Saw A Dr. For The 1st Time in 20 Years Today - Abilify and Trazodone

My wife went with me because I don't like anything medical related.

It was a good thing, too. Though my wife, like me, isn't a social creature, she pretty much gave the Dr. (Nurse Practitioner, to be more specific) better and more complete answers than I.

After answering questions about why I was there and my history, She recommended Abilify and Trazodone. She assured me that she wasn't interested in labels, but rather treating symptoms.

I hope that these will help. The last thing I want is to get back on that merry-go-round of finding the right medications that I was on two decades ago.

Does anyone have POSITIVE experiences with these medications (I've read enough negative experiences; I'm not looking for any more of those)?

Yes. Abilify seems to have special powers to bring me out of depression and improve my motivation/productivity.
I've not had Trazadone.

Glad to hear your appointment went well. I remember you had some trepidation/reservations about it. I go with my BF to his appointments for the same reason as your wife. It is really helpful. Glad it was for you too.

I've had good luck with low-dose Abilify (2 mg). It has really helped my depression. I get a condition called bradykinesia with higher doses.

I have not re-tried trazodone in over 20 years. My pdoc wanted to prescribe it; yet, my QTc interval prolongation (which is calculated with a simple EKG) is too long, putting me at risk for sudden death. I am on one drug which can potentiate this side-effect, so cannot add another which can also affect the QTc prolongation (like trazodone).

If you want to be very safe, request an EKG while on trazodone to see if it is affecting heart function.


WC

Thank you! I’m at my most comfortable when my wife is with me.

We (she is, really) are hopeful. But I am worried about the Abilify. So many people report bad side effects.

Thank you!

See, this is what worries me. They are starting me off at 15 mg!

When I looked it up that seems to be the recommended start dose for folk with mood disorders. But I am a bit worried, to say the least. Conflicting information seems the norm on this medication.

Some people here do fine on higher doses of Abilify; I hope they chime in here for you. I tend to be very sensitive to anything that can possibly affect neuromuscular function.

I am so glad your wife is supportive!



WC

My highest (Abilify) has been 10 mg, but it was just as an add on to the rest of my cocktail.

The more I think of this (and I have been non-stop since the appointment), the more worried I become.

I haven’t picked-up the prescription yet.

This lady was very nice. She put my mind at ease. In fact, she was downright cool! One of the things I was worried about (no matter how petty is sounds - and it does) was the age of the care provider. I think she was at least close to my age, and I was happy about that. But i digress...

However, she is a nurse practitioner... in a family clinic setting. She is neither a psychiatric nurse practitioner, nor an MD.

I’ve been researching like crazy (I tend to hyper focus), and can see that she is perfectly able to prescribe this medication; she even said that this particular treatment plan is what she is comfortable with based on the information my wife and I provided.

She also said that If we run into problems she will refer me to their other location to talk with the psychiatric nurse practitioners.

Anyway, I’m probably just working myself into a lather here, but I am worried.

My wife - who is in veterinary medicine - told me to just try it, and if I have any adverse reaction, to then call the clinic.

I feel it's reasonable to have concerns.
At some point, we decide if we are willing to take a chance on meds or not.
I generally have a lot of apprehension when it comes to meds.

I had requested to be tried on lower doses of Abilify, slowly adding to the dose if needed. This way, I could watch for side-effects.

Is your pdoc having you start both meds at the same time?


WC

I'd agree with your wife. Often, the more we wait thinking about it, the higher the anxiety gets, as you know and are experiencing. But you won't know if it can help you until you try it. (I was apprehensive and catastrophizing about one of the meds I got prescribed before, so I do get it though. )

Good question.

Well, that second medication, the trazodone, is to help me sleep. I’ll take that as needed.