CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 (edited) My pdoc wants me to discontinue Abilify because it doesn't seem to be helping my depression or motivation......He is going to replace with something else, but hasn't decided yet what that's going to be....(Any recommendations welcome). I had my visit with him yesterday, and he told me to just stop taking it, and there's no need to taper.....I've been taking the Abilify for about 4 months now. I called back after the visit and spoke with his nurse, asked if he really meant stopping cold turkey, with no tapering.....She said yes, the doctor meant just to stop taking. I'm scared of stopping cold turkey, but only have 5 more days worth of Abilify.......Is it possible to just stop this drug without experiencing withdrawals? Edited October 23, 2018 by CrazyRedhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 I do have 2 refills left, but he will see it if I fill again.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvinator Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 My doc cold turkied me on 5mgs and I didn't have any withdraws if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvinator Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 I'm guessing cold turkey on abilify is common. It seems to just be what they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 @silvinator, thanks for the input.... I'm just concerned that all the other APS I've been on have been tapered, not just stopped, but that was when I was with another pdoc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvinator Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Just now, CrazyRedhead said: @silvinator, thanks for the input.... I'm just concerned that all the other APS I've been on have been tapered, not just stopped, but that was when I was with another pdoc. I've been with the same doc for 10 years and he's tapered me on EVERYTHING except abilify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 (edited) 2 minutes ago, silvinator said: I've been with the same doc for 10 years and he's tapered me on EVERYTHING except abilify. Hmmm.....Interesting......I am on 3x the dose you were on, though.... Edited October 23, 2018 by CrazyRedhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvinator Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 1 minute ago, CrazyRedhead said: Hmmm.....Interesting......I am on 3x the dose you were on, though.... Yeah that would be my only holdback as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Well technically you can do this because of the really Long half life...or at least so I've been told...but interesting that you're doing it before they picked a replacement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 It will take a month for Abilify to leave your body so by stopping it you are starting a slow taper that lasts a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 4 minutes ago, Iceberg said: Well technically you can do this because of the really Long half life...or at least so I've been told...but interesting that you're doing it before they picked a replacement When pdoc said to discontinue it, I specifically asked are we going to replace it with anything, he said no, not today, we'll see about a replacement at next appt (late November)..........So I don't know.....My previous pdoc changed APs on me several times, but with her she always replaced something right away......**SIGH** 4 minutes ago, notloki said: It will take a month for Abilify to leave your body so by stopping it you are starting a slow taper that lasts a month. I didn't think about Abilify's long half-life, so maybe that's the case.....Hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Well do u feel like you need to be on guard with a new aap if things go bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 (edited) 31 minutes ago, Iceberg said: Well do u feel like you need to be on guard with a new aap if things go bad? Yes, I would feel much better if he had replaced it with something else right away.....I have been on at least one AP constantly for the last few years......(Seroquel, Seroquel XR, Thorazine, Risperdal, and for last 4 months Abilify, are the ones I've been on. I fear that having no AP on board would destabilize me even further than I am right now. I know Abilify has a long half-life, but this article says it will clear my system in about 16 days....but I don't know if I am a poor, intermediate, or rapid metabolizer, so that figure of 16 days could vary. https://www.rxwiki.com/askrx/3192/how-long-does-it-take-for-abilify-to-leave-the-body Edited October 23, 2018 by CrazyRedhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Yeah that sounds about right. Maybe the doc just wanted to avoid interactions that would make it hard to see which symptoms are what. It also seems like you've got many options still for the next med, so if things start to nosedive pdoc might relent and try to help you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 I stopped Abilify cold turkey many times when I didn't have insurance and was having trouble affording it. Went from 30 mg to 0 mg. Never had a problem except a return of symptoms after a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 2 minutes ago, Iceberg said: if things start to nosedive pdoc might relent and try to help you I hope so......I'm pretty low-functioning as it is, even now, so at least I don't want things to get worse..... 1 minute ago, jt07 said: I stopped Abilify cold turkey many times when I didn't have insurance and was having trouble affording it. Went from 30 mg to 0 mg. Never had a problem except a return of symptoms after a while. Thanks, that makes me more hopeful...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Generally you lower the original med (that is what you are doing) and start the new med at a lower dose and titrate up. That way you are not on a double dose (2 AP's at full dose at once). So, I would assume at some point before all the Abilify is metabolized in your body you will start something to take its place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 30 minutes ago, notloki said: So, I would assume at some point before all the Abilify is metabolized in your body you will start something to take its place. Pdoc says next month (end of Nov) that he will decide on another AAP for me to take.....If things start to go south before then, hopefully he can call something in before next appt.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Haha it takes a month to pick an aap? (Just kidding)...I guess he wants to maybe let you come back to baseline to see what symptoms are the first priority. They did this to me once except it was multiple meds so it was inpatient but seems like the same type of thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikl_pls Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 This is the usual practice in discontinuing Abilify, but usually the pdoc will have something lined up for you to replace it with like, the next day. Have you tried Geodon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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