[unicornlady]

I started having hand tremors a few months ago, just as I started taking Abilify.

Thing is, I was on lithium 1200mg and since lithium is well known for hand tremors, my pdoc is convinced lithium is the culprit.

However, I didn't have any tremors for 5 years taking lithium 1200mg, and then suddenly they started with the Abilify. Also, when my Abilify dose was increased from 20mg to 30mg, the tremors got worse.

I am convinced the Abilify is causing the tremors, not the lithium. Am I crazy? Has anyone had hand tremors on Abilify?

The pdoc has been reducing my lithium and I'm terrified because that is what has kept me relatively stable for 5 years, and the last time I went off it I ended up in the hospital. They put me on lamictal to supplement but I'm not sure if I trust it to do the heavy lifting lithium has done. I have expressed my thinking and my concerns and the pdoc is continuing to decrease lithium anyway.

Lamictal seems to be suppressing the tremors, every time I go up on it the tremors get to be less, and the pdoc is taking reduction in tremors as a sign that lower lithium is helping. However, the timing is off. Tremors got better with lamictal increase, 2 weeks after lithium decrease. If it is the lithium, is a 2 week delay normal? I'm just trying to wrap my head around this. I don't want to go off lithium if I don't absolutely have to.

Can't have hand tremors for work, so dealing with the tremors is not an option.

[Daonnachd]

I don't know about the two week delay, but I'm on Abilify and have hand tremors.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by Daonnachd

I don't know about the two week delay, but I'm on Abilify and have hand tremors.

Okay, that's helpful. It may not have been a 2 week delay, could just be lamictal suppressing tremors. I don't know.

[bpcyclist]

Was on lithium and Abilify and developed tremors. Stopped the Abilify and the tremors went almost completely away. It was not a lithium tremor.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

Was on lithium and Abilify and developed tremors. Stopped the Abilify and the tremors went almost completely away. It was not a lithium tremor.

How did you know to stop the Abilify?

Out of curiosity, has your doctor considered prescribing a medication that might calm the tremors? There are some. I know that propranolol can, for some people. I take 40 mg of propranolol (for something else) but have no side effects.

When I was on 1,200 mg Lithium I had terrible tremors, but wasn't taking propranolol back then. On 900 mg Lithium, I was taking propranolol and had virtually no tremors. I don't recall any tremors on Abilify, but can't say others wouldn't.

[*Beth*]

I have hand tremor from having had Scarlet Fever as a child, then psych meds cause the tremor to be very intense. Cogentin helps some. The tremor is embarrassing and difficult to live with.

[still_crazy]

abilify caused a mild tremor in one hand, when prozac was added. prozac boosts abilify blood levels. reducing the abilify a bit helped, but...keep in mind...abilify has a long half life, so reducing (even stopping) may not result in immediate results.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Out of curiosity, has your doctor considered prescribing a medication that might calm the tremors? There are some. I know that propranolol can, for some people. I take 40 mg of propranolol (for something else) but have no side effects.

Yes, she has considered another med - I can't take propranolol due to my low heart rate and asthma. Cogentin gave me a terrible headache- I don't know if it would have gone away but I couldn't even think, which was worse than the tremors anyway. Are there other options? I wouldn't mind adding another med.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

reducing the abilify a bit helped, but...keep in mind...abilify has a long half life, so reducing (even stopping) may not result in immediate results.

Thanks for the warning... I'll keep that in mind. I definitely wouldn't stop it cold turkey anyway so I'm sure it would take a long time for the tremors to be affected.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I have hand tremor from having had Scarlet Fever as a child, then psych meds cause the tremor to be very intense. Cogentin helps some. The tremor is embarrassing and difficult to live with.

I'm glad you found something that helps!! Intense tremors are very embarrassing and difficult... I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[MickeyCheeky]

I don't have much advice to give you other than what ALL the other WISE AND WONDERFUL POSTERS have already WISELY AND WONDERFULLY SAID BETTER THAN I EVER COULD! I am TRULY, DEEPLY SORRY that you're HURTING AND STRUGGLING SO BADLY and that you're GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS! I TRULY, DEEPLY AM! I just hope that this hand tremor will pass soon and that you'll feel better REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY AND VERY MUCH SOON! Keep us updated if you wish to do so and I hope you'll find the BEST POSSIBLE MEDS FOR YOURSELF REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SOON! Feel free to PM me ANYTIME when you need someone to talk to or vent to! I'LL TRY TO GET BACK AT YOU AS SOON AS I POSSIBLY CAN! THAT'S A PROMISE! YOU CAN ALSO REST ABSOLUTELY AND UNDENIABLY ASSURED OF THAT! I am SURE plenty of others will also GLADLY, KINDLY, WISELY AND WONDERFULLY help you out as well! I AM ABSOLUTELY AND UNDENIABLY SURE OF THAT! YOU CAN ALSO REST ABSOLUTELY AND UNDENIABLY ASSURED OF THAT AS WELL! Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @unicornlady, your family, your friends, your Pdoc and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking! I am TRULY, DEEPLY SORRY that you're HURTING AND STRUGGLING SO BADLY and that you're GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS! I TRULY, DEEPLY AM! KEEP FIGHTING AND KEEP ROCKING! PLEASE NEVER GIVE UP HOPE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS! PLEASE ALWAYS BE KIND TO YOURSELF AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN BECAUSE YOU ABSOLUTELY AND UNDENIABLU DESERVE IT AND YOU KNOW THAT'S ABSOLUTELY AND UNDENIABLY TRUE AS WELL EVEN IF IT'S DEEP DOWN INSIDE YOU! KEEP FIGHTING AND KEEP ROCKING!

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by unicornlady

I'm glad you found something that helps!! Intense tremors are very embarrassing and difficult... I'm sorry you had to go through that.

Thank you, your comment is so kind. Unfortunately, the Cogentin was causing me to fall asleep all day. I quite literally could not keep my eyes open. My proc has stopped it unless I'm experiencing akathesia, when I can take the Cogentin prn. So the hand tremor remains

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by BethRags

Thank you, your comment is so kind. Unfortunately, the Cogentin was causing me to fall asleep all day. I quite literally could not keep my eyes open. My proc has stopped it unless I'm experiencing akathesia, when I can take the Cogentin prn. So the hand tremor remains

Oh no!!

[unicornlady]

Hi all, this is an update. Stopped the abilify cold turkey like I said I wasn't going to. However, just saw my pdoc, and she says the tremors are less. She is putting me back on a lower dose of abilify to be safe and resolve my sleeping trouble I've had since stopping it. I think I worried a lot of people irl but I am vindicated. I feel bad for causing trouble but I am really excited that the tremors are less now.

[sarahsweets]

Hey @unicornlady:

I am convinced the Abilify is causing the tremors, not the lithium. Am I crazy? Has anyone had hand tremors on Abilify?

The pdoc has been reducing my lithium and I'm terrified because that is what has kept me relatively stable for 5 years, and the last time I went off it I ended up in the hospital. They put me on lamictal to supplement but I'm not sure if I trust it to do the heavy lifting lithium has done. I have expressed my thinking and my concerns and the pdoc is continuing to decrease lithium anyway.

Your concerns are totally valid. Does your doctor even understand what abilify is and how medications like this work?

What Are Possible Side Effects Of Aripiprazole?
Common side effects

Constipation
Nausea
Vomiting
Headache
Insomnia
Tremor
Blurred vision
Anxiety
Fatigue

Some people may develop muscle-related side effects while taking aripiprazole. The technical terms for these are “extrapyramidal effects” (EPS) and “tardive dyskinesia” (TD). Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness. TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements

You need to google 'abilfy and tremors' print it out and bring it with you to the doctor, and stand your ground. Tell them you want to stay on your stable dose of the lithium and come off the abilify to see if the tremors go away.

[bpcyclist]

As I've said elsewhere, I had tremors on Abilify and lithium. D/C'd the Abilify and they went almost totally away.

[Blue_Bird]

I don't have them on abilify but I had them when I was on Lithium. I was on 1800 mg though and my levels went toxic

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

I don't have them on abilify but I had them when I was on Lithium. I was on 1800 mg though and my levels went toxic

That's a pretty substantial dose. I hope you got through that okay.

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

That's a pretty substantial dose. I hope you got through that okay.

Thank you, luckily I did., I ended up in the ICU for a week having kidney failure and seizures. I feel lucky I went to the hospital when I did. My doctor at the time seemed to be pretty incompetent because of all the horrible effects I was obviously having from it, I could barely walk and all kinds of other bad stuff, and she seemed to think nothing was wrong. I feel like the dose I was on was ridiculously high, I was 18 at the time and weighed 105 lbs

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

Thank you, luckily I did., I ended up in the ICU for a week having kidney failure and seizures. I feel lucky I went to the hospital when I did. My doctor at the time seemed to be pretty incompetent because of all the horrible effects I was obviously having from it, I could barely walk and all kinds of other bad stuff, and she seemed to think nothing was wrong. I feel like the dose I was on was ridiculously high, I was 18 at the time and weighed 105 lbs

Wow. Just wow.