Natasha1 Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Let's have a central area for how Abilify helps you or hinders you. You can include dosage and any details you would like to share. For me, I love this medication. I started at 2 mg and in the process of increasing to 5 mg. Finishing off my 2 mg prescription first as I have a ton of those left over, so I'm currently taking 4 mg. My doctor and I decided to increase my dose because of my paranoia. I have to say that the paranoia has drastically improved .It's still there, so there might be another increase in the future. I find that I can get so much done while I take it. But I never take it at night. Some people are prescribed for nighttime usage, but whoa, I'd never sleep if I did that! And I have trouble enough with sleeping without my sleep aid. How about you? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay89 Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 My psychiatrist wants me to try it as a low dose add on to my current anti-depressant regime but Ive been to hesitant to try it. I really worry about side effects and it seems that this med is either amazing or awful for people. Im so glad that its working for you and I wish you cont d success. You make me want to give it a shot! Any negative side effects you attribute to the abilify? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inbetween Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Abilify at 5mg, and even less at 2 and 1, in addition to Wellbutrin, kept me stable and worked well. No tiredness, brainfog, etc. However, Abilify has raised my blood sugar to diabetic level and raised my cholesterol and weight. I am getting off it now. I hope to god that the blood sugar level goes back down. It might not. I also have experienced some serious sexual dysfunction, but am unsure if it is PSSD or from the abilify. I have not been on a SSRI in a year, but it hasn't gotten better. Stopping it: I am currently relapsing with anxiety and depression, and I hope that it will go away. It can be difficult for some to get off- relapse of symptoms being one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha1 Posted February 10, 2017 Author Share Posted February 10, 2017 @jay89 no negative side effects for me except extreme fatigue in the very beginning. @Inbetween i remember reading about your side effects. i do hope it all normalizes for you!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamongirl031 Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I been feeling extreme fatigue since starting the abilify about three weeks ago, then the dose was recently doubled. Wondering if anyone can tell me how long the extreme fatigue lasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha1 Posted February 10, 2017 Author Share Posted February 10, 2017 for me it was a 2 to 3 weeks. i hope it lessens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude333 Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 It helped control my hallucinations. Now that my provider took it away, the hallucinations are coming back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha1 Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 @dude333 may i ask why it was taken away? no worries if it is personal. i am only looking at it from a helpful point of view for those who are considering Abilify. I am sorry to hear the hallucinations are returning. that sounds awful. have you let your provider know? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude333 Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 My provider, the Veterans Administration, has decided that I am faking symptoms for some reason. I don't know why they think that, it is just that a new doctor came in and convinced everyone that I was lying. I am not even getting increased benefits for shizophrenia or schizoaffective or whatever. I'm just getting benefits for depression, which they still agree that I have. I wasn't even told in person that they were taking the abilify away. I called because my refills ran out, and a nurse called back last week to say that I had to stop taking the abilify and that my prescription was discontinued. Now after 5 days, the hallucinations are returning and I have some withdrawal problems, but they don't believe anything I say anymore. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha1 Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 i saw your other thread and i hope that the suggestion given to you there will be a success. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha1 Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 i know @CoolCat7 you have had such a rough go with it :( hugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DethLepper Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 I've been on Abilify for about 4 months and it's gone through different phases. The first 3-4 weeks I was really drowsy during the day and then restless at night. My normally-depressive mood was somewhat better. The second month I was feeling great! I was really productive and generally positive, though I was eating alot of junk food. After that it tapered off. Right now I'm constantly anxious, unable to focus on anything and almost panicky at times. I'm glad it's heIping some people but I think it's run it's course for me. Fortunately I'm seeing my PDoc this week. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleep Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I've been on Abilify for about 4 months and it's gone through different phases. The first 3-4 weeks I was really drowsy during the day and then restless at night. My normally-depressive mood was somewhat better. The second month I was feeling great! I was really productive and generally positive, though I was eating alot of junk food. After that it tapered off. Right now I'm constantly anxious, unable to focus on anything and almost panicky at times. I'm glad it's heIping some people but I think it's run it's course for me. Fortunately I'm seeing my PDoc this week. Ah, I feel stupid for creating a topic about it. Please keep us updated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha1 Posted April 30, 2017 Author Share Posted April 30, 2017 4 minutes ago, Bleep said: Ah, I feel stupid for creating a topic about it. Please keep us updated! Please dont feel like that. Your experience is different as it is YOURS. You keep us updated too ok? And welcome to df 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleep Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 2 hours ago, CoolCat7 said: I am going to wean off Abilify. I'm still waking most mornings, but also I think this med has made me gain weight, possibly by giving me nausea - which is relieved however briefly by eating. Weight gain is a common side effect of Ability. I'm only on 1mg right now, but it's obviously still a problem. Too bad because it has given me some energy and motivation. I'm cutting the A in half for the next few weeks, then will be weaning off totally. Also planning to cut my Pristiq in half after we move back to our condo (been displaced by 20 months due to a fire). How long have you been taking abilify? I wish that it'd give me energy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HyperionMaster Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 nearly a year at 30mg and no side effects to speak of. Yes, it really did reduce my paranoia. Now we're adding some lithium to help with the suicidal thoughts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleep Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Remember when I complained about abilify? Well I love it now! It's definitely a help. My mood is stable, I can concentrate better and I'm more "normal" (I know more what to do and what not to do, helps preventing awkward situations). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyl Posted May 12, 2017 Share Posted May 12, 2017 When I was on Abilify, I took it as an adjunct with Effexor, I think, and also at a different time, with Lexapro. It is the only time I ever felt human. I had to stop taking it because I was no longer able to get samples and I can't afford it. :-( :-( :-( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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