Abilify Maintena Injection in Fort Lauderdale
Same-day visits are often possible
See us in our Fort Lauderdale office or by video anywhere in Florida. We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare and most major insurance plans. Se habla español.
Abilify Maintena is a once-a-month shot of aripiprazole, the same medicine as the Abilify pill. One shot replaces a month of daily tablets.
We give Abilify Maintena at our Fort Lauderdale office for adults with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder.
What Is Abilify Maintena?
It’s an extended-release form of aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic. Aripiprazole changes the activity of certain natural chemicals in the brain. The shot goes into a muscle and releases the medicine slowly, so levels stay steady between visits.
What It’s Used For
- Schizophrenia in adults
- Ongoing (maintenance) treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults, on its own
For bipolar I, it’s meant to help keep you stable and prevent new mood episodes over time.
How the Shot Is Given
If you’ve never taken aripiprazole, you’ll take the tablets first, sometimes for up to 2 weeks, to see how you handle it. After your first shot, you keep taking oral aripiprazole, or the antipsychotic you’re already on, for the first couple of weeks while the shot builds up.
After that, it’s one shot a month in the upper arm or buttock muscle, given by one of our medical providers. Shots are spaced at least 26 days apart.
Is It Right for Me?
Your provider will ask about heart problems, blood pressure, stroke, seizures, low white blood cell counts, diabetes, cholesterol, trouble swallowing and pregnancy. They’ll also ask whether you or anyone in your family has had problems with gambling, shopping, eating or other urges, since aripiprazole can rarely trigger strong urges like these. Mention St. John’s wort if you take it.
Side Effects
The most common are weight gain, restlessness or an urge to keep moving, sleepiness and soreness where the shot went in.
Call us right away or get emergency care if you have:
- Fever, stiff muscles, confusion or a fast heartbeat
- Movements you can’t control
- Signs of high blood sugar like extreme thirst or blurred vision
- A seizure or fainting
- New urges you can’t control, like gambling or spending
- Rash, swelling or trouble breathing
Important Safety Information
Antipsychotic medicines, including this one, raise the risk of death in older adults who have dementia-related psychosis. It isn’t approved to treat that.
Don’t drive until you know how it affects you, and get up slowly. Drink water and avoid overheating. You’ll get a Medication Guide with each shot.
If You Miss a Shot
Call us. Depending on how late it is, you may just get the shot, or you may need a few days of tablets too.
Getting Abilify Maintena at One Stop Psychiatry
1. Reach out
Call (754) 270-6322 or request an appointment online. We’re open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you already get this shot somewhere else and need a new place to keep it going, tell us when your next one is due so we can try to see you in time.
2. We check your coverage
Our staff verify your insurance, send your intake packet and confirm the time of your visit. Some plans require prior authorization before they’ll cover an injection. Our staff send your insurance company the information it asks for, but the insurance company makes the final decision on coverage.
3. Evaluation
Your provider goes over your history, the medicines you’ve tried, how you’ve done on them and your medical health. If you haven’t taken aripiprazole before, you’ll start with tablets.
4. Your injection visits
Shots are given by our medical providers at our office at 3015 N Ocean Blvd, Ste C101, Fort Lauderdale. Between shots, many check-ins can happen by video if you’re in Florida.
Common Questions
How often do I get Abilify Maintena?
Once a month, with at least 26 days between shots.
Do I have to take pills too?
Only for about the first 2 weeks after your first shot. After that, the shot does the work.
Is Abilify Maintena used for bipolar disorder?
Yes. It’s approved for ongoing treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults.
Is it the same as Abilify Asimtufii or Aristada?
They all contain aripiprazole but are different products with different schedules. We give Abilify Maintena.
Will it make me gain weight?
Weight gain is one of the most common side effects. We track your weight and talk about it at follow-ups.
Related Pages
- Aripiprazole tablets
- Schizophrenia treatment
- Bipolar disorder treatment
- Invega injections
- All long-acting injections we give
Insurance and Cost
We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Optum, and we offer sliding-scale self-pay rates for visits. What you’ll pay for the medicine itself depends on your plan. We check your benefits before your first shot, though your insurance company makes the final call on coverage. More on insurance.
Several of our providers and staff speak Spanish.
We aren’t an emergency service. If you’re thinking about suicide or you’re in crisis, call or text 988. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DO, psychiatrist, on October 6, 2026.
Sources: FDA label: Abilify Maintena; MedlinePlus: Aripiprazole Injection. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Who You'll See
Your care is with our team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Some of them speak Spanish. Our staff can help you choose someone who's a good fit.
Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DOPsychiatrist
Dr. Murtaza Ali, DOAddiction specialist and family physician
Dr. Heather Brathwaite, PhD, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitioner
Michelle KovalPsychiatric nurse practitioner
Neal Fouke, PAPsychiatric physician assistant
Muhammad Nawaz, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitionerRequest an Appointment
Tell us how to reach you. Our team calls back the same business day, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Your appointment is confirmed once staff call you to set the time and place.
Prefer to talk to someone? Call (754) 270-6322.
Our Office
3015 N Ocean Blvd, Ste C101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. Phone: (754) 270-6322. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Video visits are available anywhere in Florida. Directions and parking.