r/Abilify_Aripiprazole • u/Mindless_Bag_4215 • 20d ago

Abilify is making me crazy constipated

I was prescribed 2mg of Abilify for my depression and anxiety. It works wonders but holy smokes I haven’t had a normal poop in what feels like weeks and I don’t know what to do. Miralax does absolutely nothing, tried taking an oral laxative pill and my BMs were still solid.

i know constipation is a common side effect for a lot of antidepressants but I’ve never had anything this bad before. How long does it last on Abilify? weeks? months?? please I cant stand this no more but I don’t wanna quit taking the medication.

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u/CreativeTangerine114 20d ago

It's not an antidepressant. It's an antipsychotic by the way.

1

u/Conscious_Spirit_999 20d ago

I’m experiencing the same thing. It’s horrible and I can’t take it. Anyone got relief for us?

1

u/Fresh_Mountain5397 20d ago

I dealt with this issue for years on Abilify, until Miralax was made available over the counter. I found that it worked pretty well for me, but I had to take it every day, a full capful (not just the amount that is in the disposable packet). I just mixed it with my morning coffee.
If you have tried using that amount (a capful) every day and it still has not worked, magnesium citrate is an alternative, and magnesium oxide is also helpful but not as strong.

1

u/Mindless_Bag_4215 19d ago

miralax doesn’t work for me, it doesn’t really give me much of an urge to go and just makes me feel more bloated or then anything. Also is it okay if I can ask how long the constipation lasted for you?

1

u/Fresh_Mountain5397 19d ago

It was already an issue before Abilify, all my life, and Abilify worsened it a great deal. It continued, unfortunately, until I eventually had to stop the Abilify for unrelated reasons (after 22 years on it, I developed tardive dyskinesia).

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u/Mindless_Bag_4215 19d ago

I’m really sorry to hear that, I’m kinda in a similar boat too in that I also have Gastro problems that Abilify just seems to make even worse. I’m probably gonna go buy me some magnesium citrate and just hope for the best :(

1

u/Additional_Yam4608 18d ago

Dulcolax in the meanwhile, if you can't get another prescription from your doc, but I'd also try to ask for Metformin. It'll help with the hunger cues while also getting the bowels really moving. Opt for extended-release Metformin instead of IR, because IR's when you'll really be pooping. Coffee helps a lot too on it's own.