Starting Abilify, scared as hell

Hey guys!

Keeping you updated. Yesterday went to pdoc (wan't my pdoc, cus mine's on holiday).
We lowered the dose of Lamictal on 100mg again (cus I told her I felt like myself couple of times when on 100mg, and I felt less anxiety). I am more calm and feel like stone, but getting anxiety more often. She was kinnda confused with it, how can I be calm and feel anxiety?

Well calm in a sense of swinging emotions, though (forgot to tell her that) I noticed a bit more swinging again for the past few days even if on 125. I just know I don't feel myself anymore like I did so we lowered the dose and add 5mg of Abilify.

I am scared as hell. She said it can cause anxiety, but she saw some good results people taking with with AD's. SHe never saw it with Lamictal but I have to give it a try. I AM SOOO SCARED. I am happy cus my mom will be on holidays as well, she calms me down the most.

Then there's my BF and he'll be in my support all the way. I should feel more anxiety for 3 days, or like I have a hang over. Any encouraging words? Scared....really scared...

you can do it
don't focus or think about it as much. jus enjoy your time with mum and BF
don't let this anxiety of your med adds to your already-there anxiety
stay strong

Dolphin, I thank you for your words.

My mom says my fear is bigger than potential side effects, I guess she's right. I don't feel like eating anything cus I'm nervous... but I hope it'll help me, this combo.

Mom also asked why ain't just taking 100mg Lamictal? Well I mentioned that to my pdoc, and don't really remember what she said but I presume that at this stage of treatment just Lamictal isn't enough?

HUGS to you all**

What exactly are you afraid of? Potential side effects? Or just being on too much medication in general?

You're really not on that much medication and you're on medications that don't generally have too many side effects so I would honestly just take this moment to breathe. Try not to freak yourself out. Give the meds a fair chance. Lamictal can take a long time to see improvement on. Abilify may help it become effective faster.

Good luck!

Both my husband and son take lamictal and abilify

Breath ....

You have support right there with you if you need it .. You are not alone . Many people take that combo of meds and love it. Be positive and give the meds a chance to work.

Give this some time and try and float.

Abilify was not for me. The side effects were through the roof. This might work great for you.

Thank you guys love you all for help and support.

I am afraid cus i am already very much in anxiety...i havr pills to calm me down in case i get any panic attacks. So yeah i am afraid of side effects.

like i said i hope i did the right thing lowering my lamictal...so tomorrow is judgement day for me...wish me luck i will need it. Btw today a lady bug landed on my hand...maybe a good sign?

Hugs to you all *** you are the best

Adding Abilify to Prozac when our DD was first diagnosed as having depression and anxiety helped a great deal - we noticed the difference! When she was diagnosed with Bipolar they added Abilify to her doses of Lithium and it has made a TREMENDOUS difference for the better! Good luck and I hope it works as well for you as it has for her!

Nancy

Nancy thank you!

I am already out of bed cus I'm nervous. I am trying to relax and breathe before taking this Abilify. I heard some positive stories.

Thank you once again and big hug to you!

Abilify absolutely saved my life. I did experience increased anxiety when I first started taking it, and I already have an anxiety disorder. My pdoc initially told me to take it at dinner in case it was activating, but I've found that my anxiety decreases significantly if I take it at 10, take my night meds at 11, and go to bed at 11:30-midnight.

I have never felt so close to my "normal old" self since the bipolar disorder happened. I am doing as extremely well as I can without being manic. Better than even before.

If it works for you then Yay! You will be so happy you tried it. If it doesn't work for you or you don't like the side effects or it increases your anxiety then you can stop taking it. So it really is a great idea to try.

Abilify seems to be magic for some people and hell for others (I guess this may be true of most meds tho). Unfortunately for me it was hell. Definitely not the right med for me. My anxiety was truly out of control on it and I felt bored beyond bored painfully bored all of the time. But you know what. I stopped taking it and it all went away. I was originally told to take it at night but I could never sleep it was so activating for me so I switched to mornings. Just FYI in case you need to tweak things.

Go for it! You can do it! We Bipolars are some of the bravest strongest people on the planet and unfortunately we are invisible to most.

Ps. I'm totally jealous that you have such a supportive comforting mommy.

I had a severe reaction to it several months after starting. I became very agitated, and shaking with very bad parkinsonian tremors. It was hell/ So my doctor had to take me off of it. These symptoms disappeared within a day.