Hi, Marie,
I hope you find the courage to try the Abilify. I'm very sensitive to meds and their SEs, but Abilify has been pretty easy for me. I also started at just 5 mg., and I had a very slight headache and tiredness, which eased quickly.
Please let us know how you're doing...

I just started Ablify  today....fingers crossed.

Hey everyone-  I took Abilify for about 3 weeks- I became so agitated, irritable- like I was going to jump out of my own skin.  My pdoc put me on Depakote after that and now I am on Lamictal.  It's interesting how everone has such a different reaction to the same med.

~Kalley

yeah, Kalley... it is.  I LOVED Lamictal when I was on it!  I hope you do well!  Didn't care for Depakote, although it worked well, but that was probably because it was paired with Zyprexa and I hated Zyprexa because of the horrible weight gain.  They both were VERY effective but I couldn't take the SE's.

I wish you luck on both!  :hearts:

Well it's been awhile since I last checked in.  The Abilify was working but then it stopped taking care of paranoia and other delusional things.  I was always anxious and couldn't sleep well.  So the pdoc added 5 mg Zyprexa to the 20 mg Abilify today.  

Can you take two antipsychotics together?  I asked pdoc and the pharmacist and they said it's okay.  But I'm still worried.  Anyone else taking two or more APs (or know somebody who is)?  Thanks...!

There seem to be severel people on the bipolar forum I go to who take 2 AP's at a time. The most common combo I see is seroquel and abilify. I just take plain abilify 30mgs at night (and my mood stabalizers). It seems to be keeping me stable, knock wood!!!   :D

I take Topomax and Abilify (topamax is an anticonvulsant), but I used to take Geodon and Seroquel until I had TD Side Effects with them... (Tardive Diskinesia) and started twitching and ticking in my face and neck and had to stop taking them.  But this is not an unusual combo by any means and many take them.  Also, I've taken Zyprexa before, although not in combo with Abilify, but I could see that many would.  

Your list (although probably not complete) would include:
Atypical Antipsychotic Medications
* Abilify (aripiprazole)
* Clozaril (clozapine)
* Geodon (ziprasidone)
* Haldol (haloperidol)
* Mellaril (thioridazine)
* Navane (thiothixene)
* Prolixin (fluphenazine)
* Risperdal (Risperidone)
* Seroquel (quetiapine)
* Stelazine (Trifluoperazine)
* Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
* Trilafon (perphenazine)
* Zyprexa (olanzapine)

I do well on my Abilify at 15 mg, but not at 30 mg... I start to disassociate at 30 mg and also fall asleep... (hard to decide where I'm sleeping and where I'm leaving my body some days ) :;):  So I stick with 15 mgs. for good measure.

Thanks Lynn and I Am Cat!  That's what I wanted to know.  I feel better about taking the two together.

I should note that Abilify by itself was working great at all things but paranoia, delusions, and sleep.  I have good energy during the day and actually talk to people at school, even ones I don't know.  No more hearing things, too.  So it is good at what it does, not perfect, but what med is?

Hi. I just started Geodon yesterday and would like to know if others have had experiences with it and how it compares to Abilify. Right now I am on Wellbutrin SR and Cymbalta. My pdoc has decided to add an antipsychotic and I think he chose Geodon because Abilify might be too stimulating (because my other drug combo already causes problems sleeping). Just wondering what the major side effects are of Ablilify and how it compares to Geodon. I tried Risperidal a few years ago and it made me very "zombie" like and it also made me lactate. I do not want to take anymore meds that completely take my personality away (like Risperidal did)Thanks.

Amy

HI!  We just put our son on Abilify (he was on Risperdal) and he gained 30lbs in 11 months!!  I have to read through some of the posts to see if anyone has experienced weight gain with abilify also.  I probably should post under the children forum (our son is autistic) and for some reason these meds keep his tantrums and SEVERE anxiety under control! Thank Goodness for these drugs! He can function now! I have noticed though that the abilify does not work as well with the severe temper he has. With Risperdal he was very easy going and now he is back to his my way or the highway attitude!  Anyhow just thought i'd post!

what's the dosage range for abilify? just curious...

also has anyone noticed a change in their sense of taste? ever since I started this and cymbalta sweets have tasted funny to me, but maybe it's just me?

Hi,

I am on 10mg of abilify and it helps me sleep at night but I am trying to come off it since my insurance will not pay and it is expensive. Best wishes,

starr

I noticed some occasional changes in taste since taking Abilify, and it's listed as an infrequent side-effect. I only take 10 mg, which is considered a low/normal dose. I think 10 or 15 mg a day is common, although I've heard of people going up as high as 30 mg.
I take Abilify for anxiety/depression/mood stabilizing along with Cymbalta and Provigil. May I ask why you take it?

I'm taking 20mgs of abilify along with cymbalta, wellbutrin SR, ativan, and risperdal. And I take other meds on top of that for unrelated things. UGH! I'm on my mix of meds because my doctor says I have a mood disorder. He won't tell me which one though and doesn't seem to be investigating. I'm switching pdocs because of it. I was originally diagnosed with major depression recurrent with psychosis, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and PTSD. I'm taking abilify and risperdal because for some reason when I stop the risperdal I can't sleep at night so the risperdal is just for sleep purposes until they can figure out what to do with me. I can fall asleep off of it, but I can't stay asleep. It's very annoying.

Hi,Im taking 5mgs Iv noticed that things dont taste as good,Like coffee.Which I look forward to. It figures that Abilify increases my appetite but things dont taste as good
Cat

I don't notice a change in appetite, nor a change in taste. I'm on 15mg.

I'm being changed from Risperidone (causing high prolactin levels) to abilify. Haven't filled the prescription yet. The drs prescription doesn't state morning or night time, so what is the best time to take. I've always taken antipsychotics at night.

Am taking it for suididal thoughts and anger, and mood.

e

Hi Eileen,
I take my abilify at night. The first few nights I did have trouble sleeping but now all is ok.
Good luck!
Lynn

I also take my Abilify at night. No troubles sleeping at all. In fact, at higher doses, I can't stay awake on Abilify!

I started on Friday and had problems staying asleep in the early hours of the morning, forgot to take it on Sat, took one on Sunday and was awake from just after 4 am, coulnd not get back to sleep. I need to get some sleep. Very tired. Am tempted to take another and just go to bed.

how many mg is that, Eileen?

I'm starting out on 5mg, but I think I may up it, feeling very weepy and mood swing.

Didn't take one last night and still awake a lot last night, took a tab in the morning, will do this for a while I think.

eileen

had been takign it in the morning to see if it helped with my sleeplessness at night but been getting tired in the afternoon.

So last night I took one about 8pm and I managed to stay asleep most of the night, but the afternoons I am very tired.

I am also quite stressed, what with leaving the TC at the end of January and all that entails and also my hassle with work. Stress can also tire people out.

I just recently discontinued Abilify, as it didn't seem to be helping me. But since going off it (and I tapered slowly) I've had an upset stomach, trouble sleeping and a dizzy/spacey feeling.
Has anyone else discontinued Abilify and had a difficult time? I'd like to know your experiences.

I'm now on 15mgs of abilify and I take mine in the AM.

as for discontinuation symptoms...when I decreased I noticed a headache.

I've been having something akin to what I call "seizure-like" activity, but what my doctor calls "dissociative" episode. I can't explain it really, but he feels that the "out of body experience" I have had (I've had three episodes in the last year) are most likely a reaction from meds or psychiatric in nature. So he's decided to cut my Abilify in half, and maybe even stop it altogether if necessary. WE're waiting to see if the "episodes" continue. They're pretty far apart, but such that when they happen, they're almost like I'm going through the actual motions of "dying" and "coming back to life"... weird, I know... but enough for me to think I was having seizures or actually HAD died! I've been keeping it to myself because it's been some pretty scary stuff. But the only med I"m on that could cause or be part of such an episode is the Abilify.... so we're cutting back. If that doesn't work, we may consider other tests on my brain activity... i.e., electrical waves, or check for tumors. LOL!
I think I"d rather try cutting back on the meds first, don't you?

the sleeplessness only lasted a week or so, and I'm no taking 10mg. Not noticeable apart from I'm not irritable etc.

Eileen

Cat..tumors sound serious , though it's good not to jump the gun. Hope you are okay

I am on Abilify now, 5 mg. I haven't noticed alot but it has only been a week. I think i could take another 5 in the evening but she wants me to start slow.

I have noticed a slight headache, some speediness the first 3 days but otherwise, hope i can keep going with it.

This post has been edited by AngelWithin: Feb 1 2006, 03:03 AM

my pdoc started me on 10 mg of Abilify last Thursday...and i also take Lexapro and Niravam. i've been sleepy and restless - hope the side effects go away soon!

Even with insurance, Abilfy is sooo expensive, I may have to go back to Risperdal. Hate that cause I was so hopeful and no appetite increase w/ Abilify. In fact I have lost some weight.

I halfed my Abilify, but my depression came back in full swing! In fact I went into a MAJOR Depressive Episode! I couldn't believe it! In fact, if you had asked me, I would have said that Abillify did NOTHING for my depression (believing myself NOT to be depressed!), but there it was, right in front of me!

I upped my doseage back to 15 mg, and within 24 hours, I was back to "normal"! Imagine my dismay.... and relief!

I'm sticking with the Abilify!

Just TRY and take it away now! Who CARES about those "episodes"?

I'm less concerned about having some sort of seizure activity, or "out of body" experience than I am about going into major depression and doing something rash.... doncha think?

LOL!

Hi everyone,

I am on 30mg. Abilify and find it very sedating which is okay with my bipolar state but combined with cymbalta and Lamictal I am asleep at least one half of each day.

My dr. says I am drug resistant...great. Now what? She won't put me on Welbutrin or Provigil or anything since she thinks I'll become manic...fat chance...I am always on the depressed side.


Any thoughts from anyone?

Thanks.

well, i'm just on the 10 mg of Abilify right now...and it has been less than 2 wks. i'm taking it due to paranoia. i take Niravam and Lexapro, too, for depression and anxiety/panic attacks.

the sleepiness and hyper/edgy feeling is wearing off from the abilify, i think.

i agree....all the meds add up $-wise each month. i have health ins but with the copays and my "regular meds," it adds up! not to mention the psychiatriac and therapy visits. my pdoc wants me to go to therapy weekly, but i just can't swing it schedule-wise. so i try to go every other week and i see my pdoc every 2-4 wks.

I have been off of Abilify due to money matters. My Pdoc is trying to get samples from the drug rep and meanwhile, I seriously feel like I am getting depressed. I want my Abilify! :broken_heart:

Hi all.

I recently tapered off my abiify from 10mg to 0 over a two-week period and thought I was ok but today I had a major panic attack and could feel the same old depressive symptons coming back. I also took topamax for the last 3 weeks to help with appetite control but stopped that cold turkey a few days ago bec of side effects so I dont know who the culprit is. I called the pdoc who thought it may be coming off the topamax so quickly but she put me back on 5mg of abilify until I feel better just incase. Does anyone know if there is a generic form of antipsychotic that is similar to abilify out there? I cant afford this and my insurance cap will max before the year is out at this rate!

Thanks and best wishes,
starr

I believe my doctor said there's nothing else like abilify out there... but I could be just remembering wrong... I'll go google that for you and see... but if I remember correctly... that's what he said.

good luck!

Cat

all I could really find is that doctor's like to prescribe abilify because of a lesser chance of movement disorders from the side effects of these atypical antipsychotics. Abilify has a lesser chance of causing movement disorders like Tardive Dyskinesia, than say... Seroquel, or Geodon does. And has less weight gain than does Zyprexa. So they prescribe it more. So that's why they are using it. Plus, it cuts out the depression better.

I can attest to that, as when I stopped taking it just last month, I went into a severe, chronic depressive episode, myself. So I can speak to that, that's for sure.

That's all I found on the difference. I hope it helps. As always, talk to your doctor... as I'm sure NOT one! LOL!

Cat

Hi all,

I have been on prozac for 9 weeks now after switching over from paxil. I have been on abilify with both meds and tried to come off of it while on the paxil (big mistake). Anyway I was hoping on the prozac I could come off the abilify but once again it was a mistake! After I quit taking the abilify my anxiety went through the roof and I got real emotional, etc. I am only on a small dose but is it possible that this med helps that much with depression/anxiety? I thought I was taking it just for anxiety expecting to come off it soon but now I seem hooked! My pdoc says it is a good med but she is surprised that such a small amount works for me (5-10mg) but she thought I should go back on it so here I am. Unfortunately it costs a fortune and my insurance cap will run out before year end.

Has anyone else had trouble coming off or found that it worked really well for the depression/anxiety? I cant decided whether I need to increase my prozac or just stay on the prozac/abilify combo. Also, does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative to abilify that is less expensive? Sorry for rambling, its been a hard week,

Best wishes,
starr

The generic name is: Aripiprazole. Check it out with your doctor, or online. Maybe it's cheaper, I don't know... I'm not sure why they don't prescribe it more. Good luck

Hi,

Just FYI I checked and abilify is not available in generic in the US but it is overseas. It is still very expensive even in generic. I went back on my abiify a week ago after attempting to come off of it and I am feeling better. It seems to help with my anxiety. What are others using it for? I know it is an antipsychotic but my diagnosis is depression/anxiety. Thanks for any responses,

best wishes,
starr