[flowergirl36]

I'm currently on Invega Sustenna 117 mg but have gained 60 pounds and have constant headaches. I found out that my prolactin levels are high and want to switch to a new medication. It's between Abilify and Latuda. Do you have any recommendations? I don't want weight gain, headache, brain fog or high prolactin levels.

[Tucson]

Being not a doctor, I cannot recommend either one. However, I will be on Latuda soon so I can tell you about my experience with it. Abilify had me shake with Parkisonian tremors. However, I think that is uncommon. I am sure others here can provide you with their experiences with either one.

[flowergirl36]

Originally Posted by Tucson

Being not a doctor, I cannot recommend either one. However, I will be on Latuda soon so I can tell you about my experience with it. Abilify had me shake with Parkisonian tremors. However, I think that is uncommon. I am sure others here can provide you with their experiences with either one.

Thank you. I hear the Abilify tremors can be a side effect.

[Sunflower123]

I've taken Abilify for around 5 weeks now and it helped me out of a deep depression. I've not experienced tremors...maybe because of the low dose (5 mg). Good luck on your meds.

[Victoria'smom]

Latuda I've never tried. Abilify I like a lot, both my husband and son are on it.

[IrisClay]

Hello flowergirl36, I took Abilify and it made my muscles stiff even at low dose; but everyone is different and will react differently.
My Doc wants to start me on Latuda and I am reluctant to say yes; because it's still new to the market.
I've heard success stories on lower doses and I've heard bad things happening at the higher doses.
Personally (I'm no professional - just a consumer who reads into everything).
I think most meds are overdosed to patients. So, If I start Latuda it will be at the lowest dose possible and I will wait many months for results at that low dose. I've noticed in myself the higher the dose the greater the side effects.
Have you and your doc thought about lowering the dose of the Invega?

[bioChE]

I took Abilify years ago and it didn't do anything for me. At present I'm on Latuda, and it seems to be working pretty well to keep the major depression at bay. It's not perfect, but when combined with Lamictal the two are working pretty well.

[Nammu]

Latuda is my miracle drug. There were minor side effects the first few weeks I was on it. I took it at night just before bed so I could sleep though the worse of it. Since then no side effects and it works great for stability.

[bizi]

when did you notice the shakes? I started abilfiy one month ago and am at 20mg...makes me afraid to take that much. Maybe I will just take 10mg.
bizi

[still_crazy]

I've never taken Latuda. I take Abilify. I have problems tolerating tranquilizers, and Abilify has been nicer to me than any other 'atypical'. I also take massive doses of antioxidants, b-vitamins, etc. with the tranquilizer (Orthomolecular), an an attempt to reduce my risk of tardive dyskinesia. I've been on Abilify, mostly higher doses, for over 5 years now, and I don't have any EPS (tremors, muscle stiffness, etc.) and I don't have any tardive dyskinesia, either. I also find that the supplements seem to help me get the "symptom control" I need without as much cognitive dulling, flattened moods, apathy, etc.

Abilify might be a good option if prolactin elevation is a concern. I've read case studies where Abilify was added on ongoing risperidone treatment for people who had elevated prolactin. Why they added the Abilify instead of a switch, I dunno...maybe so they could get published? Anyway, adding Abilify got the prolactin levels down to normal and kept the mental problems under control.

Some people do love Latuda. It is very, very new and very, very spendy. I dunno. I started on Abilify (for a little while...) when it was fresh on the market, approved for Schizophrenia and not yet the go-to tranquilizer for...well, everything. My psychiatrist at the time said the unique mechanism of action wasn't well understood, but it seemed to improve tolerability.

I will say be careful about Abilify on psych drug cocktails. The D2 partial agonism thing can be great if you need a neuroleptic and don't tolerate other tranquilizers well, but mixing a lot of other CNS drugs in there can ((according to my current pdoc...)) mess it up. Plus, other drugs can affect blood levels (potential problem that's all too often overlooked).

Hope this helps.

[~Christina]

Abilify had me gaining weight like crazy.. 5 lbs in one week .. No No No

I am on Latuda and its weight neutral.

[wildflowerchild25]

Latuda has the same tendency to cause high prolactin. Supposedly it's rare, but I feel if it happened with invega (and risperdal) then maybe my body is prone to it. But unfortunately I'm pretty much SOL on APs if that's the case.

I wish you luck with this decision.

[Leia78]

I've taken Abilify before and now I take Latuda. I've been on Latuda since 2014. I prefer Latuda over Abilify. Abilify didn't seem to do much. Latuda made a big difference in my mood and has helped me reach some kind of stability.

[Unrigged64072835]

I've taken Abilify twice and it didn't do anything for me. I'm on Latuda now and other than some anxiety I'm good on it.

This is my experience though. YMMV.

[bizi]

I went down to 10 mg of abilify, because I don't want to gain any extra weight.
I am already overweight.
sigh
bizi

[Faltering]

I experienced positive effects from Latuda. Abilify gave me akathisia.

I didn't gain much weight on either. ability caused me to faint twice and latuda contributed to me getting a horrible rash. I'm currently taking Saphris and so far no weight gain or other problems. Whatever you decide, I hope it works out and meets your reasonable criteria. (((Hugs)))

Well...as you can see sweety....different meds effect different people differently.

Abilify gave me brain zaps, even at a small dosage (5mg) which ends up a major headache. I can see spark flashes up in my eyelid and hear a crispy sound like lightning sizzling (I know, weird...isn't it).

Latuda on the other hand created hypo where I couldn't sleep but 4 hours a night, major major intense dreams/nightmares, and an extreme bout of anxiety.

So I take neither one. Only Respiradal at low doses I can tolerate and maybe Geodon....But I take nothing as far as AP goes.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I'm allergic to abilify but I take Latuda nightly And it seems to help