I took abilify and it caused me bad anxiety and restlessness
I take Abilify and it had less side effects than the Geodon I took before it. It did cause me to gain weight however and doesn't work as good as the Geodon did in some aspects but works better in others. Abilify disrupts my sleep as well much like ILADVOCATE experienced but it also sedates me at the same time.
The atypical antipsychotics (Risperdal through Abilify, Fanapt and Saphris) have a safer side effect profile than the typicals (Thorazine through Haldol) in that they have half the statistical potential of causing tardive dyskinesia (a long term side effect which is a movement disorder of all current antipsychotics except for Clozaril). They also have far more of a mood stabilization effect and have been specifically FDA approved for this purpose. I did have some difficulty on Abilify with it being activating (that is causing difficulty sleeping, unlike other antipsychotics which are often sedating) and this is not uncommon but each person responds differently to each medication and many people I know have found it to be of help as well.