I was just recently diagnosed and am starting on Abilify today. I'm concerned about this: Since Abilify is used to keep patients with BiPolar Disorder from having manic episodes, is there a chance that it will swing me into a depressive state? I'm worried that this drug will not be the mood stabilizer that I need and that it will send me into depression, something that I dread and am very concerned about. Does anyone have experience with taking this drug? If so, how did you react to it? Did you become depressed, or did it act as a mood stabilizer? Did you have any troubling side effects? I've read the package insert and the possible side effects sound terribly scary.

I appreciate anything you can tell me, and thanks in advance for answering my question!