[*Beth*]

I'm seeing my pdoc tomorrow and am researching meds that might be helpful for bipolar delusions, bipolar depression, and mixed state BD.

If you have been, or on, Abilify what is your experience with it?
Thanks~

[MobiusPsyche]

I take Abilify and Cymbalta. The Abilify does help with anxiety for sure but it also helps with my depressive symptoms. I know because I cut my dose in half recently as an experiment and within 5 days I was experiencing new anxiety and depression symptoms. I don't have any significant side effects from Abilify.

But it can cause some people to develop diabetes. I made my GP prescribe me an insulin tester and test strips and I checked myself every day for 3 months when I first started taking Abilify. Thankfully it didn't raise my blood sugar but it is a risk.

ETA I have mixed episodes most recently.

[*Beth*]

Thank you! Your answer is helpful on several accounts. I am going to suggest to my pdoc tomorrow that we try Abilify, but I was worried that it causes depression. Since it doesn't for you, that a positive.



How does anyone get their GP to do anything, like yours gave you the tester and test strips? It seems like my GP tells me to ask my pdoc/pdoc tells me to ask GP. It's really annoying...I mean, they are treating the same person.


Have you ever tried Lamictal (to possibly stabilize the mixed states)? I have been experiencing mixed episodes all summer and nothing so far is touching it. Supposedly Lamictal does for most people (doesn't seem to for me).

[MobiusPsyche]

No I haven't tried lamictal but I might soon. I'll share my experience if I go that route.

[MobiusPsyche]

My GP is awesome and takes me seriously about my depression and anything else I come to him with. He's not dismissive and he doesn't blame my mental illness for physical things that come up. Truly he's a gem.

He saw some self harm I had done and so when I said I wanted to start taking Abilify but was scared of getting diabetes, he prescribed the insulin testing supplies. He wanted me to be on Abilify just as much as my pdoc did.

[Marielisa2]

I was on abilify for years and it was wonderful. But when I ended up in the hospital the therapist decided my dose was to high and cut it in half I quickly went down hill and became suicidal and actually tried to kill myself so my psychiatrist put me on rexulti but when I was on the abilify it definitely helped

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by MobiusPsyche

My GP is awesome and takes me seriously about my depression and anything else I come to him with. He's not dismissive and he doesn't blame my mental illness for physical things that come up. Truly he's a gem.

He saw some self harm I had done and so when I said I wanted to start taking Abilify but was scared of getting diabetes, he prescribed the insulin testing supplies. He wanted me to be on Abilify just as much as my pdoc did.

Wow, he's a special person. That's wonderful! The attitude I get from GP's is that they're afraid of dealing with mental health issues. It seems weird to me.


Yes, if you try Lamictal, keep us posted. I'm really curious to know if it would help you

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Marielisa2

I was on abilify for years and it was wonderful. But when I ended up in the hospital the therapist decided my dose was to high and cut it in half I quickly went down hill and became suicidal and actually tried to kill myself so my psychiatrist put me on rexulti but when I was on the abilify it definitely helped

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm sorry he cut the dosage. If it was working, why not just leave it alone

[still_crazy]

the long term data is best for: maintenance Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective, anti-manic (full dose) Bipolar I. it is a popular add on for people with depression who haven't had sufficient response to whatever it is they're currently on (low dose), but...from what i've read, the data there shows a modest reduction in symptoms, and it carries serious risks (read: now and then, it works miracles...there are other, less expensive, less toxic options to do the same thing).

i think it really depends on your situation. i take a full dose Abilify, daily. no matter the label/diagnosis, a neuroleptic seems to be...part of daily life, for me, for the foreseeable future. the anti-seizure drugs were OK, but not really that helpful. I've always refused lithium. and so...

-if- the psychiatrist, others treating you are sure that you -need- a neuroleptic, and that's just...the way it is...then yes, I'd say do give Abilify a trial. the metabolic nastiness does happen, but it is less common than with seroquel, risperidone, zyprexa, or clozapine. prolactin elevation is not usually an issue, which is...good, because many psychiatrists are so slack they let prolactin-related adverse effects ride till they get sued.

Tardive dyskinesia -does- happen with Abilify. in animal studies (I know this because I get bored and read this stuff, lol), it doesn't cause the same level of damage/changes to the D2 receptor as other drugs. it also doesn't cause 'vacuous chewing movements' in animals as often as older drugs ('vacuous chewing movements' are the animal model of TD...). and yet...

an AIMS test now and then is a good idea. i take tons of b-vitamins and antioxidants because the 'alternative health' people say it helps symptoms and prevents TD. I don't have any eps, tics, td, etc., and i've been on 15-30mgs/daily Abilify for long, long time now, so...

maybe it is helpful at reducing TD risk?

i dont know anything about vraylar, rexulti. my personal approach has been to just stick with what works, and hopefully i won't need to switch until there's more long term data on the newest round of 'atypicals.'

hope this helps a bit. :-)

[*Beth*]

Thank you, still_crazy. You have helped me so much with this

[still_crazy]

i just talked to my psychiatrist. her take on it is: rexulti is better for Schizophrenia with negative symptoms and bad depression in bipolar I+II...Abilify is good for Bipolar I maintenance, some people with Schizophrenia...and then Vraylar has a stronger dopamine-blocking action at the D2 receptors, so its better for mania, agitation in Schizophrenia, and it does some kind of magic at D3 receptors, so it might help with processing speed and such.

she wants me to try Vraylar, next appointment. blah. I'm not gung ho...it can raise prolactin, and I'm prone to EPS and such. I think I so much as move, they see 'mania.' true story.

but...useful info, nonetheless. hope this helps. :-)

[Decaf]

The reason so many people have depression when they reduce or go off Abilify is because it is very difficult to come off this drug without withdrawal... which is different than relapse but can feel even worse. Please research it on the internet. It can also cause weight gain.

D

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

i just talked to my psychiatrist. her take on it is: rexulti is better for Schizophrenia with negative symptoms and bad depression in bipolar I+II...Abilify is good for Bipolar I maintenance, some people with Schizophrenia...and then Vraylar has a stronger dopamine-blocking action at the D2 receptors, so its better for mania, agitation in Schizophrenia, and it does some kind of magic at D3 receptors, so it might help with processing speed and such.

she wants me to try Vraylar, next appointment. blah. I'm not gung ho...it can raise prolactin, and I'm prone to EPS and such. I think I so much as move, they see 'mania.' true story.

but...useful info, nonetheless. hope this helps. :-)

You are so kind to check into all that info and share it. Thank you

My pdoc prescribed the Abilify today. I so have my fingers crossed.

What is EPS? I know what you mean about the mania. I swear, I blink and they point at me and yell "mania!"

Well, it doesn't feel great when a pdoc prescribes a med that we're not gung ho about. Been there, for sure. I will say, though, that there have been a couple of times when a med was prescribed, I thought yeah, right - but to my surprise the med turned out to be helpful.

I sure hope the Vraylar is helpful for you. Please keep me posted.

[still_crazy]

hi. EPS is short for extra-pyramidal (I think...) symptoms or something...its when you get muscle stiffness, stiff gait, dystonic reactions, etc. its the acute/short and mid term reaction. tardive syndromes sometimes develop later on in treatment, more often with the older drugs.

i think all antipsychotics block D2. if its blocked to a point, mania and Schizophrenia get better. blocked too much, EPS. blocked too much for a long time, tardive syndromes. deal with Abilify is that it takes over the D2 receptor, so it blocks it but also partially, mildly stimulates it...so you (ideally, if it works out) get rid of mania, get control over Schizophrenia, but don't get EPS, hopefully no tardive syndromes.

Vraylar is the same way ("D2 Partial Agonist"), but it doesn't stimulate the D2 receptor as much, so its more just straight up blocking it. ugh. not excited.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Decaf

The reason so many people have depression when they reduce or go off Abilify is because it is very difficult to come off this drug without withdrawal... which is different than relapse but can feel even worse. Please research it on the internet. It can also cause weight gain.

D

Thanks, Decaf. Great username, btw. Yes, the damned weight gain. I was on Seroquel for 7 years and gained (I am very serious) 130lbs. Supposedly, Abilify isn't quite as much of a weight-gainer as Ser. is.


I have been on more psych meds that I even want to count and I haven't found a single one that doesn't cause withdrawal symptoms if it's taken for more than 60 days. I cannot understand why most (all?) pdocs deny that.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

hi. EPS is short for extra-pyramidal (I think...) symptoms or something...its when you get muscle stiffness, stiff gait, dystonic reactions, etc. its the acute/short and mid term reaction. tardive syndromes sometimes develop later on in treatment, more often with the older drugs.

i think all antipsychotics block D2. if its blocked to a point, mania and Schizophrenia get better. blocked too much, EPS. blocked too much for a long time, tardive syndromes. deal with Abilify is that it takes over the D2 receptor, so it blocks it but also partially, mildly stimulates it...so you (ideally, if it works out) get rid of mania, get control over Schizophrenia, but don't get EPS, hopefully no tardive syndromes.

Vraylar is the same way ("D2 Partial Agonist"), but it doesn't stimulate the D2 receptor as much, so its more just straight up blocking it. ugh. not excited.

You know, I read some about Vraylar tonight. Many people find it helpful, and hopefully you will, too. That said...I can definitely understand your concerns. Vraylar sure has a lot of potential issues. Any chance you can ask your pdoc to consider a different med?

[still_crazy]

yeah, i think its a matter of explaining that Abilify has bee reasonably good to me and I'd like to continue.