Loon-A-TiK Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 hiya- as it reads in my signature, i take WB as my AD, lamictal as my main mood stabilizer, and abilify as my anti-manic agent right now for bipolar disorder. i know that they're pushing AAPs as monotherapy right now, and don't know yet (it is too early in my treatment) if it could be possible to possibly drop the WB and lamictal and just use abilify, but my thoughts are going there. i'd like to regain some IQ points and save my internal organs as much as possible, IF possible. have any of you tried abilify monotherapy? what do you think of it? is it good for bipolar people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 they are? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barara Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 I have schizophrenia and i take only 30 mg abilify (maximum dossage) and i feel pretty well, but i guess im lucky guy cause this isnt working for other peoples. My liver have some problems as i discover this days but i need to make more tests before i make a decision. Well im not an expert but i preffer to keep it as simple as possible...one drug at a time.(well i want another one but i cant get my hand on it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny Century Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 from what i've read abilify works best at keeping mania at bay, not at stopping it mid manic... so i think the answer to this question depends upon how stable you are. i thought i read somewhere that you had issues w abilify? or was that godeon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dweii Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 How are you feeling right now? Have you felt a difference since starting Abilify? How were you feeling before the Abilify? I know it's tempting to only be on one med, I've thought a lot about that with Geodon. I decided it's not worth it right now. Maybe when I've been stable for a looong time. It would be taking a risk, and the question is if you're willing to take that risk. I didn't feel anything from Abilify, not even side effects, so I guess I'm a bit biased. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 pc- i had the worst side effects from geodon. i was put on a high dose of abilify rather quickly and had some mixed episode issues from it. my pdoc thinks we can go slower and lighter with it and see how i react to that before giving up on it. so far so good. i don't know how to describe it other than that it feels "light". i guess i'm used to the heavier atypicals and abilify is a different animal. dweii- i haven't been stable for TOO long, but i'm having problems with hormones (hopefully resolved with recent med changes) and my pdoc and gp are both worried about my liver. my pdoc would like to cut down on the drugs i take just to be on the safe side physically, if i can handle it psychologically. my WB was just dropped to 150, and if i tolerate it, we'll drop it altogether for now, unless i need it again. i just went through some major med changes so i think i'll have to wait until the dust settles before i know what is working and what isn't. he decided to just do it at once because of the physical issues. right now i feel like trash because my body is adjusting to all these changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyGwen Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Heyyyyyyyy Loon! we're on almost the same cocktail! Sub effexor for Welly! yay! I like my cocktail. I think the abilify curtailed my mania, unless it was situational or something. Who the fuck knows. But I'm not manic now. Good/bad. I feel like I'm wearing a mood hat. Or a mood glass elevator. I can see the hyperactivity, but can't quite reach it. Apt getting dirtier... more sleepy.... may be heading down... again - who the fuck knows. Don't switch dicks in the middle of a screw. Or, don't switch something up that's working. Or it may go all soft on you. Your brain, not the dick. Although that could happen too depending on what you're on. Blah blah blah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waterfall Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Your cocktail is exactly the same as mine, except I just stopped the Abilfy on my own. I don't feel any different since getting off it. I need my mood stabilizer and my Wellbutrin (SSRI's make me manic as hell). Personally, I wouldn't recommend Abilfy monotherapy if you are bipolar. It is not a mood stabilizer. And many bipolars generally NEED a mood stabilizer in the form of an antiepileptic. It calms down the excess electricity in the brain that causes the severe mood swings. My seventeen year old is on Abilfy monotherapy. She is diagnosed with psychotic disorder and mood disorder, among other things like mental retardation and an underactive thyroid which she is treated for. It seems to be the only med that has worked for her. Her moods swing like the wind though. I personally think she is bipolar and could use a good stabilizer like Lamictal. Anyway, all you can do is try it and see if monotherapy is right for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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