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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ruby on September 4, 2010, at 13:13:58
Hi all--
Wondering about those of you who've come off abilify. I went off it just over a month ago, tritrating my dosage down over three weeks. It all was pretty seamless...for about 20 days. Then I started a very slow slip towards depression, which became more intense and rapid at the start of this week. I'm wondering if this downward slide is a result of going off the abilify or something else.
My pdoc is on vacation until Tuesday and I was so desperate that I just started myself back on abilify and my mood has improved somewhat.
Just wondering if others have had this sort of experience coming off abilify...where the negative reaction doesn't come for a few weeks.
Thanks.
Ruby
Posted by ed_uk2010 on September 4, 2010, at 14:02:06
In reply to Abilify withdrawal experiences, posted by Ruby on September 4, 2010, at 13:13:58
>a very slow slip towards depression
Assuming that you've suffered from depression before, this does sound more like a relapse than a withdrawal syndrome. I think you were right to restart Abilify until you see your pdoc.
In general, drug withdrawal syndromes tend to be characterised by other symptoms ie. not 'just' depression. You might experience symptoms such as nausea and restlessness.
Posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2010, at 17:17:35
In reply to Re: Abilify withdrawal experiences, posted by ed_uk2010 on September 4, 2010, at 14:02:06
Agree with above. Think you did the right thing. Phillipa
Posted by Ruby on September 4, 2010, at 17:36:26
In reply to Re: Abilify withdrawal experiences, posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2010, at 17:17:35
Thanks, both of you. I'm in a pretty stressful position right now and it is also the one year anniversary of when I was hospitalized for depression--and 9/11 is looming (I was way too close to everything that happened that day...ptsd). Hard to tell what is circumstantial, and what is chemical. This definitely had a chemical/physical component to it--lack of interest in anything, slight nausea, super fatigue, overwhelming amounts of shame, yuck--all the nasties came out.
I wrote about a month ago about my pdoc wanting to put me on a low dosage of lithium, which I'm pretty resistant to...only have one kidney. But my pdoc is very very good and I know I probably need to trust her.
Anyway...I was just going to say thanks.
Posted by emmanuel98 on September 4, 2010, at 19:21:35
In reply to Abilify withdrawal experiences, posted by Ruby on September 4, 2010, at 13:13:58
I got depressed within days of stopping abilify but that's because abilify was a potent and fast acting anti-depressant for me. Maybe you're just getting depressed again.
Posted by Conundrum on September 8, 2010, at 23:45:44
In reply to Re: Abilify withdrawal experiences, posted by Ruby on September 4, 2010, at 17:36:26
I'll be stopping soon as well after being on it for around a month since it isn't helping. In the beginning it was stimulating, so hopefully I won't be too tired after stopping it.
This is the end of the thread.
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