[TheatreKid]

I was expecting the opposite effect, since my pdoc said Abilify was activating, but since I started on it, I've felt constant fatigue. There have been 3 changes that could be causing it:

1) I wasn't handling lithium well, there's a problem with my kidneys, but that's getting better.

2) I've been tapering off of lithium for about 3 weeks, but I've tapered off lithium before without this reaction.

3) I've been tapering on Abilify for about 3 weeks.

I am constantly tired. I go to bed at 9 PM. If I take the abilify later in the day I can stay up later. If I take it at 5 I'm in bed by 9. If I take it at 8 I'm in bed by 11.

Does anyone else experience anything like this?

[kittydag18]

I don't take that medication, but I have learned through time that almost any antidepressant or anti anxiety medication has some sort of a sleepiness effect. I have insomnia, so I don't notice it too much, but my mom, who also takes antidepressants, noticed this as well when she was on the Abilify. Hope it gets better

[TheatreKid]

Thanks. That's interesting, my psychiatrist told me to take it at dinner because if I took it too close to bedtime, it would keep me awake. She also said it could cause agitation because it was activating, not sedating like most antipsychotics.

[Broken Robot]

I take 5 mg of Abilify at night. It wakes me a few times, briefly, during the night. That's it, though. (However, if I take it in the day, I do get too tired.)

It's not activating to me, either. In fact, I'm super low energy right now.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Abilify generally tends to cause sort of a restless energy...it was never sedating for me even at 10mg another one you have listed seroquel is very sedating for most people so I'm wondering if the last time you tapered off lithium were you on seroquel then? Is possible the lithium was blocking the sedating effect or something...

Another possibility is the combination of drugs you are taking so you've got 3 antipsychotics...they are all going to be competing for some of the same receptors....the effects of this aren't exactly known...I've seen some studies where 2 are used together like using abilify to mitigate the prolactin effect of risperidone and such but with 3 I'd say you're an experiment in progress so you get to write the manual...

[TheatreKid]

Thanks for your responses.

I've been on Seroquel for 6 years. At first, it was used as monotherapy. Then it was used with Risperidone and Lamictal. Then just Risperidone. Then with Lithium. It doesn't sedate me any more. My psychiatrist keeps me on it as a mood stabilizer.

I'm not sure why I'm on 3 antipsychotics. I was only meant to be on Abilify to help the depression and Seroquel to keep a lid on the mania. She added Risperidone when I complained of anxiety. I think when I see her today I'll ask to discontinue the Risperidone to see if that will help the fatigue, because it's not helping my anxiety.

[ginaaa22]

abilify works better when taking with a meal

[TheatreKid]

I take it with dinner.

[ginaaa22]

Ive seen very few people on 3 antipsychotics...but maybe you've tried alot of mes

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