so easy to deal with and people usually fail to do so, especially those who are sensitive to medications. 

Let’s discuss some of the side effects associated with the use of Abilify and the SSRI most commonly paired with it, Lexapro. 

Side effects of Abilify 

Abilify is associated with some side effects. These include:

• Restlessness 
• Nervousness 
• Confusion 
• Headache 
• Dizziness 
• Drowsiness 
• Fatigue 
• Diarrhoea 
• Constipation 
• Abdominal pain 
• Increased appetite
• Weight gain 
• Excess salivation 
• Body pain

Abilify is associated with some serious side effects. These include:

• Allergic reactions associated with symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc.
• Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body.
• Vision changes
• Uncontrollable tremors 
• Fever
• Muscle pain, stiffness and rigidity 
• Neck muscle spasm
• Arrhythmia or irregular heart rate 
• Convulsions 

Side effects of Lexapro 

Escitalopram is also associated with some side effects. These include:

• Loss of appetite 
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Sexual issues
• Difficulty in falling asleep
• Vertigo 
• Decreased salivation or dry mouth
• Sweating
• Anxiety 
• Infections caused by decreased immunity
• Nausea
• Shaking
• Weakness
• Sleepiness and fatigue
• Weight gain 

Some serious and rare side effects include allergic reactions associated with symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, and hoarseness etc. 

It may also cause angle-closure glaucoma which causes symptoms like eye pain, vision changes, or swelling or redness in your eyes. 

Some studies suggest that Lexapro can cause low sodium levels which can result in psychological symptoms like confusion, agitation, inability to understand surroundings, memory loss etc. 

It can also cause elongation of QT interval, causing increased heartbeat or arrhythmia and teeth grinding. This effect can become a problem for cardiac patients as Abilify can also affect your heart. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed the best antidepressant to take with Abilify. Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is used to treat a number of mental health-related illnesses. It is often paired with antidepressants for a broader therapeutic spectrum. 

According to research studies, the best antidepressant to take with Abilify is Lexapro, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other drugs belonging to this class of antidepressants can also deliver promising results when combined with Ability. 

Several research studies have indicated that the concomitant use of Abilify and Lexapro can be quite beneficial in the treatment and management of psychosis comorbid with depression. However, make sure you stick to your doctor’s recommended doses. 

FAQs: best antidepressant to take with Abilify 

What antidepressants work well with Abilify?

The best antidepressant to take with Abilify is Lexapro, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other drugs belonging to this class of antidepressants can also deliver promising results when combined with Ability. 

Several research studies have indicated that the concomitant use of Abilify and Lexapro can be quite beneficial in the treatment and management of psychosis comorbid with depression. The combination can also be used for major depressive disorder (MDD) at lower doses.

Can Zoloft and Abilify be taken together?

Yes, Abilify can be paired with Zoloft (Sertraline), which is another SSRI, but the concomitant use can dangerously increase arrhythmia in some patients. This is why experts suggest that cardiac patients should not take this combination. There are a lot of factors that generally affect dose administration. This is why make sure you stick to your doctor’s recommended treatment regimen. 

Why is Abilify added to antidepressants?

Abilify can be paired with antidepressants for a broader therapeutic spectrum. According to research studies, the best antidepressant to take with Abilify is Lexapro, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). 

Other drugs belonging to this class of antidepressants can also deliver promising results when combined with Ability. Several research studies have indicated that the concomitant use of Abilify and Lexapro can be quite beneficial in the treatment and management of psychosis comorbid with depression. 

What is usually prescribed with Abilify? 

Abilify is usually prescribed with antidepressants to treat psychological disorders comorbid with depression. However, it can also be paired with other meds if the patient also suffers from other health conditions. Whatever it is paired with, drug interactions should be ruled out. Such interactions not only result in therapeutic failure but can also give rise to a number of new complications. 

What medications should not be taken with Abilify?

• Certain antibiotics, including macrolides. Examples are clarithromycin, azithromycin and erythromycin. 
• Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Examples are fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine etc. 
• Some antifungal agents like ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole etc. 
• Certain antiarrhythmic medications like quinidine
• Medications used to treat HIV, including ritonavir, indinavir etc.

References 

• Roger Hudson et al. J Psychopharmacol. (2017) – The combination of escitalopram and aripiprazole: Investigation of psychomotor effects https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29069975/
• John D Matthews et al. J Clin Psychopharmacol. (2009) – An open study of aripiprazole and escitalopram for psychotic major depressive disorder https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19142112/ 
• National Library of Medicine – Abilify https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603012.html 
• Abilify – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-64439/abilify-oral/details
• The Combination of Aripiprazole and Antidepressants in Psychotic Major Depression (Abilify) https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00556140 
• Lexapro – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-63990/lexapro-oral/details