Abilifry - starting tomorrow

Starting abilifry tomorrow for depression and anxiety and it's reputation terrifies me.

I will be on 500mg of depakine, 12,5 Mg of trazodone, 25mg of seroquel for sleeping (replacing 80mg of dominal) and I don't know how much abilifry.

I take Abilify 20 mg / day (10 mg in the morning and 10 mg at night), and haven't have any issues with it. The max daily dose is 30 mg.

I switched from olanzepine (Zyprexa) which put weight on me.

What have you heard about Abilify that scares you?

Follow the doctors advice and im sure it will be fine.

I'm on the depot injection monthly. I get 409mg every month and it's so acting through my body monthly. It's been good for me

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First of all: I had arrythmia and a cardiac arrest some years ago. Those were probably linked to the use of duloxetine (that is: according to documentation, only qt prolongation occurs in very rare cases, but all irregularities disappeard within a month after stopping the medication). I am terrified of experiencing this again.

And then there are weight gain (my cardiologist thinks I should lose weight and this will become extra difficult), akathisia and tardive dyskinesia and the possibility that this is irreversible.

Given that I had mostly side-effects with all other antidepressants and anxiety related medication ... well, I did not get much sleep last night.

In the end, it comes down to certain side effects being irreversible and my experience with having experienced a lot of side effects.

((( pliepla )))

It's scary for sure... considering what you've been through with your heart.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns and ask to be started on a low dose (they'll probably prescribe a low dose anyway).

I don't have side effects, myself...

Why do you need an antipsychotic in the first place?

I tried antidepressants from all available classes and had no effect with them.

I am currently going through a breakup with an ex who keeps kicking me. I can only avoid her when I stop my hobby from 14 years (stopping is exactly which I have now done, giving in to somebody who started only a year ago). It causes extreme anxiety in all social situations and has made me very depressed. I have lost all contact with the friends I made the last two years (battling my social anxiety in the first place) and tango dancing has been the context where I felt comfortable enough to start a relationship in the first place (and there is a lot of anxiety that I will never get an opportunity with somebody else in the first place).

But so summarize: extreme anxiety in all social contact and depression. And a history of bad experiences with medication that is typically used to treat depression and anxiety.



Maybe I should write a piece about how this relationship turned out (I have before, during one of our temporary breakups, I guess I can build on that)

I'm so sorry about your suffering and challenges... and sincerely hope things get better for you soon.

One of the anti-depressants I take is mirtazepine (Remeron), it helps me with my depression, but also treats anxiety which is a major relief to me. I take it and also any SI I might be experiencing disappears quickly.

If you haven't tried it, talk it over with your doctor.

You might also want to check out a book called "Born to Win" by Muriel James and Dorothy Jongward (Gestalt therapy and transactional analysis). Secondhand copies are available through AbeBooks | Shop for Books, Art & Collectibles, if you can't get it at your local library.

I would also suggest Dr. Claire Weekes' "Hope and Help for Your Nerves" either in a book or audiobook format. You can also check out YouTube clips.

Anyhow, I hope that helps...

Wishing you the best on your healing journey....

I totally understand you, fearing akathisia and TD and especially given that TD can be irreversible. I was the same way as you, fearing Abilify especially given the very high % of akathisia side effects in its clinical trials. And because I had experienced terrible akathisia even on APs that normally do not cause it, esp. Seroquel at high doses, I was resistant to trying Abilify.

Ultimately I tried it and it did NOT cause akathisia. It caused nausea and nausea would not go away. I did not have Zofran at that time. Nausea was very bad and would not go away, so I ultimately stopped Abilify. Now if I had to try Abilify again, I would pair it with Zofran to counteract nausea and push through, but I do not need that trial now because ultimately a combo of Geodon and Seroquel for sleep, with occasional Lybalvi PRN, works just fine for me. The point it, it is only through trial and error that you learn how any medication acts in your unique body, so do not be afraid, try and if it does not work, desist from using it.

A couple of things in general in terms of counteracting akathisia:

- Gabapentin ameliorates akathisia and has other positive effects including the improvement of sleep architecture
- High doses of Vit B6 (300 mg and more but not much more) coupled with a regular B complex ameliorate EPS in general. My psychiatrist researched the issue, I started taking B vitamins last year, and virtually all EPS are gone. Take it from me as someone very prone to EPS, akathisia, and Parkinsonism.

In general, for TD prevention, aim to use the lowest dose of AP that works in you. The lower the dose, the lesser the risk of TD.

And, you are not going to get TD from just trying. It is safe to try and if you do not like it, you can stop and seek another agent.

As for QT-interval prolongation, it is a possible side effect of all APs. Get a baseline EKG before you go on Abilify and then follow up with regular EKGs for monitoring. If you catch QT-interval prolongation, stop Abilify and seek another agent.

Also, I would hold on to tango at all costs.