int23 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I'm going to start Abilify 2.5mg tomorrow to add on top of my 1200mg/day (600 BID) Trileptal to get my hypo/mania to chill out. I've heard great things and horror stories about Abilify. Mostly the horror stories here, though. I am hoping that this might help keep my erratic behavior in check and give me energy without turning me into a crackhead. Can anyone share their personal, honest experiences with the drug? I'm titrating up slowly. 10 days at 2.5mg and if I can tolerate or think it's needed 5mg then 10mg. But my pdoc want's to be ultra-conservative and just see if we can take the edge off of the hypo/manic side of me. I was at 1800mg of Trileptal 1.5 600mg BID. I had a lot of problems with sluggishness all day, blurred vision, TD, anxiety attacks, and my moods were shitty. I wouldn't swing as hard but my manic side was really bad. I turned down 4 dates when I was on it because I thought they were ugly people. (In reality they were gorgeous), and I just kept talking out of my ass. Dropped the Trileptal to 1200mg and things are much better. Also should be noted at 1800mg of Trileptal I experienced one of my first bouts of Depression/Suicidal thinking. I've only had this a few times in my life. Any idea why it happened when I uppsed the Trileptal? Either way, dose is lowered and I'm trying Abilify. It's a Friday, have a lot of work to day, hopefully won't interfere with a normal workday (Yah right). Wish me luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowen Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I took it for...five months, I think. I stopped because I was pregnant. I might end up going back on it - we'll see. If I'm having mood issues, I tend to be depressed or on the depressed end of mixed, FWIW. I started taking it after an episode of AD-induced euphoric hypomania. It seemed to help, but it took longer than some drugs might. The side effects weren't that bad. I felt kind of flu-ish for the first three weeks. I was sleepy for maybe the first week and a half (I get that when starting most meds, so I don't think it was an Abilify-only thing). I had carb cravings for maybe the first month. I gained five pounds that wouldn't come off. Nothing major. I did feel less sharp cognitively and like my emotions were a little blunted, but it wasn't enough to make me want to discontinue the drug. The big problem I did have was that I couldn't go over 2.5 mg without getting akathesia. It turned out that 2.5 mg was fine (I'm a cheap date when it comes to drugs), so it worked out anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mika Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I did 3 trials. It reeled me back in a couple times, yes. I kept wanting it to work. The akathesia was too much and the weight gain bothered me as well. My doctor is very convincing so who knows, I may be on it again. Not likely though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
int23 Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 The main issue I have is that I have to work and keep my brain about me. My co-workers already think I'm a nutcase as it is so I'm trying NOT to stack anything on top of it that will make it worse. It's a catch 22 really. I'm going to try it out tomorrow (Saturday) and see how it makes me feel and go from there. Easier to start the medicine when I don't have to work to get a feel for the initial side effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.