[Beholden]

I see all the ads on TV about adding Abilify to their antidepresant meds if one is still having symptoms. Just wondering if anyone has been or is currently using that?

My meds are working mostly, I think. But I still have "issues" with getting back into the flow of life. Quality of Live. I function with most things, cook meals most of the time, do some house work, as long as there is no pressure. I'm unemployed and want to work, but right now there are not jobs out there! I want to work, but the thoughts of learning and keeping a new job cause some anxiety. I'm bored to be alone so much, yet guilty with not having productive work (money earning) I have trouble making phone calls, think I might be bothering someone. Have some trouble going out when I don't have to. When I am with my one very good friend, we have fun. I'm not sure it is all "depression". Am I just lazy, or do these things sound like some issues that are part of it.

Anyone else feel like that? I have an appointment soon and plan to talk about this, but some feed back would be great. Thanks.

[yutzman]

Hello Pexeva13, Yes I did the FDA voluntary trial use of aripiprizole (abilify) in the concurrent use of anti-deppressent meds at many dosages. I volunteered in 2005 and also in 2006 for studies in the use of this drug (mainly used for Bi-Polar Depression) as an adjunct for use in Depressive Only Syndromes.......
My study went for 6 months of treatment with aripiprizole 5mg/and 150mg Effexor/per day. I took weekly physical and medical exams..blood samples and questionaires...
None of the results were ever made known to me as a result of these studies....................
However, my subjective results are probably the best.
No Change........After all was said and done on the pharmacological horizon and testing and whatever........
I never had a change in my mood from the use of aripiprizole as an adjunct to my depression med therapy..............period.....
I don't know how the pharamacuetical company got approval to use this drug for this reason, I can only say that this drug DOES NOT work to help depression.................Any attempt to market this product to treat depression in any way has not passed my first hand knowledge and experience in the use of this drug...

I take it and it's helped me quite a bit. I guess everyone's experience is different.

[adamsgirl]

I take abilify and have been stable for a while now. It's been a great help to me.

[internettie]

I've been taking Abilify for years now. It most definitely helps me. It's been a great mood stabilizer in my case. You certainly should talk to your pdoc about it.

[madisgram]

i had terrible side effects while on abilify for a mood stabalizer. it made me so restless i couldn't sit down. couldn't concentrate, etc. everyone responds differently to meds but for me it had to go!

[deliquesce]

i kind of felt it did nothing much, so we gave it the flick. it was probably more useful to me as a placebo drug than anything... gave me the idea that it would increase my energy or something.

i'm surprised the clinical trials for it are so recent!! that's a bit scary...

[multipixie9]

pexeva13,

i have not tried abilify. i take nortyptaline and cymbalta. the cymbalta has been the first drug for depression that ever worked for me and it has helped with the pain problems as well, which was great, BUT

i feel a lot like what you wrote. i can't find much interest or energy for doing daily life. i don't want to die, which is a distinct improvement...but i do not want to do anything around the house and i feel like a great big ZERO!!!!! all i actually want to do is be on the computer and it is to make connections with people and entertain my brain and i feel my spouse probably resents me for doing nothing while he works very hard at his jobs - although he is a bit of a workaholic so it is his escape too!

sorry i can't help you...i wish desperately i could find some "want to" in my life. i wish it were not so hard to get up and do such simple things. i feel so negative about myself right now. i hate myself. sorry for sharing this but it is true. i am beginning to think of talking to my doc who prescribed this for me, but i am hesitant to mess with it because it has worked some. i hope you find some answers for you!!!

leslie and the pixies

[Beholden]

Thanks for you reply, it gives me some hope that there is something out there that may help me. In the begining, on Pexeva since June I was sleeping way too much and my doc said if that continues, there was something else he could add to it but he had to wait and see how I did. I've been on other SSRIs for about 10 years now and Cymbalta and Effexor durning the last 5 of those years, each one pooping out on me as I relapsed. this new doc is very good and doesn't just up the medication without really watching me. Before, I had just pc docs who just handed out the meds like candy. This time period since my last medication check is 3 months. So I'm feeling more "symptoms" I guess. I don't know if he is going to think I need something else, but I'm thinking maybe I do. I hate sleeping my life away or not being able to sleep at all. Yet, I welcome sleep as a way to not being bored and not motivatied to do anything. I do fine when I have something to do, like a scheduled day with my friend. Or a dentist appointment! or weekly grocery shopping that has to be done. That's why I'm doint know if that is depression or just being lazy.

Thanks and sorry about rambling on.....I've just trying to figure it out.

Since I'm new at this hope my question isn't prying too much. But, what do you mean by feeling "stable"? I know that sounds silly, but how has Ability helped exactly? Why did your doc have you start it, what kinds of things-feelings, behaviors-mood-were you having and is depression your only problem. Mine is MDD and Pexeva is working for me-never have been suicidal just depressed in ways that made life painful or not as good as it once was. When you started Abilify were you feeling up and down, too emotional or just flat with no energy type of thing?

[lost49]

Originally Posted by Pexeva13

Thanks for you reply, it gives me some hope that there is something out there that may help me. In the begining, on Pexeva since June I was sleeping way too much and my doc said if that continues, there was something else he could add to it but he had to wait and see how I did. I've been on other SSRIs for about 10 years now and Cymbalta and Effexor durning the last 5 of those years, each one pooping out on me as I relapsed. this new doc is very good and doesn't just up the medication without really watching me. Before, I had just pc docs who just handed out the meds like candy. This time period since my last medication check is 3 months. So I'm feeling more "symptoms" I guess. I don't know if he is going to think I need something else, but I'm thinking maybe I do. I hate sleeping my life away or not being able to sleep at all. Yet, I welcome sleep as a way to not being bored and not motivatied to do anything. I do fine when I have something to do, like a scheduled day with my friend. Or a dentist appointment! or weekly grocery shopping that has to be done. That's why I'm doint know if that is depression or just being lazy.

Thanks and sorry about rambling on.....I've just trying to figure it out.

Since I'm new at this hope my question isn't prying too much. But, what do you mean by feeling "stable"? I know that sounds silly, but how has Ability helped exactly? Why did your doc have you start it, what kinds of things-feelings, behaviors-mood-were you having and is depression your only problem. Mine is MDD and Pexeva is working for me-never have been suicidal just depressed in ways that made life painful or not as good as it once was. When you started Abilify were you feeling up and down, too emotional or just flat with no energy type of thing?

I have been on paxil and klonophin for many yrs for panic attacks and it saved me,but now i deal with deep depression over losing my son,and the doc added Abilify today, and i am very scared to try it...i dont know what to do...

[lost49]

I have been taking paxil and klonophin for many yrs now for panic attacks,it helped me alot. Today my doc added Abilify 2 mg for my depression,i lost my son 4 yrs ago, and the depression is horrible,but im very scared to take new meds,especially after reading all the bad stuff (side effects) from Abilify. I dont know what to do

[Beholden]

I'm sorry about the loss of your son. Hopefully the added med will help you a lot. My daughter-in-law lost her son many years ago and she talks about that with me sometimes. (She was married and had children before she and my son were married.) Things do get better from me and I know from her if she knew of your situation. She lives in Florida also near Orlando.

Let me know how you do with the added Abilify. I'm wondering why you are afraid of it? I'm a bad one to want to take new meds! I take enough for "regular" stuff like blood pressure etc...the older I get the less I want to add anything. But if it may help, I'm willing.