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Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals are marketing an important drug for the treatment of schizophrenia called Abilify.

In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in improving the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia for many patients and was associated with minimal weight change, minimal involuntary muscle movements, and a modest difference in sedation compared to placebo (sugar pill).

In most drug trials, patients are given both the drug being tested and the placebo to see if the drug is having any effect, positive or negative, upon patients.

Abilify has been studied in more than 5,500 patients, including more than 1,250 patients who were treated for at least one year. In short-term, placebo-controlled trials, the incidence of discontinuation due to bad side effects was similar between patients treated with Abilify and placebo. The most commonly reported side effects were headache, anxiety, and insomnia.

I spoke to consumers from New York City and from New Jersey who are on Abilify and asked them about the drug.

Brooklyn consumer Joel Yates, as of our interview on March 21st, has been on Abilify for two months. He said he switched to Abilify because his previous medication had the potential to cause an irreversible movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. "I was able to transition to a less dangerous drug without any detrimental effect," he said. He told me that his fiancee thought he was doing better on Abilify, adding, "Maybe I'm a little easier to get along with; a little calmer."

New Jersey consumer Tom Vanarsdale has been on Abilify for three weeks as of our interview March 13th. He switched to Abilify because his previous medication disturbed his sleep and his mental clarity. He knew within a couple of days the improvement with Abilify. "It's like a whole new brain, more or less…I feel the healthiest I've felt in a good eight months." He now wakes up refreshed, whereas before it took him three hours to wake up.

Another New Jersey consumer named Tom has been on Abilify for seven or eight weeks prior to our interview on March 22nd. He was on medications that treated his most serious symptoms, but negative symptoms like depression were still giving him problems. "I feel like I'm more in the moment experiencing things…I have a better response to Abilify than to any other antipsychotic I've ever tried." He said that Abilify has regulated his sleep. He is able to get to sleep earlier, get up earlier and feel much better in the morning.

Bronx consumer Michele Kass has been on Abilify for one and one half months. She switched to Abilify because she wanted something less sedating, less bloating. She wanted to think more clearly and not to have to take quite so long to wake up in the morning. "It's been a very good antipsychotic. I have more energy…there's no morning hangover and no sedation." Her doctor said he has seen amazing results with Abilify even with acutely psychotic patients.