netsavy006 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I am still having akathisia from the Abilify. My dosage was recently reduced from 12.5mg to 5mg. I know it's going to take time for the higher dose to clear out of my system, but here's the deal. Even on 1mg of Abilify (taking the 2mg and splitting them), I was still having the akathisia. I really want to get off of the Abilify and remain on my prescious Zyprexa Zydis 5mg. I least I don't get akathisia on Zyprexa Zydis. I don't have an appt until March 3rd but I don't think I could last that long. She won't be back in her office till at least Monday. What should I do to at least last till Monday? What should I do/say on Monday when I call in to my doctor? I really just want off of this stuff, not a reduction in dosage... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I am still having [link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akathisia" target="_blank]akathisia[/link] from the Abilify. My dosage was recently reduced from 12.5mg to 5mg. I know it's going to take time for the higher dose to clear out of my system, but here's the deal. Even on 1mg of Abilify (taking the 2mg and splitting them), I was still having the akathisia. I really want to get off of the Abilify and remain on my prescious Zyprexa Zydis 5mg. I least I don't get akathisia on Zyprexa Zydis. I don't have an appt until March 3rd but I don't think I could last that long. She won't be back in her office till at least Monday. What should I do to at least last till Monday? What should I do/say on Monday when I call in to my doctor? I really just want off of this stuff, not a reduction in dosage... There isn't too much that you can do until Monday unfortunately. Just try to brave through it as much as you can. Since this is your 5th trial on Abilify, and the 5th unsuccessful trial, you need to tell your doctor that the Abilify needs to be dropped and it needs to be dropped permanently. If she insists on keeping you on it, then insist on her prescribing Inderal to you, as we talked about on Crazymeds. There is no reason for anyone to suffer through Akathisia. It's one of the worst feelings that a person can feel. If she mentions some nonsense about the cogentin and the artane, tell her that it is doing nothing for you. No responsible doctor will continue to keep a patient on a medication that is causing severe side effects. From what you've mentioned on Crazymeds, it seems like there may be some communication issues between you and your doc. So let me just repeat for emphasis. - When you talk to your doctor, explain to her in clear and concise terms that you no longer want to be on Abilify. - If your doctor says that she wants to keep you on it because she thinks that it is helping you, explain to her in clear and concise terms that the akathisia is unbearable. - If she states that the cogentin and artane should be helping the akathisia, tell her in clear and concise terms that the cogentin and artane are doing nothing for the akathisia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Thanks for the information Russ. I didn't know you were also a part of this site too. I'm glad though. I try to communicate as best I can with the pdoc. She did reduce from 12.5mg a day to 5mg a day and did let me change back to Zyprexa Zydis (my old, old, medication) so I'm glad she made that big a move. But it is still not helping. Mom tells me that I should continue to take the 5mg per day and wait until I see my pdoc until March 3rd (my appt) and let her know then that I want to drop the Abilify. But I don't think I could last that long. I try the best I can to manage the akathsia. I've been doing more walking around and it bothers me a lot. Mom says I focus too much on it and that's why it might be as bad as it is. I've told my Mom, it's getting to be too much for me and she tells me to stop. I just wish I had a good plan for being able to get off the Abilify for good. I really want to call on Monday but I don't know if Mom would let me call my pdoc then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunshineOutside Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I take Amantadin to counteract the Akathesia from Abilify. It does work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 Well I called a hotline number related to the mental health clinic I go to and I spoke to a pdoc that works there. He told me I could discontinue Abilify and just inform my regular pdoc via phone on Monday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel1 Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 I took Abilify for a short time. A short time in akathesia hell. And My pdoc didn't quite "get it" that akathesia is so horrible to experience. I guess the pdocs should be more informed on akathesia so they can take it more seriously. I hated Abilify. Yes, the 15 mg. dosage I was put on in the hospital when i was severely depressed made me ramp up to super-happy in about a day. But, I could never sleep on it, even with taking ambien (of course, it was TEVA!). And taking me cold turkey off seroquel, which they think is ok because you are going on another AAP, made me very ill. But at least i didn't want to die! I guess that's something. BTW, is it just me, or is it weird that on the Abilify commercials, they never once mention it is an antipsychotic?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 That is weird, but isn't also weird that they warn you of the some of the more potential "dangerous" side effects, but not the "common" ones like I know they mention: NMS, TD, diabetes/hyperglycemia, elderly dementia patients and stroke, dizziness upon standing, seizures, impaired judgment, or motor skills, but nothing more than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debiz Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I was on Abilify for about a year and developed severe tremors from it. I didn't realize it was the cause until I went to a neurologist about the problem. Several APs I've tried have done the same thing to me so I guess an AP med is just not for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papertrees Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I just saw an ad for abilify and they do not mention that it is an antipsychotic. I wonder why too. It just says "it's a presciption medication." Maybe they're trying to avoid the stigma? I dunno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&P Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I just spent the weekend with a patient tortured by her akathesia. It's one of the most unbearable experiences I can imagine. In rounds, I had to point the akathesia out to pdoc and remind him that it's torturous. Only then did he decrease her Zydis. I don't think treaters realize how awful it is unless they've watched a patient pace for 12 hours while crying because they HAD to move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunshineOutside Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I just spent the weekend with a patient tortured by her akathesia. It's one of the most unbearable experiences I can imagine. In rounds, I had to point the akathesia out to pdoc and remind him that it's torturous. Only then did he decrease her Zydis. I don't think treaters realize how awful it is unless they've watched a patient pace for 12 hours while crying because they HAD to move. I've been through that when I was on Abilify at 15mg. We've decreased to 5mg now. That with the Amantadine has completely resolved it. God, it was a horrible time going through that! Sunshine Outside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Well, having been off of Abilify for 2 days hasn't even resolved mine yet, but I'm still waiting for a call back from my doctor today. I made a call to her secretary this morning explaining the situation and asking for a call back from her. I'm just glad that when under 10mg/day of Zyprexa, I don't get akathisia or any other EPS side effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Got the call back and I have an appt to see her tomorrow @ 1:40. I hope things go smoothly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 She told me I can't do the 1:1 therapy because I have to many goals and the goals always seem to relate to meds so I'm without therapy. This is how she explained it to me. In regards to the anxiety and restlessness, she explained that there is a medication that she prescribes in low doses for people in the autism spectrum that helps called Moban, and I'm like in my head 'not another medication', then Mom (she was with me @ my appt thank god), said that maybe the Artane could be increasing the anxiety and why might I need it since I'm off of Abilify. The doctor noticed and agreed that since I'm not on Abilify anymore that I don't need the strong dose of Artane. So she cut my Artane dose in half. I will instead of taking 2mg TID, be taking 1mg TID. This she said we will try for one week until my next appt (3/3) and if my anxiety doesn't improve, then we will add the low dose Moban into the mix. (I'm off of Abilify hopefully for good.) Thanks for reading and please keep comments/feedback coming, Andy... (So here's my new (current) mix: Topamax 100mg @ AM + bedtime Valium 5mg @ AM, 4pm, bedtime Artane 1mg @ AM, 4pm, bedtime Zyprexa Zydis 5mg @ bedtime Lunesta 3mg PRN) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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