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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 14 to 38 of 38. Go back in thread:
Posted by missinglynxx on February 16, 2003, at 2:53:48
In reply to Re: Abilifys #1 side effect is.......... » missinglynxx, posted by laurarn on February 15, 2003, at 12:06:15
Well IM assuming you have drug coverage with your insurance plan,, I would try the Abilify. its both an agonist of Dopamine (where it is TOO low) and blocks it in areas of the brain where it is too high.. ITS very high Tech
The Japanese discovered it ----> Otsuka is the Manufacturer in cahoots with Bristol Meyers Squibb
On test subjects there was no weight gain over 6 weeks, I find It doesnt make me talk too much, but I do enjoy people more . Im hypercritical .Plus I have that *everyone is out for my money * mentality. Try the Abilify,,, it might be right up your alley Take care
Posted by missinglynxx on February 16, 2003, at 2:57:16
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » utopizen, posted by megg on February 15, 2003, at 17:29:02
Thats a good scheme Utopizen. I split mine with a knife and take it twice a day...I loathe the price..I want MY MONEYS WORTH,,, I dont have Michael Douglas's Stock Portfolio,
Posted by utopizen on February 16, 2003, at 9:26:54
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by missinglynxx on February 16, 2003, at 2:57:16
> Thats a good scheme Utopizen. I split mine with a knife and take it twice a day...I loathe the price..I want MY MONEYS WORTH,,, I dont have Michael Douglas's Stock Portfolio,
>>I have a PPO (premium, non-HMO thing) and even with it I get charged $25/month-- very few drugs are $25 co-pays for me.
I suggest a $4 investment in a pill cutter. It still won't cut perfectly in half because Abilify isn't scored for some reason, but it's better than hacking it. good luck! I'm still waiting for it to "kick in".
Posted by missinglynxx on February 16, 2003, at 9:38:53
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by utopizen on February 16, 2003, at 9:26:54
> > Thats a good scheme Utopizen. I split mine with a knife and take it twice a day...I loathe the price..I want MY MONEYS WORTH,,, I dont have Michael Douglas's Stock Portfolio,
> >>
>
> I have a PPO (premium, non-HMO thing) and even with it I get charged $25/month-- very few drugs are $25 co-pays for me.
>
> I suggest a $4 investment in a pill cutter. It still won't cut perfectly in half because Abilify isn't scored for some reason, but it's better than hacking it. good luck! I'm still waiting for it to "kick in".
>Sure I understand . well if this is any consolation, I had the best day Ive had in 6 months, partly due to the Abilify. This occured about the 7th day that I was :on: this medication at 15 mgs a day. I assume you take 10 or 15....Hopefully you will stay Lean and mean on the Abilify..HOPE it helps cure you, Utopizen!@@@
Posted by Jeff Oblivion on February 18, 2003, at 13:04:43
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » utopizen, posted by missinglynxx on February 16, 2003, at 9:38:53
I have been taking Abilify for over a week now. I am taking 15mgs once a day. Is this a really low dose? It made me drowsy right after I took it for the first two days. Now it doesn't have many side effects at all. It feels like I'm not taking anything, which is exactly how I would like for my medication to feel. But I am wondering. Is 15mgs too small of a dose? I have schizoaffective disorder bipolartype and am on Trileptal as well. Thank you.
Posted by SLS on February 18, 2003, at 16:32:55
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by Jeff Oblivion on February 18, 2003, at 13:04:43
> I have been taking Abilify for over a week now. I am taking 15mgs once a day. Is this a really low dose? It made me drowsy right after I took it for the first two days. Now it doesn't have many side effects at all. It feels like I'm not taking anything, which is exactly how I would like for my medication to feel. But I am wondering. Is 15mgs too small of a dose? I have schizoaffective disorder bipolartype and am on Trileptal as well. Thank you.
Hi Jeff.My experience with Abilify has been exactly the same as yours. I started taking it three days ago at 20mg. I don't really notice any side-effects right now, with the possible exception of increased appetite. We'll see where that goes. I hope it treats me better than Zyprexa in that regard. I gained 20 pounds on Zyprexa in three weeks. Also, I experienced some itching yesterday and the day before. It's pretty much gone now.
I have a treatment-resistant chronic bipolar depression. I'm using Abilify for its antidepressant effects. How about you?
Here's what it says in the drug monograph / package insert:
****************************************
Usual Dose
The recommended starting and target dose for ABILIFY is 10 or 15 mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals. ABILIFY has been systematically evaluated and shown to be effective in a dose range of 10 to 30 mg/day; however, doses higher than 10 or 15 mg/day, the lowest doses in these trials, were not more effective than 10 or 15 mg/day. Dosage increases should not be made before 2 weeks, the time needed to achieve steady state.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/abilify_ids.htm
****************************************
Good luck with Abilify!
- Scott
Posted by missinglynxx on February 18, 2003, at 18:24:02
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » Jeff Oblivion, posted by SLS on February 18, 2003, at 16:32:55
Thats exciting Scott that your MD prescribed Abilify.. I take 15 mgs per day,,, Broken into 2 pieces >> You might want to divide it ?
for a more intense reaction. The side effects are ONES I can deal with,,,,!! love that.
Good luck with you health, Scott
Posted by Jeff Oblivion on February 18, 2003, at 21:40:03
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » Jeff Oblivion, posted by SLS on February 18, 2003, at 16:32:55
>
> Hi Jeff.
>
> My experience with Abilify has been exactly the same as yours. I started taking it three days ago at 20mg. I don't really notice any side-effects right now, with the possible exception of increased appetite. We'll see where that goes. I hope it treats me better than Zyprexa in that regard. I gained 20 pounds on Zyprexa in three weeks. Also, I experienced some itching yesterday and the day before. It's pretty much gone now.
>
> I have a treatment-resistant chronic bipolar depression. I'm using Abilify for its antidepressant effects. How about you?
>
> Here's what it says in the drug monograph / package insert:
>
> ****************************************
>
> Usual Dose
>
> The recommended starting and target dose for ABILIFY is 10 or 15 mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals. ABILIFY has been systematically evaluated and shown to be effective in a dose range of 10 to 30 mg/day; however, doses higher than 10 or 15 mg/day, the lowest doses in these trials, were not more effective than 10 or 15 mg/day. Dosage increases should not be made before 2 weeks, the time needed to achieve steady state.
>
> http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/abilify_ids.htm
>
> ****************************************
>
>
> Good luck with Abilify!
>
>
> - Scott
Thank you for the monograph information, Scott. I should have kept the one that came with my bottle, but I didn't really think about it. I just threw the bag away.
Anyway, I'm taking Abilify to help with hallucinations, mostly auditory. I'm also hoping it will work with my trileptal to keep the bipolar aspect of my schizoaffective disorder in check. It gave me the urge to start exercising again, which is good because I have been really lazy lately. It's only been 3 days since I have been back on my workout routine after, I would say, about 3 months. The funny thing that, after I exercise, instead of getting a high from it, I just feel kind of tired and maybe even a little depressed. It's pretty weird because that's not how I remember my body reacting to a good work out. It might be because I have become so out of shape in the last three months, just sitting there at my computer for twelve hours a day. That's not much more exercise than sleeping and eating all day. So maybe that will get better as time goes on or I will just get use to it. I'm not going to stop working out nor quit the abilify. I only remembered to mention that in this post because I just finished exercising not too long ago.
So Abilify is making you hungry, huh? I think I noticed something like that at first. It's not as bad as zyprexa was to me though. I can handle eating a more normally now. I am determined to lose the weight I gained with zyprexa, around 40 pounds.
Well good luck with the Abilify, yourself, and take care. It's a good thing the itching went away too.-Jeff
Posted by SLS on February 18, 2003, at 21:47:03
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » SLS, posted by missinglynxx on February 18, 2003, at 18:24:02
> Thats exciting Scott that your MD prescribed Abilify.. I take 15 mgs per day,,, Broken into 2 pieces >> You might want to divide it ?
My doctor said that the side effects of Abilify are not dosage-dependent. He thought it logical to go right for the target dosage, especially since it takes quite a while for it to reach steady-state levels. So far, he seems to be right.The mean elimination half-life for Abilify is 75 hours (146 hours for poor metabolizers). For this reason, once-a-day dosing is recommended.
How have you been doing?
Take care.
- Scott
Posted by ShelliR on February 18, 2003, at 22:03:41
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » missinglynxx, posted by SLS on February 18, 2003, at 21:47:03
My doctor called in cogentin last night, but my street's not plowed yet, so I can't get it from the pharmacy. Has anyone else added cogentin to abilify? My insides are shakey both from abilify, then straterra and I can't settle down to do any work, read, etc. Does anyone use cogentin for shakiness anymore. Neither valium or klonopin did anything, but I never heard cogentin mentioned on this board. (btw, he prescribed it at my request).
Shelli
Posted by xjs7 on February 18, 2003, at 22:27:46
In reply to Re: Abilify and cogentin, posted by ShelliR on February 18, 2003, at 22:03:41
I use Cogentin 1 mg BID and it works great for tremor (which I have naturally and is not drug-induced), and EPS (which is from my Geodon). I have been on Cogentin for 10 months and highly recommend it for shaking and stiffness, drug-induced or not drug-induced. I tried a benzodiazepine (Ativan) first and it didn't work on the tremor at all. I hope this helps.
xjs7
Posted by missinglynxx on February 19, 2003, at 1:25:02
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » missinglynxx, posted by SLS on February 18, 2003, at 21:47:03
> > Thats exciting Scott that your MD prescribed Abilify.. I take 15 mgs per day,,, Broken into 2 pieces >> You might want to divide it ?
>
>
> My doctor said that the side effects of Abilify are not dosage-dependent. He thought it logical to go right for the target dosage, especially since it takes quite a while for it to reach steady-state levels. So far, he seems to be right.
>
> The mean elimination half-life for Abilify is 75 hours (146 hours for poor metabolizers). For this reason, once-a-day dosing is recommended.
>
> How have you been doing?
>
> Take care.
>
>
> - Scott
>
How am I doing. Oh Im a little discouraged. Like when the tight end drops the ball going for the goal Line. I took a few BUSPAR as part of my "grand experiment". Friggin mix made me Paranoid for 5 hours. THEN I lifted weights to get it out of my system.........For some reason that Stampede insident really upset me. I hate accidents (freak ONES)
I guess I can relate to accidents LOL, having taken Lexapro and nearly falling down from its Power... your basic Nitroglycerine.
well Ill go watch Exorcist III with George C Scott.. it caught my eye,
You guys recover soon!
Posted by ShelliR on February 19, 2003, at 9:43:56
In reply to Re: Cogentin » ShelliR, posted by xjs7 on February 18, 2003, at 22:27:46
Posted by cybercafe on February 20, 2003, at 0:24:06
In reply to Re: Abilify and cogentin, posted by ShelliR on February 18, 2003, at 22:03:41
> My doctor called in cogentin last night, but my street's not plowed yet, so I can't get it from the pharmacy. Has anyone else added cogentin to abilify? My insides are shakey both from abilify, then straterra and I can't settle down to do any work, read, etc. Does anyone use cogentin for shakiness anymore. Neither valium or klonopin did anything, but I never heard cogentin mentioned on this board. (btw, he prescribed it at my request).
>
> Shellioh shelli do you have bipolar and ADHD as well?
how do you find abilify is for concentration/inattentiveness?
Posted by ShelliR on February 20, 2003, at 2:27:32
In reply to Re: Abilify and cogentin, posted by cybercafe on February 20, 2003, at 0:24:06
> oh shelli do you have bipolar and ADHD as well?
> how do you find abilify is for concentration/inattentiveness?Not bipolar; severe unipolar depression for years--controlled by nardil. Then nardil pooped out, probably has to do with perimentapausal hormones. I have some symptoms of ADHA, but tested negative. More important, stimulents all made me feel like hell. I do have DD, nos and some of the characteristics are similar to ADHA.
The abilify did nothing for my concentration because it felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin.
Shelli
Posted by cybercafe on February 20, 2003, at 23:53:09
In reply to Re: Abilify and cogentin » cybercafe, posted by ShelliR on February 20, 2003, at 2:27:32
>
> > oh shelli do you have bipolar and ADHD as well?
> > how do you find abilify is for concentration/inattentiveness?
>
> Not bipolar; severe unipolar depression for years--controlled by nardil. Then nardil pooped out, probably has to do with perimentapausal hormones. I have some symptoms of ADHA, but tested negative. More important, stimulents all made me feel like hell. I do have DD, nos and some of the characteristics are similar to ADHA.
>
> The abilify did nothing for my concentration because it felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin.
>
> Shellioh ... what's ADHA and DD?
Posted by ShelliR on February 23, 2003, at 11:18:28
In reply to Re: Abilify and cogentin, posted by cybercafe on February 20, 2003, at 23:53:09
>
> oh ... what's ADHA and DD?I meant ADHD (Attention deficit hypoactivity syndrome).
DD is dissociative disorder, nos (non-specified). I have different parts inside (children of different ages) who have their own personalities and the voices sound like children's, not like mine as an adult. Almost all the time I am conscious when they talk and I don't lose time or I would be diagnosed as DID (dissociative identity disorder)--the old name was multiple personality disorder.
> > > how do you find abilify is for concentration/inattentiveness?
I don't know if I'm feeling any effects of abilify yet since I had stopped it, then just restarted two days ago at 7.5 mg. My concentration has been horrible, but Thursday my dad had a horrible allergic reaction to chemotherapy (he has lung cancer) and he's now in intensive care, not breathing on his own. It was so sudden and I'm out of town at my mom's right now, so everything feels out of wack.
Shelli
Posted by Ashlar on November 22, 2003, at 4:26:32
In reply to Re: Abilify and cogentin » cybercafe, posted by ShelliR on February 23, 2003, at 11:18:28
Hi
I began using abilify 15 mg 3 days ago, for auditory hallucinations, and i cant sleep. im sooo tired yet i cant sleep. i get a couple of hours each day. i just took my 4th tablet now...does this drug work?? anyone with auditory hallucinations can tell me? i lost my job and my social life because of this crap, i hope this stuff works.
Posted by Ashlar on December 1, 2003, at 6:35:05
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by Jeff Oblivion on February 18, 2003, at 13:04:43
Im getting off this abilify. i never felt worst in my whole life.
Posted by MommyDevil on December 5, 2003, at 12:27:02
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by Ashlar on December 1, 2003, at 6:35:05
My daughter (13) just started taking Abilify a week ago and seems to be responsive to it but also seems sick (physically). Although her symptoms come and go...she has an upset tummy when she eats, a low grade fever, sweats and headache, plus she is tired. I am curious if anyone else has had bad side effects like this. She has missed almost a week of school and I am considering just taking her off everything. She also takes Zoloft 150mg daily. Any advice???
Posted by raisedbywolves on April 14, 2005, at 20:22:05
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by MommyDevil on December 5, 2003, at 12:27:02
I have just started Abilify, in addition to my longtime prescriptions for Paxil and Trazadone.
My first 15mg dose was seven days ago and I felt effects almost immediately - took it at bedtime, couldn't get to sleep, real fidgety, "crazy legs," couldn't get comfortable. The next day (maybe I was loopy from no sleep, or ...) I acted out quite a bit, making faces, dancing around, sing-song-y voice, etc. After the next night I called the MD and she recommended 1/2-ing the dose to 7.5mg. It's better, but I still have the fidgets, day and night. Muscle stiffness is also a problem, and lower back pain I've been able to manage before is now becoming unmanageable. On the "up(?)" side, where I once was dangerously shy around strangers, now I find myself chatting up almost everyone I meet. I *think* most people find it charming, but my roommate (who is the original chatter-upper of the world) say I embarrass her. Maybe she's jealous?
Anyway, I am to call my MD tomorrow and report how the lower dosage is doing. I hope she doesn't reduce it further because I am currently quartering a 30mg pill as it is.
Posted by banga on April 16, 2005, at 7:19:10
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by raisedbywolves on April 14, 2005, at 20:22:05
I cannot even imagine what 15 mg straight would feel. I started at 5mg, and even that gave me side effects. I went down to 2.5, i a few days it was better.
I am not sure why this medication is not titrated up slower--it is quite powerful, I noted that given a week the side effects diappeared. I would theorize that someone if titrated slowly would have much less side effects. This medication is also sold at 2mg tablets--there must be a reason for such a small dose! It measn even 2mg can help. So why would someone immediately give 15mg??
Posted by lois on April 17, 2005, at 9:00:12
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by raisedbywolves on April 14, 2005, at 20:22:05
I started with 10 mgs and noticed being less shy right away, but had tiredness and problems with my voice and swallowing. On 5 both are better and I still have the positive effects.
Lois
Posted by raisedbywolves on April 17, 2005, at 17:45:40
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by banga on April 16, 2005, at 7:19:10
> I cannot even imagine what 15 mg straight would feel. I started at 5mg, and even that gave me side effects. I went down to 2.5, i a few days it was better.
> I am not sure why this medication is not titrated up slower--it is quite powerful, I noted that given a week the side effects diappeared. I would theorize that someone if titrated slowly would have much less side effects. This medication is also sold at 2mg tablets--there must be a reason for such a small dose! It measn even 2mg can help. So why would someone immediately give 15mg??> I am doing somewhat better on 7.5 but continue to fidget - can't stand, sit, or lie still for more than a few seconds. Two good effects so far: I am again able to read a complete article (up until yesterday could not keep my eyes focused nor sit still long enough) - which is great since reading is my favorite thing; my singing voice has returned to its previous quality (maybe even better!) and that's good because singing is my second favorite. Now, let's see if I can stand to watch an entire movie on DVD . . .
Anyway, it seems that the fidgeting is the only negative so far. Let's hope it fades real soon.
Posted by empty inside on April 19, 2005, at 18:35:48
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by raisedbywolves on April 17, 2005, at 17:45:40
I seem to have the opposite effects as everyone here -- when I take my 10mg dose I always feel an overwhelming need to take a nap and usually do nod off but not for too long (the tiredness does wear off pretty quick). But it doesn't keep me up at night I don't think. I take it in the morning though though so I guess I can't be SURE... all I know is I am kept awake at night but I am 99% sure it is my Wellbutrin because i was on it before the Abilify and had the sleep problems prior to Abilify. Plus, I have been an insomniac for ages. I really like Abilify. I think it helps a lot to stabilize my moods, and I don't even have that drastic of mood swings, as I have unipolar not bipolar depression. When I was taking Adderall it helped immensely with the "comedowns" of it -- I didn't feel suicidal like I used to feel when the adderall wore off.
This is the end of the thread.
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