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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 61. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 8, 2012, at 20:02:30
I've been on 5mg abilify for 2 weeks, and it's somewhat activating, so i'm getting more work done, but other than that (and some insomnia) it's not doing anything for my anhedonia or cognitive problems. it was actually more activating at 2mg. Does it work for anhedonia? should i up it or am i wasting my time? i'm also on 10 mg prozac (reduced after 20mg four weeks left me totally numb and didn't work at all as an AD) and 400 mg lamictal, which i've been on for years and is the only thing that's ever relieved my anhedonia, but it pooped out.
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 8, 2012, at 22:19:44
In reply to Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 8, 2012, at 20:02:30
I'm not an expert. I take 15-30 Abilify daily, depending on my level of crazy ("bipolar I" w/ lots of overlap with schizophrenia). I don't know what to say. Its...pretty much a tranquilizer.
I find it kind of odd that docs are using really expensive tranquilizers for what you describe. I don't understand. Again, I'm NOT an expert--just a patient--but I don't see how a neuroleptic could touch anhedonia.
Have you tried Ritalin, an amphetamine, or Pro/NuVigil?
Posted by Tomatheus on February 9, 2012, at 2:42:31
In reply to Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 8, 2012, at 20:02:30
n_shrimpie,
I take 5 mg of Abilify and have taken up to 10 mg of the medication, and I haven't noticed a reduction in the severity of my anhedonia since I've been on the drug. I don't know if Abilify might help others with anhedonia, but I just wanted to relate my experience with the medication as it relates to anhedonia.
Tomatheus
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 6:45:45
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by Christ_empowered on February 8, 2012, at 22:19:44
Abilify does reduce my anhedonia to some degree. In no way does Abilify feel like a tranquilizer to me. It actually energizes me and increases motivation.
- Scott
Posted by Emme-v2 on February 9, 2012, at 6:57:38
In reply to Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 8, 2012, at 20:02:30
Yes, abilify has been helpful for anhedonia for me. I only need 2.5 mg. At that dose, it's definitely not a tranquilizer.
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 6:59:20
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by Tomatheus on February 9, 2012, at 2:42:31
> n_shrimpie,
>
> I take 5 mg of Abilify and have taken up to 10 mg of the medication, and I haven't noticed a reduction in the severity of my anhedonia since I've been on the drug. I don't know if Abilify might help others with anhedonia, but I just wanted to relate my experience with the medication as it relates to anhedonia.
>
> TomatheusI forgot to mention that I take antidepressants along with Abilify. Without antidepressants, I don't know if Abilify would help improve my anhedonia. Probably not. Abilify can work well with Lamictal if you are trying to avoid antidepressants.
Perhaps I exaggerate in my mind the positive effects that I think Abilify has on my anhedonia. However, Abilify is the only AP that acts to stimulate dopamine D2/D3 receptors as a partial agonist. D3 receptors in the nucleus accumbens are thought to mediate feelings of pleasure and reward. Currently, there is a new drug being investigated as an antidepressant that is, like Abilify, a D2/D3 partial agonist. Designated OPC-34712, this drugs is a product of Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, the developer of Abilify.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on February 9, 2012, at 10:16:55
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 6:59:20
Scott sounds like they are now trying to combine meds instead of separate for depression and anxiety. But at what cost? Phillipa
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 10:44:19
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 6:59:20
> > n_shrimpie,
> >
> > I take 5 mg of Abilify and have taken up to 10 mg of the medication, and I haven't noticed a reduction in the severity of my anhedonia since I've been on the drug. I don't know if Abilify might help others with anhedonia, but I just wanted to relate my experience with the medication as it relates to anhedonia.
> >
> > Tomatheus
>
> I forgot to mention that I take antidepressants along with Abilify. Without antidepressants, I don't know if Abilify would help improve my anhedonia. Probably not. Abilify can work well with Lamictal if you are trying to avoid antidepressants.
>
> Perhaps I exaggerate in my mind the positive effects that I think Abilify has on my anhedonia. However, Abilify is the only AP that acts to stimulate dopamine D2/D3 receptors as a partial agonist. D3 receptors in the nucleus accumbens are thought to mediate feelings of pleasure and reward. Currently, there is a new drug being investigated as an antidepressant that is, like Abilify, a D2/D3 partial agonist. Designated OPC-34712, this drugs is a product of Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, the developer of Abilify.
>
>
> - ScottI read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward. i might just go back to the mao's and try selegeline instead of nardil, and maybe use the abilify to counteract the daytime exhaustion, though that doesn't address the insomnia and weight gain I had on Nardil.
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:05:18
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 10:44:19
> I read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward.
In a post? Do you think that you can find it for me?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:08:28
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:05:18
> > I read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward.
>
> In a post? Do you think that you can find it for me?
>
> Thanks.
Never mind. I'll poke around Google.
- Scott
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 11:12:01
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:08:28
> > > I read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward.
> >
> > In a post? Do you think that you can find it for me?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
>
> Never mind. I'll poke around Google.
>
>
> - ScottI'll find it shortly, was in a very recent thread.
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:14:42
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 10:44:19
> I read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward.
You are right. Thanks for correcting me. Abilify works as both an agonist and antagonist, depending on the structure where the neurons are located.
- Scott
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 11:20:01
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia » n_shrimpie, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:14:42
> > I read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward.
>
> You are right. Thanks for correcting me. Abilify works as both an agonist and antagonist, depending on the structure where the neurons are located.
>
>
> - Scotthere is the thread. So should I stop the Abilify if anhedonia/numbness is a primary symptom? that fact that it may make it worse scares me, as dos potential for weight loss, but I haven't taken it yet today and is much harder to get any work done. I need the motivation. It was motivating at 2mg so maybe i'll just lower it. my doc is going to want me to up it to give it a full trial, but won't if i tell her i have insomnia, which has actually abated on the 5mg. should i just lie and tell her i'm not sleeping so she doesn't pressure me to up the dosage? I'm so confused. Regardless, none of the dosages have cleared my cognitive problems.
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 11:20:40
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia » n_shrimpie, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:14:42
> > I read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward.
>
> You are right. Thanks for correcting me. Abilify works as both an agonist and antagonist, depending on the structure where the neurons are located.
>
>
> - Scotthere is the thread.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120202/msgs/1009744.html
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:39:29
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 11:20:01
> > > I read the opposite in another post; that abilify suppresses the type of dopamine that provides pleasure/reward.
> >
> > You are right. Thanks for correcting me. Abilify works as both an agonist and antagonist, depending on the structure where the neurons are located.
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
> here is the thread. So should I stop the Abilify if anhedonia/numbness is a primary symptom? that fact that it may make it worse scares me, as dos potential for weight loss, but I haven't taken it yet today and is much harder to get any work done. I need the motivation. It was motivating at 2mg so maybe i'll just lower it. my doc is going to want me to up it to give it a full trial, but won't if i tell her i have insomnia, which has actually abated on the 5mg. should i just lie and tell her i'm not sleeping so she doesn't pressure me to up the dosage? I'm so confused. Regardless, none of the dosages have cleared my cognitive problems.I have never heard of Abilify causing or making worse anhedonia. I have heard of it making one feel somewhat cognitively slowed like having "brain-fog" when the dosage is too high. I do find Abilify to be motivating, though. Abilify causes weight gain.
I wouldn't let your theoretical concern that increasing the dosage of Abilify will produce anhedonia keep you from experimenting with it further. I do well with 10 mg/day. Some people cannot tolerate 5 mg/day. If you feel that 2.5 mg/day is too much, you can either split pills or take 2.5 mg every other day. If it were *me*, I would increase the dosage of Abilify until you encounter negative cognitive side-effects or unacceptable anxiety. Perhaps you have already done this.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:41:31
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 11:20:40
> here is the thread.
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120202/msgs/1009744.html
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 11:41:57
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia » n_shrimpie, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:39:29
Thanks Scott. The weight gain is a dealbreaker. Does it cause weight gain with everyone, even at lower doses? Have you ever tried Selegeline?
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:52:50
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 11:41:57
> Thanks Scott. The weight gain is a dealbreaker. Does it cause weight gain with everyone, even at lower doses? Have you ever tried Selegeline?
I think the weight-gain is dosage-dependent. I'll have to ask a friend of mine about that. At 10 mg, I have gained 50 lbs, but the other drugs I take have contributed to this.
Selegeline did not help me, and actually made me somewhat dysphoric. I did not like the way I felt at all. I am taking Parnate now. It is helping.
- Scott
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 12:06:05
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia » n_shrimpie, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:52:50
Maybe i should give the parnate another go since I have atypical depression. how long did your side effects last?
Posted by ed_uk2010 on February 9, 2012, at 15:26:07
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia » n_shrimpie, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 11:52:50
>I am taking Parnate now. It is helping.
Have you ever taken more than 80mg? I don't know whether it would be beneficial, I just wondered.
>D2/D3
I think you might be interested in cariprazine.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20571978
There was a press release about it today...
US drugmaker Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) has announced positive preliminary top-line results from a Phase III clinical trial of cariprazine (RGH-188), an investigational antipsychotic agent, in patients with acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder. The drug is being developed with originator Gedeon Richter (RICHT: HB) of Hungary.
Also...
Cariprazine is also currently being investigated in clinical studies for patients with schizophrenia, bipolar depression, and as an adjunct treatment for Major Depressive Disorder.
Posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 15:39:02
In reply to Cariprazine » SLS, posted by ed_uk2010 on February 9, 2012, at 15:26:07
> >I am taking Parnate now. It is helping.
>
> Have you ever taken more than 80mg? I don't know whether it would be beneficial, I just wondered.
>
> >D2/D3
>
> I think you might be interested in cariprazine.
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20571978
>
> There was a press release about it today...
>
> US drugmaker Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) has announced positive preliminary top-line results from a Phase III clinical trial of cariprazine (RGH-188), an investigational antipsychotic agent, in patients with acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder. The drug is being developed with originator Gedeon Richter (RICHT: HB) of Hungary.
>
> Also...
>
> Cariprazine is also currently being investigated in clinical studies for patients with schizophrenia, bipolar depression, and as an adjunct treatment for Major Depressive Disorder.no, I never went above 80 on the parnate because I couldn't get through the initial month of side effects, but maybe i should try to stick it out and try again because i had a good response to Nardil. Do you have sleep issues with it? Is cariprazine available yet? i doubt i'll stay on the prozac, since i believe it contributes to my anhedonia and i ned to take an AD with the cariprazine since it's an adjunct, so i'm still looking for the right one.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on February 9, 2012, at 19:00:48
In reply to Re: Cariprazine, posted by n_shrimpie on February 9, 2012, at 15:39:02
>no, I never went above 80 on the parnate because I couldn't get through the initial month of side effects
Sorry, that bit was for SLS!
>Is cariprazine available yet?
Not yet unfortunately, it's in development.
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 19:24:41
In reply to Cariprazine » SLS, posted by ed_uk2010 on February 9, 2012, at 15:26:07
Thank you for posting the information about cariprazine, Ed. I probably would not have come across it myself.
> I think you might be interested in cariprazine.
This is big-time news to me.
I read that cariprazine has a lower affinity for D2/D3 receptors than does Abilify. I like this idea. It might make for a more tolerable drug with a wider therapeutic window. I am hoping that it wouldn't cause hypertriglyceridemia in me as does Abilify. Also, at higher dosages, cariprazine might not produce the cognitive impairments that are sometimes seen. Perhaps cariprazine would be less apt to produce akathisia. Anyway, I am excited about this drug.
> > I am taking Parnate now. It is helping.
> Have you ever taken more than 80mg? I don't know whether it would be beneficial, I just wondered.I have been up to 150 mg with Parnate. It was marginally more helpful than 80 mg. I would consider trying it again, now that other drugs are on-board.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk2010 on February 10, 2012, at 6:33:14
In reply to Re: Cariprazine - Great news, hopefully. » ed_uk2010, posted by SLS on February 9, 2012, at 19:24:41
>Anyway, I am excited about this drug.
There is information on the Gedeon Richter website. Fortunately, you can click to read in English. My Hungarian is a little rusty. Anyway, you can read about the trials here...
http://www.richter.hu/EN/Pages/Search.aspx?stype=F&query=cariprazine
It seems effective in bipolar mania and probably schizophrenia. They also have some preliminary data in MDD and bipolar depression.
Posted by SLS on February 10, 2012, at 7:39:24
In reply to Re: Cariprazine - Great news, hopefully. » SLS, posted by ed_uk2010 on February 10, 2012, at 6:33:14
> >Anyway, I am excited about this drug.
>
> There is information on the Gedeon Richter website. Fortunately, you can click to read in English. My Hungarian is a little rusty. Anyway, you can read about the trials here...
>
> http://www.richter.hu/EN/Pages/Search.aspx?stype=F&query=cariprazine
>
> It seems effective in bipolar mania and probably schizophrenia. They also have some preliminary data in MDD and bipolar depression.
Thanks, Ed.I reviewed the abstracts to be found on Medline/Pubmed relating to cariprazine. Rats and mice have unanimously endorsed its approval for human use.
But seriously...
The findings of this study are quite salient and worth a look:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21767587
Perhaps cariprazine will be less liable to produce the undesirable cognitive side effects that Abilify (aripiprazole) does in some people, especially at higher dosages. This is probably the result of cariprazine having a greater D3/D2 ratio of binding affinities when compared to Abilify. Perhaps this would increase treatment compliance with cariprazine when treating psychotic disorders and make the drug more tolerable for people using it for depression.
It seems to me that people who are treating MDD with Abilify are more likely to be intolerant of dosages above 2.5 mg/day when compared to people being treated for psychotic disorders. Anxiety and cognitive blunting appear to limit dosage increases. I don't see that this is so much of an issue with people treating bipolar depression. I could be wrong.
I learned recently that 5-HT1a agonism mitigates EPS. Both Abilify and cariprazine have this property. So do Geodon, Latuda, and Saphris. I don't know if akathisia was taken into consideration, though. Abilify does seem to produce akathisia more often than the other atypical antipsychotics.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20571976
Sorry to ramble.
- Scott
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