Mary123 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I've been taking Viibryd now for many months and was just prescribed Abilify as an add on. My heart is racing, my hands are shaking, I feel light headed and jittery and generally like anxiety is taking over me. Is this normal? Does it eventually subside? Thanks for the input -Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 What is your dose? I had horrible, horrible anxiety at low doses of Abilify. The anxiety was so bad that I almost gave up on Abilify. But once I reached 10 mg, the anxiety subsided and the med kicked in, and it was wonderful. I am so glad that I didn't give up on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary123 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 2mg is the daily dosage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I couldn't handle those low doses. For some people, Abilify has more side effects at low doses than at higher doses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I'm on a higher dose (30 mg) and don't have those symptoms (or when I started out on it years ago). Does you pdoc know you are feeling like this?  I would give the Abilify a little longer to work, and if the side effects get worse or don't go away, definitely let your pdoc know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I took Abilify at doses ranging from 10 to 30 mg. I Â couldn't sleep, was anxious, irritable, agitated and developed akathisia at 30mg. Â It's a great medication for many people, but not for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indigo 'n dye Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I started at 10mg and within a short time was at 20. It was prescribed as an adjunct to Wellbutrin and worked sooo well, until I began to experience a drop in white blood cells and platelets. Â It was a good medication for me and I would try it again in a heartbeat if it was deemed necessary. Â I hope that the side effects are not insurmountable for you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary123 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 Today the symptoms are lessened. Â I'm going to give it a good college try. Â I appreciate all the commentary. -Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nineteenagain Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 I've been taking Viibryd now for many months and was just prescribed Abilify as an add on. My heart is racing, my hands are shaking, I feel light headed and jittery and generally like anxiety is taking over me. Is this normal? Does it eventually subside? Thanks for the input -Mary How are you doing now? I too have started Abilify this past March and it has caused me SO much anxiety. I felt anxious mainly at the beginning when I first started, but it's subsided. I'm just really restless and can't get comfortable sitting still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 My pdoc just increased Abilify to 45 mg at night so I wouldnt be as restless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynneRye Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Abilify was my wonder drug for 2 years during college. I have never had a more stable period in my life. It worked so well and so fast. However it turned out I am part o a small percentage of people who gain weight rather badly on it. I ended up convincing my doc to take me off after 2 years and 60+ lbs of weight gain which doesn't seem to go away.  As for your anxiety symptoms, I don't know that  would have noticed anxiety. I was on 15mg daily but anxious already. I can't say it made the agitation worse though. I hope the anxiety continues to go away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonuser Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Sorry to bump this thread but my response may be of use to someone. Â I am taking Cymbalta (60) and Abilify (5). Â One of these two meds is making me gain weight, lots of weight, and I have reason to believe it's Abilify. Â I was prescribed it because of paranoid tendencies and as a mood stabilizer. Â I guess it works OK. Â But I don't like the weight gain. Â I am going to try to convince my pdoc to take me off of it. Â Â I never had anxiety with Abilify but I had a weird side effect when I started it-- my tongue felt numb! Â This symptom went away after a couple of weeks on the med. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 FWIW Abilify did not cause a weight gain with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender fairy Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Abilify has caused a significant amount of weight gain for me. My pdoc put me on metformin to help counteract this side effect, and it seems to be helping. I was actually able to loose some of the weight when I was watching my diet carefully and working out regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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