[lawrencepa]

What should I do? I was sectioned a little under 2 years ago and I've been on this new medication abilify which is also known as aripriprazole. I don't want to take them and it's clear I see I've made a full recovery what I had was a brief psychotic episode. Now I'm on these meds and have just recently found out excessive gambling is a side effect of this medication it's in the leaflet. I'm on 10mg and was wondering what would be the dangers of stopping them? I feel like not taking them because I told my dr about the side effect and he just reduced the dosage a month before he was going to anyway. This clearly isn't good enough so I saw the psychiatric nurse who said she will speak to dr getting me off them but I still haven't heard anything back yet. My mum and gran force my to take them pretty much and will watch over to make sure I do it will be hard to stop taking them because my family would have a field day and it's actually easier to take them to not take them as my family always get the prescriptions sorted and have them in a box ready for when I get up in the morning. So what would you guys do? My gamblinng is way out of control and I've today spent my whole pay cheque of £500 in one evening no money for bills this month. I'm 100% sure it's because of the meds although it's a rare side effect it does happen and it only started a month or 2 after starting the meds. So even if you don't have a gambling problem your opinion would be appreciated.

[Velouria]

I don't know what happened, but you've probably made a full recovery because the medication is working. Without it, you could relapse.

I actually recently expressed some doubt to my therapist over my need for medication, and she reminded me what my paranoia was like before I started my antipsychotic. Oh. Yeah. I'm better because I'm on it. I still experience some paranoia, but not as bad as how it used to be (most of the time).

That is a freaky side effect of Abilify, but I have read about it happening to people. Maybe you could ask for a different medication? That way, you would still be on an antipsychotic, just not one with such a detrimental side effect? There are so many other options -- especially in the UK, from what I understand. You guys don't have the practically useless FDA cockblocking you.

I'd call your doctor again. I wouldn't just stop.

[Altered Moment]

That is a very bizarre side effect but I think I have heard of it. Hard to believe but if it is in their warnings and you never had a problem before then I would not want to take it either. There are a number of other ones you could switch to. You should be aware of the metabolic side effects AAP's can have as well and I would request a weight neutral one.

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[ramirorico]

Hi,

What you can do is call your doctor a couple times every day. Don't wait! If he doesn't call you within a couple hours, call him again and again until you either get him on the phone or he returns your call.

You can also make another appointment to see the doctor. But make sure you call all the time. The nurse will get tired of your phone calls and she will put pressure on the doctor to call you back.

In the meantime, give your money to your mother or someone else so you don't spend all of it :-(

Your family is only trying to help you! It would be hard for you to stop taking them without your doctor's approval.

I know what you're going through! A few years ago I was on abilify and I had a bad side effect too. My doctor wouldn't answer my requests when I wanted to get off the meds so I just stopped taking it.

[DePressMe]

I personally had a bad time on abilify and I did not fully comprehend exactly what it had done to me until I was off of it for awhile. However, some people find it useful and don't have bad reactions to it. If you want to get off it, then cutting down is the way to go. It'd be best if you could get your drs help but it sounds like you really need to do something soon. The research lit. is mixed when it comes to how long a person should take APs after one psychotic episode--some say after a year a pt might be able to come off an AP and be closely monitored to see if another psychotic episode starts up....some drs support a pt being on them life-long. Your in a tough spot...but, there are many reasons why a person experiences a psychotic episode and some people only have one in their lifetime. I don't know if you're one of those or not...anyway you look at it--keep in mind that its your body, your life and you should have a strong influence in the decision making process concerning your own health and meds....

[Jamles]

I was on abilify for 3 1/2 years @ 20 mgs. I went off it after I had finally got tired of feeling slow mentally. It worked for psychosis with me. I weaned myself off of but I made sure to do it slowly. I feel alot better now but the psychosis came back. I couldn't help but wonder if a lower dosage would work better and be better tolerated. Hope it works out for you. :-)