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Possible Abilify withdrawal symptoms: Restless Leg Syndrome?


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Hello.

 

For OCD issues I was prescribed 2.5 mg Abilify 4 years ago, in conjunction with Klonopin (2x 0.25mg a day) and sustained-release 12.5mg Paroxetine. Everything went quite good, life situation improved and one time during last year my Pdoc considered the possibility of a slow withdrawal of the meds, starting with Abilify. Since it was hard to cut the pill (I can only get 5mg pills here and they are extremely small) and the pill has a long half-life, the taper schedule was like this:

 

- Take the pill 3 days out of 4 for something like 2 months.

- Take the pill 2 days out of 3 for another 2 months.

- Take the pill 1 day out of 2, for another 2-3 months, up until two weeks ago.

 

In the last interview, my Pdoc considered the possibility of 1 pill every 3 days but in the end decided to just stop taking the med altogether since it was a low dose after all.

 

Things have not gone bad, but there is this little problem that started some days ago. I have an irresistible urge to move my left leg while resting or trying to sleep at night. It is really uncomfortable, don't know exactly how to describe it. It gets me all restless and difficults my sleep. After a time I eventually fall asleep and it stops, but I am a little worried. For people who have experiences with this drug, is this a common withdrawal? Will it stop sometimes? Or could it be something else?

 

 

Thanks.

 

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I don't know whether it is withdrawal or not, but talk to your pdoc. He might be able to give you something for it.

 

I've come off Abilify (unwillingly due to supply problems) without a taper more times than I can count on my hand, and I've never had that problem. That doesn't mean you don't though, and that's why I think your best bet is to talk to your doctor.

 

Having said that, I did get restless legs on certain SSRIs that were nasty.

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Have you thought about taking an even smaller dose like 1mg?  I'm on 2.5 and tried 5.  I felt terrible on the five.  It's just to much for me personally.  When I go back to my pd I'm going to ask about 2 or 1mg.  It may be worth it for you to stay on a tiny dose.

 

I hope your leg is better and not a side effect of the drop in medication.

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