Need some advice :)

Hi All,

I was put on abilify around 5 weeks ago after a terrible experience of cymbalta making me manic all summer. For the first time, I know what it feels like to not feel paranoid and anxious 24/7. I still have some paranoia and anxiety but nothing to the point of what it was. ( I would have lived in a panic room, if that was possible!).

My question is, how do you know if you are feeling "normal" or if you are feeling "numb"? Is there even a difference?
I also notice a huge increase in appetite and I cannot afford to gain any weight. I'm falling asleep all day and I cannot be doing that either since I work full time. I went from being up all the time and sleeping maybe 4 hours a night to falling asleep at 8 PM on the couch.

Is there anything I can take to balance this out?

I should add I'm on lamictal and have been for a year. (What does it even do because I'm not sure it even works!). I also take vyvanse for ADHD.

I'm going to see my P-DOC today and I wanted to be sure to give her good feedback but I wanted some opinions from you fabulous people. __________________

My doc said it would take 6-8 weeks to even out. I hope it does for you. I loved Abilify.

Hiya simplydivine,

Wow. A lot of similarities to my experience. I was on Cymbalta and had the biggest hypomanic episode of my life. Now I'm on Wellbutrin, Lamictal, and Abilify (just started the latter a couple of weeks ago but it's already helping a lot.

As to the difference between normal and numb, for me it's whether I'm interested in things and initiating interactions with others and activities. I got pretty numb when I was on Effexor. Not depressed, but just kind of sleepwalking and not doing much.

It sounds like you're depressed. I say this because of the increased appetite and sleeping so much. These are hallmarks for depression in folks w/BP2 (as opposed to insomnia and loss of appetite, which happens a lot in unipolar depression.) So maybe talk to your pdoc about another antidepressant to go w/the Abilify?

BTW the Lamictal is an anticonvulsant which is also prescribed as a mood stabilizer.

Hope this helps, and good luck w/your appointment.

all the best,
Randy

I found Abilify made me insatiably hungry and extremely drowsy when my pdoc prescribed it to me. I'm also on Lamictal (300mg), Vyvanse (50mg), and at the time Temazepam (30mg) which is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that your Ativan belongs to. I stopped taking the Abilify after the first 24hrs as it made it even more difficult to exercise and maintain a consistent diet.

Abilify can increase your blood sugar and of course can give you the non stop hunger and weigh gain. Lamictal is a mood stabilizer.

Have you asked your Pdoc about maybe taking the Abilify at nite if its the medication that is causing the sedation?

Ahh the age ole "what does normal feel like to Bp's" question... I think when your living your life and are excited about things, seeing a future for yourself, a feeling of "ease" with your body and mind .. Of course not Hypo/manic excited

She told me to try it at night and see how I do with that. She increased me to 7.5 - I heard it can be activating at higher doses - has anyone had this happen?

They kept having to up my abilify until I literally fell asleep at work on more than one day and I took it at night. I'm on Latuda, and I'm on a high dose. I'd talk to my pdoc and tell him/her.

Thank you! appreciate the feedback - starting to take it at night today