Abilify Miracle, but Question

I am repeating here what I posted in new member area, as follows:

Hi,

I just started here because I had given up hope of ever finding help for my 40+ years of depression. I have literally tried every antidepressant in the book. Nothing every worked to help my mood. I am already on Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. As far as the Wellbutrin, I'm no sure if it does a darn thing.

The Cymbalta at least kept me from being irritable with my hubby all the time, and also kept me from being horribly emotional and obsessing about my two dead sons all the time. However, it really kept my emotions completely flat and I slept like the dead and could not get up until 10:30 or later in the morning.

I started Abilify as an adjunct to the other meds about 2 weeks ago. Within 5-6 days, I am a new person. It is literally a miracle for me to feel this good. I have enthusiam, I feel joy, I am able to meet and talk with people I don't know, I was able to attend church with my husband this morning for first time in approximately 15 years! I can wake up at any time I need to, also!

I have read some people have bad side effects, but none for me so far. My MAIN QUESTION is whether anyone here has had same thing happen and then have the drug not work after a while. That would be devastating for me. Thanks for any help.

I just read this in the Introduction forum and was going to advise you to post this in the Success Story forum but checked and you had already done so.

As for the chance of relapse after continued use of Aripiprazole (Abilify), it depends upon your dosage. I think the main thing to remember is that, along with other medications in it's class, Abilify is meant for short term use - it is there to help you get out of the depression whilst you learn to cope with it and evolve different coping strategies.

A relapse into depression is slightly possible, but if that were ever to happen your care team would be ready to switch you to another medication. I don't think you should be worrying too much right now, just live in the present moment and work with your team.

Abilify is very successful as a short term treatment for depression, with a very high success rate. Whether or not it will work for you in the long term I honestly don't know as I personally haven't used the medication. However, luckily for you, Aripiprazole is known to be very good at treating depression/Major Depressive Disorder when used along another anti depressant or mood-related medication.

I'm very happy that you've found the medication for you and wish you a good journey into full recovery! ♥

Thank you so very much Resident Bipolar for answering my question. I'm sorry to hear Abilify is just for short-term use, as I've been depressed for about 42 years and NOTHING has helped with my mood until now, at this late date in my life.

I have learned all sorts of coping mechanisms from my psychiatrists and psychologists throughout my life (seeing both now regularly for the past 9 years), but could never get rid of that "black cloud" hanging over my head at all times - and I mean at ALL times.

I had gotten to the point where I truly did not believe it was brain chemistry because nothing worked for me - until Abilify. As I said, it has been a miracle for me, and I just hope it continues to be.

Thanks again, Resident Bipolar. I hope you are doing well.

At first I thought abilify was a miracle. I felt AMAZING the first cpl months. Then it starts to fade. I tried going up in dose and I felt very flat and blah.

So for me it did fade. BUT it consistently did wonders for calming down my irrational thoughts, racing mind and anger. On Abilify I barely get angry and my mind doesn't spin in circles.

I'm getting off it due to weight gain. wishing you better luck with it.

I wish I could find something like Abilify that would work long term. A big problem I have though is going on medication and having side effects or it not working.

And not cause weight gain because I already have a problem with that.

I have had excellent results with Abilify! I went off of it due to financial reasons for a short time thinking that it wouldn't make any difference. Well it really did. I promptly went back on it and felt so much better right away. I did ask my pdoc about taking it long term because it works so well for me and he told me no problem. He was very optimistic that it would continue to help me. I am functioning and living a full life now. As long as it is working for me I am happy! Tuti

I know what you mean about Abilify being a miracle. I felt amazing on it! I do think my weight gain started on it and after a few weeks my p-nurse took me off of it due to edema (my ankles were swollen and super ugly) and she didn't like how high my blood sugar was on it. the positive I take from that experience is that I *know* it's possible for me to feel happy and normal even if I'm not feeling like that now...

god, I feel like such a thread killer--like all the time!

JFSLW, is it still working for you?

p.s. I'm not just asking since I don't want to be the last post.

Abilify is my newest medication also, and it appears to be working wonders too. I went up in dose recently from the beginning dose. I have had significant weight gain, have not been exercising like I used to, and still want to overeat, and do so. The other side effect I do not like is SWEATING excessively. It is over hot here though, so I am not sure how much the sweat is "natural" vs. as a side effect. Has anyone else had this experience? Also, I do not feel "flat" as I did when I was on Lithium, Lamictal, Effexor "cocktail". I also have problems with hypertension, ankle swelling, pre-diabetes, cholesterol, all of which I believe are side-effects of one or more of the meds. My psychiatrist has been very good at starting and keeping me on low dosages, so even though I am on the cocktail, I no longer am feeling flat and so very depressed. I go in and out of severe depression, it is great to feel/be OUT of the Depression for now. Hugs.

Not sure if you are still on the effexor, but it makes me sweat, it is ridiculous how much.