Abilify Maintena, why change?

August 12, 2026··

I'm very sad. The psychiatrist insisted on keeping me on the 300mg dose of Maintena Abilify despite me repeatedly asking him to reduce it. He says it's still too early, and with these medications, I almost feel incapable of making decisions for myself and gaining respect. Even the nurses kept telling me that Abilify is the best medication available, that it has fewer side effects, and that if I'm doing well, why change? My parents agree, and vocational rehabilitation is a lifeline keeping me at the mental health center, as well as the depot itself (no private psychiatrist can intervene if I have an intramuscular injection). It seems like there's no way out. I feel like a puppet in someone else's hands.

Abilify — 300 mg Maintena — 7 years but with different dosage — planning taper | other — EN delorazepam medication: current dose 1 mg when needed — 2 years — holding | other — Akineton - 2 mg — 5 months — holding | with clinician

7 Replies

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CatinaAug 12

Community AnchorEffexor

I'm very sorry to hear that you're receiving such pushback on your desire to taper Abilify. If you need help in preparing what you need to say to your doctor, here is some guidance on how best to do that. You can use the same talking points with your parents too. https://taper.community/thread/dbb2cdbb-bb3d-4bb9-93ab-b33de4a3fd0b https://taper.community/resources/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-tapering You can let them know that you're concerned with the long-term effects of such a drug on your body and just want to see if you can try reducing it. There is plenty of evidence available to support this:

I hope this helps. Please keep us updated on how things are going. We're here for you anytime! 🩷

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

DiSoleEDAzzurroAug 14

WelcomerAbilify · planning

Hi @Catina, thank you so much for your support. I read one of your article on how to talk to your doctor about tapering and was good i learned something. I still have some quetions, like: I'm currently on Abilify Maintena so the intramuscolar injection (300mg) and he says that we have to wait before the next cut (200mg), but I ask myself why is that? He wants to put me in a 2 months long injection even if we lowered from 400 to 300 months ago (I can't remember exactly when but at least 3 months). And he said that even after going to 200 we'd have to wait again for the drug to stabilize before the next cut. I see in your aeticle you do not talk about intramuscolar injection. Can you help me understand please? Thank you so much eventually

DiSoleEDAzzurroAug 14

WelcomerAbilify · planning

Also @Catina I asked few times via the "find a deprescriber" portal if Tibaldi Giuseppe in Italy can help me, but never recevied an answer. Do you know someone who can help me get out of this situation that speak italian? Also considering I take the intramuscolar injection?

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CatinaAug 14

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @DiSoleEDAzzurro, I'll share the information from Surviving Antidepressants about tapering Abilify injections. I do not have personal experience with this, but hopefully you can learn enough from the information to understand the process better:

Regarding Dr. Giuseppe...so you tried contacting his office and did not get a response? Please clarify. Keep us updated on how things are going and we'll do our best to help!

DiSoleEDAzzurroAug 14

WelcomerAbilify · planning

@Catina thank you for your rapid response! I actually contacted Dr. Tibaldi in the page "find a deprescriving provider", It's the only one in Italy present at the moment... And yeah i did not get any response.

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CatinaAug 14

Community AnchorEffexor

"I actually contacted Dr. Tibaldi in the page "find a deprescriving provider", It's the only one in Italy present at the moment... And yeah i did not get any response." — @DiSoleEDAzzurro

I will let @Based Psychiatrist know about this. Thanks for letting us know. 👍

DiSoleEDAzzurroAug 14

WelcomerAbilify · planning

I would like to hear his professional opinion as well on my questions I reported here if possible @Based Psychiatrist

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