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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 6:16:18
I've been on abilify for a couple of weeks, about a week on 2 mgs. It seems to give me some more feeling although its subtle its there. Its like a relaxed mellow feeling. Reminds me of when I *thought* I had high dopamine, but this is more relaxed and less of paranoid effect. It works consistently day to day which is nice, but its effects wear out later on in the day. I'm hoping this med really helps and I just might need to go up a .5 mgs or something. I'm hoping it helps with motivation, if not I could add a low dose SSRI or maybe a adrenergic TCA.
Posted by Dinah on August 23, 2010, at 9:40:39
In reply to subtle effect of abilify, posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 6:16:18
It didn't cause any agitation? I generally shy away from anything called "activating".
Abilify sounds like it would suit me very well, but I can't afford the weight issues. I'm already overweight, and have diabetes.
Posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 10:13:37
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify » Conundrum, posted by Dinah on August 23, 2010, at 9:40:39
No I wouldn't call it agitation. More like energy. It makes me want to ride my bike, get things done. But I guess it does make me wanna listen to heavy metal and bang my head. Some people don't like stimulation but its fine to me. I don't remember your situation Dinah, but if you are bipolar or schizophrenic and other classes of drugs didn't help then abilify would be one of the better atypical antipsychotics as far as weight is concerned, but it can still caused weight gain and I wouldn't mess with it if I had diabetes.
If you just have depression you might consider desipramine and maybe even adderall/dexedrine, since these have slimming effects. Or just take a normal AD, most cause weight gain and then just exercise your but off and really watch what you eat.
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2010, at 10:54:36
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify » Dinah, posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 10:13:37
I didn't know you were bipolar? Thought just had left over side effects from the SSRI's. I must loook at your signature again. Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on August 23, 2010, at 11:02:24
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify » Dinah, posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 10:13:37
I think I'm on the very low end of the bipolar spectrum. My pdoc uses the diagnosis cyclothymia, but that seems way too rapid cycling for me. I get hypomanic, not manic, usually as a result of medication changes or sleep deprivation. And while I usually dismiss my leadenness at other times as sloth, when it lifts I realize how physical it feels.
What I do have is a strong tendency to anxiety and agitation, and that sometimes leads to other issues.
I manage it relatively well with Risperdal as needed. Still, I know I could function better and I'd like to be more even instead of so often running at 80% (or occasionally at 110%).
I doubt my psychiatrist would prescribe regular antipsychotics though, given my weight issues. I might ask him next time.
Posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 12:06:29
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify » Conundrum, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2010, at 10:54:36
I'm not bipolar, I'm taking an antidepressant dose. But at higher doses it can help with bipolar. Either way its weight gain shouldn't be as bad as seroquel or zyprexa.
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2010, at 13:07:08
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify » Phillipa, posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 12:06:29
I didn't think so. Antidepressant dose? For anxiety or you are saying it helps depression. Seriously didn't know that. Phillipa
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 23, 2010, at 21:38:49
In reply to subtle effect of abilify, posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2010, at 6:16:18
2 mg is a very low dose, not even a therapeutic dose. I did very well on 5 mg. Even better on 10 mg.
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 23, 2010, at 21:43:29
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify » Conundrum, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2010, at 13:07:08
The FDA has approved abilify as an anti-depressant and the mfr is marketing it very heavily for this purpose. It's the only AAP approved by the FDA for treatment of depression, which is -not to say that p-docs don't prescribe them off-label. It's just that the mfr can't advertise for an unapproved use.
Posted by Conundrum on August 24, 2010, at 6:17:55
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify, posted by emmanuel98 on August 23, 2010, at 21:38:49
You were taking abilify for depression correct? I know you are taking parnate now.
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 24, 2010, at 19:19:30
In reply to Re: subtle effect of abilify » emmanuel98, posted by Conundrum on August 24, 2010, at 6:17:55
Abilify unfortunately made me gain weight rapidly (2-3 pound a week). I stopped and started, stopped and started. Tried it will cytomel, tried lower doses. Didn't matter. Everytime I started I felt fine within 48 hours and within a week I had gained two or three pounds. It didn't make me hungry. I didn't eat more. I just gained weight. The good news for you is that abilify rarely does this and is the least likely (with geodon) of the AAPs to cause weight gain.
So anyway, I went on parnate and parnate has worked well for me.
This is the end of the thread.
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