ooh_shiny! Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Okay, so I have Bipolar I with psychotic features (I guess its with "psychotic features" because when I was unmediated I started to see shadows, and was convinced they were gonna hurt me). So the pdoc put me on Abilify. 2mg is all my weenie body can handle because of the Akathisia and leg pain. Within a couple days of starting the abilify, I stopped seeing shadows. I've been on it for 2 weeks now, and heres whats happening thats worrying me: I feel and sound stupid mild visual hallucinations are starting come back (shadows) Should I talk to my psychiatrist about maybe increasing my dosage of Abilify? Because it seemed to work, and if it makes the shadows go away (yes I know they are not real), I consider the leg pain and akathisia to be worth it. I started lamictal last night, but only 25mg. I have to work my way up to 75mg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Can someone tell me what abilify is chemically related to? I was told by pdoc it was related to Geodon. I cna't take Geondon it is like a stimulant to me.It through me straight into a panic. One pill did that. I ask him about abilify but he says it would be the same. I have been told by at least one other poster that they got the stimulant reaction with Geodon and not with abilify. What are the experiences with this drug? The commercials are so good. They really have a good PR department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooh_shiny! Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Can someone tell me what abilify is chemically related to? I was told by pdoc it was related to Geodon. I cna't take Geondon it is like a stimulant to me.It through me straight into a panic. One pill did that. I ask him about abilify but he says it would be the same. I have been told by at least one other poster that they got the stimulant reaction with Geodon and not with abilify. What are the experiences with this drug? The commercials are so good. They really have a good PR department. Lol the commercials ARE good. There are a lot of "I can't afford this drug" experiences...I've heard that people say it works but its just too expensive to continue taking it. I have good insurance, so its never over $40. My psychiatrist says she knows of one person who experienced a stimulant reaction when taking abilify, but it makes me tired. I think I'm getting used to the drug though. Because I'm not nearly as tired as I was before. And my teeth have stopped grinding. I think I need to go up on the medication, that or it was the addition of the lamictal. ALSO, I looked up what abilify was chemically related to, and here is what the stanford school of medicine said: Abilify is chemically different from other atypical antipsychotic medications such as Clozaril, Geodon, and Risperdal. It is a dopamine partial-agonist meaning that Abilify can stimulate dopamine receptors when little dopamine is available and block dopamine receptors when there is too much dopamine present causing the receptor stimulation to become more balanced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SashaSue Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 You should probably try a higher dose of Abilify. If the akathisia comes back, ask your pdoc for something like Cogentin to manage it. I don't know if that will help with the leg pain as well, but it's worth a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooh_shiny! Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 You should probably try a higher dose of Abilify. If the akathisia comes back, ask your pdoc for something like Cogentin to manage it. I don't know if that will help with the leg pain as well, but it's worth a shot. Thanks SashaSue, I would probably feel better if I increased the abilify. I really don't want to go manic again. I had my first manic episode while taking lamictal, and my pdoc put me back on it only because i have the abilify on the other side of the equation, you know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recoverymouse Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 For me the akathasia from abilify dissipated after a couple of weeks. That was at 10mg. Eventually I had no side effects at that dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooh_shiny! Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 For me the akathasia from abilify dissipated after a couple of weeks. That was at 10mg. Eventually I had no side effects at that dose. good to know. I'll definitely give my psychiatrist a call to see if its okay to increase the dosage today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilacOutsideMyWindow Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I'm using Cogentin to combat the akathisia and hand tremors. When I first increased to 5mgs I was taking 2mg of Cogentin (split, one at night, one mid-day). And now, two weeks later, I just need 1mg of cogentin w/my abilify dose and no akathisia, minimal hand tremors, and the si thoughts are still gone, and I haven't had a rage/anger episode since increasing dose. I think you too may benefit from an increase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooh_shiny! Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Just left a message for my pdoc. I hope she calls back today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I'm on day 3 of Abilify. I first took it in the am b/c of the known stimulant effect. I did feel oddly wired and tired at the same time but later day one it put me to sleep. This is 2mg. So, day 2 I took it at night. I slept just fine. I take benadryl at hs too. So I am feeling better, and so far nothing really weird. I had a headache day 1, and some nausea, and my lower feet itched like crazy. I have not noted an increase in appetite yet- certainly nothing like zyprexa. I hope this drug helps, I had given up. I may have to go up from 2mg but even now 2 mg has helped. I feel somewhat more motivated and my thinking is a little clearer. I was on lamictal and it helped my depression but caused an intimate problem, and may be responsible for hair loss and I'm pretty sure it funked up my skin. Stars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koali777 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 It's so interesting to me how differently people react to meds. Abilify made me WAY too active (I was constantly pacing, I couldn't sleep more than 4 hours a night, it agitated me so much I would cry), and Geodon made me very sleepy and relaxed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 It is funny the way that meds work differently. I can't sleep with geodon, it activates me, but luckily didn't make me manic. Abilify keeps me wide awake, but isn't activating really. Shiny, I can see by your current rx that your pdoc must have raised it to 4mg, how's that working for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.