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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:02:18
Hi guys,
I have just changed over to Abilify, and am having akathisia with it.
I've been on 10mg for 2 weeks, then 15mg for 1 week.
Do you think this is a "just beginning a new drug" side effect which will go away? Or has it gone on too long to just be temporary?
I am controlling it at the moment with procyclidine, usually about 20-30mg a day.
Will my pdoc think this is sufficient reason to stop the drug? Will I be kept on this and the procyclidine for good? Or do u think she'll try something different?
I'm worried she will underestimate the effect this intense restlessness is having on me.
Do pdocs generally tend to not use a drug if you need a load of procyclidine in order to stomach it?
Anyone else had probs on Abilify?
Thanks xx
Posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:26:41
In reply to ABILFY causing AKATHISIA??, posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:02:18
Also...
Has anyone here completely given up on Abilify due to movement problems or akathisia?
What would you say is an adequate trial of Abilify, before I can see whether or not it is working?
Thanks!!! for any replies in advance :-)
Posted by SLS on February 20, 2005, at 10:59:10
In reply to ABILFY causing AKATHISIA??, posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:02:18
Hi.
It seems like akathisia or an akathisia-like reaction to Abilify early in treatment is common. I experienced a mild form of it when I first began taking it. I started at 20mg. It was uncomfortable, but bearable. It did disappear after a few weeks. For the right people, I think Abilify can be worth the discomfort one experiences in the beginning.
I guess the procyclidine was your idea? How much do you feel it is helping? The stuff I read suggested that anti-cholinergics were of limited value in treating akathisia unless it was accompanied by parkinsonian symptoms. To help mitigate akathisia, I have seen suggested drugs like propranolol, Klonopin, clonidine, amantadine, and Remeron.
If you believe that Abilify has a good chance of treating your condition, I think it will be worth the wait until the startup side effects dissipate.
- Scott
Posted by celticmom on February 20, 2005, at 11:22:27
In reply to ABILFY causing AKATHISIA??, posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:02:18
My DS had akathisia for about a week when he started abilify. I gave him a little clonodine to help him sleep. He hasn't had a problem since. Good luck!
Posted by banga on February 20, 2005, at 11:56:20
In reply to Re: ABILFY causing AKATHISIA??, posted by celticmom on February 20, 2005, at 11:22:27
I had very mild akathisia at even 5mg....it did seem to lessen over time.
Posted by Sebastian on February 20, 2005, at 16:28:34
In reply to Also, posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:26:41
Those effects will not go away, in my opionion. I gave up on it after 4 different trials, 2 week, 3 week and couple day trials. The only answer is take less or stop it. Adding a sdative did not work. Tell your doctor you want to try a different med for all the reasons you mentioned, they should change it. I find goedon very good. Zyprexa
Posted by Phillipa on February 20, 2005, at 17:46:59
In reply to Re: I have, posted by Sebastian on February 20, 2005, at 16:28:34
Pretty_paints; You're back! Has the med Ed suggested been helping? What about going back to the seroquel? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by MoparFan91 on February 21, 2005, at 2:04:19
In reply to ABILFY causing AKATHISIA??, posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:02:18
> Hi guys,
>
> I have just changed over to Abilify, and am having akathisia with it.
>When I took Abilify, I was in the same boat as you: Bombarded with Akathisia
> I've been on 10mg for 2 weeks, then 15mg for 1 week.
>I took about 10mg myself.
> Do you think this is a "just beginning a new drug" side effect which will go away? Or has it gone on too long to just be temporary?
>
> I am controlling it at the moment with procyclidine, usually about 20-30mg a day.
>For me, it never went away during the five weeks that I was on this drug. Some people, though, have stated that it eventually goes away.
If the Procyclidine isn't working as well as you want it to, another other thing you could ask your doctor about is Cogentin. It's supposed help pretty well in getting rid of the akathisia.
> Will my pdoc think this is sufficient reason to stop the drug? Will I be kept on this and the procyclidine for good? Or do u think she'll try something different?
>Have you ever been on the other drugs in the same class as Abilify such as Seroquel, Zyprexa, Geodon, or Risperdal?
If you do need to get off the Abilify, ask you doctor about Geodon. For me, it doesn't cause akathisia, and there's no weight gain associated with it as well.
> I'm worried she will underestimate the effect this intense restlessness is having on me.
>I'm sure she will understand. Tell her that it's akathisia and it's bothering you. Also, indicate to her that it's a side effect of that drug.
> Do pdocs generally tend to not use a drug if you need a load of procyclidine in order to stomach it?
>I'm not sure. I've never taken procyclidine.
> Anyone else had probs on Abilify?
>My problems, overall, were insomnia (waking up 17 times a night), some hallucinations upon sleeping/waking (like I'm in a twilight state), akathisia in the form of agitation/anxiety, and heat intolerance. I also had periods of time where I felt like I was about to have an anxiety attack. The thing is, not even 150mg of Trazodone would put me to sleep.
> Thanks xx
Posted by cybercafe on February 23, 2005, at 6:42:44
In reply to ABILFY causing AKATHISIA??, posted by pretty_paints on February 20, 2005, at 10:02:18
> Hi guys,
>
> I have just changed over to Abilify, and am having akathisia with it.
>
> I've been on 10mg for 2 weeks, then 15mg for 1 week.
>
> Do you think this is a "just beginning a new drug" side effect which will go away? Or has it gone on too long to just be temporary?
>
> I am controlling it at the moment with procyclidine, usually about 20-30mg a day.
>
> Will my pdoc think this is sufficient reason to stop the drug? Will I be kept on this and the procyclidine for good? Or do u think she'll try something different?
>
> I'm worried she will underestimate the effect this intense restlessness is having on me.
>
> Do pdocs generally tend to not use a drug if you need a load of procyclidine in order to stomach it?
>
> Anyone else had probs on Abilify?
>
> Thanks xxi think back when i was taking 5 mg ? or less i had noticeable akathisia... but i did a gradual switch where i was taking low dose zyprexa (which has the opposite effect) with low dose abilify. I suppose the akathisia did go away with time, I don't remember it being a problem. Though I do know that most of the time I was actually on a much lower dose.
Feel free to check my archives.
This is the end of the thread.
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