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Junior Member
Member Since Aug 2015
Location: Ontario
Posts: 15
9 |
Aug 31, 2015 at 07:54 AM
#1
Hi there, I've never made a post so please bare with me.
I'm looking for others' experiences with abilify vs. lithium. I'm currently on Abilify 15mg for bipolar (I also have borderline personality disorder) - it is making my white cell count low and so the option has been presented to switch to lithium. I am considering this because I don't like the way I feel on abilify. I feel as though my brain is sedated but my body wants to keep going. (I have been experiencing derealization quite strongly for about a month). Does anyone else have experiences to share with this? My moods are manageable with abilify but this brain fog and fatigue is really a downer. I should note I was on 10mg previously and it made me manic. I see my pdoc tomorrow and so I'd like to explore other options (she says carbamazepine and quetiapine are out of the question because of my "child baring age" and my past experiences on seroquel). Thanks for any input, I feel like there isn't much hope to find the right med where I can feel like a real person. |
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Junior Member
Member Since Aug 2015
Location: Ontario
Posts: 15
9 |
Aug 31, 2015 at 11:32 AM
#2
anybody?
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Member
Member Since Jul 2015
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 289
9 158 hugs
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Aug 31, 2015 at 12:54 PM
#3
I'm not sure what the normal dosage is for Abilify, but I'm only on 5mg right now. I've been on 7.5 in the past and that was the highest I could go without feeling groggy. Have you tried going below 10mg? Should also note that I haven't tried lithium.
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Veteran Member
Member Since May 2015
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow...
Posts: 672
9 281 hugs
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Aug 31, 2015 at 12:57 PM
#4
I was on Abilify but it wasn't for BP when I was taking it (I wasn't diagnosed yet). I took it as an extra to help my AD. Did absolutely nothing for me, but gain 25lbs in 6 months. I started Lithium in June and loved it because I thought it really did help with my mood stabilization but I couldn't handle the physical side affects of it. Hugs.
__________________ Hashi/Bipolar Mom 300mg Lamictal 1800mg Gabapentin 10mg Memantine (weaning off) .6mg Clonidine (for sleep and anxiety) 40mg Propanol (for sleep) 3 mg Xanax 10mg Saphris |
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Junior Member
Member Since Aug 2015
Location: Ontario
Posts: 15
9 |
Aug 31, 2015 at 01:13 PM
#5
thank you guys for replying. Does lithium have a similar groggy effect? That is the only side effect I can't handle. I can't get off the couch and had to drop out of university, it's not a good feeling. I just want to feel like a real person.
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Posts: n/a
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Aug 31, 2015 at 01:37 PM
#6
I've been on both (still am on abilify, actually) for unipolar depression so I can't really share how it affects bipolar. I just wanted to say I haven't had side effects on both, even when I was on lithium and barely drinking.
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Junior Member
Member Since Aug 2015
Location: Ontario
Posts: 15
9 |
Aug 31, 2015 at 01:50 PM
#7
thanks everyone for your input. I'll discuss changing with the doc tomorrow. I'm just hoping lithium doesn't give me the same groggy feeling.
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Veteran Member
Member Since May 2015
Location: New England
Posts: 587
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Sep 01, 2015 at 04:26 PM
#8
For what it's worth, I take 1200 mg of lithium and 20 mg of Ability per day. The only side effect that I am aware of is that I can get a mild upset stomach from the lithium. For that reason, I take it at bedtime. Neither medicine has ever made me groggy. (Oh, forgot to mention that my thyroid no longer functions, which might be due to the lithium...)
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Legendary
Member Since Oct 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 11,509
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Sep 01, 2015 at 04:31 PM
#9
Im allergic to abilify so I cant give insight on it. I had adverse effects with lithium and it didn't help with my moods so I decided to quit taking it.
I hope you find something that helps you! Lithium works wonders for many people. __________________ schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety d/o haldol, prazosin, risperdal and prn klonopin and helpful cogentin |
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Elder
Member Since Mar 2013
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,434
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Sep 01, 2015 at 05:28 PM
#10
Lithium made me groggy when I was on too high of a dose. I had toxicity. But if you're monitored closely you shouldn't become toxic. Lithium didn't do anything for me but it might help you so it's worth a try.
__________________ Of course it is happening inside your head. But why on earth should that mean that it is not real? -Albus Dumbledore That’s life. If nothing else, that is life. It’s real. Sometimes it f—-ing hurts. But it’s sort of all we have. -Garden State |
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Junior Member
Member Since Jul 2015
Location: florida
Posts: 23
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Sep 01, 2015 at 07:55 PM
#11
Anything over 15 mg of abilify makes me so out of it (drowsy) that I can't function. I'm nodding off every 5 minutes no matter where I am, sitting up right, laying down, you name it. I take my 15 mg of abilify at night because it does tend to make me just a little bit drowsy, but it's much better than taking it during the day,
I've never taken lithium so I can't comment on that, but abilify has helped me for a long time. __________________ Do not give up on life because there are lots of difficulties. Difficulties in life are not meant to destroy you; but to help you realize your hidden potential. ___________________________________ BiPoLaR II ______________ Abilify 15 mg Effexor 150 mg |
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Member
Member Since Jan 2015
Location: Hartford
Posts: 485
9 |
Sep 01, 2015 at 08:27 PM
#12
I was on lithium. I quit it recently. My face stayed broke out and it started messing with my thyroid and I couldn't even get the hospital to test me! It took appetite away..but it wasn't bad lol.
People react different than others to a medication...try it out Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G750A using Tapatalk |
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