[Susanna117]

Hi, new member here. I've been taking a combination of Concerta, Wellbutrin, and Lexapro for ADD and depression for a couple of years. I've had ups and down during that time, and I've never gotten to where I felt great and healthy again.

I also take thyroid medication for hypothyroidism, and it's often very hard to tell what symptoms are from depression and what are from low thyroid. I have my thyroid pretty well controlled now, so I believe I have some underlying mental health issues that aren't being addressed.

Specifically anxiety, irritability/hostility, and pretty significant mood swings. I have a definite OCD component to these symptoms. My doc doesn't believe I meet criteria for bi-polar, but still wanted to try me on 2 mg of Abilify to help stabilize mood and level out my hostility.

I took the first dose last night, and am feeling foggy. I hate to judge anything after one dose, but this morning I had some mild heart fluttering. I also awoke with a broken blood vessel in my eye, and have been feeling flushed the past few days, presumably because I just finished 6 days of steroids for severe bronchitis.

I spent most of the wee hours of the night online reading about Abilify, and what I read scared the living daylights out of me. Tardive dyskinesia, akathesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Plus I read something about interactions of Abilify with Lexapro and Wellbutrin.

I called my doc to for some reassurance and to ask about the mild, sporadic heart fluttering. Her assistant said she was behind today and swamped, and could she just give the message to the doc and call me back with her answer. So I try to give her the best information I can, and she calls me back and says doc said to stop taking it. Just like that. After one dose...stop. Stop until you're off steriods, or forever? Have we determined it's not safe and it's a failure after one 2 mg dose?

My doc isn't usually like this, I think today must have been a hectic day, and maybe since she didn't have time to talk to me, she just played it safe. I am irritated with her, but I'm willing to discuss it with her at my next appointment.

Once the fog started wearing off, I felt very even keeled, and not so edgy and irritable. I really want my moods to stabilize. I'm torn between wanting to give this a fair try and being terrified.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to take tonight's dose. Any suggestions or comments on this mix of medications.

Thank you.

[3kittycat]

Hi. Welcome to the site. I am new here too, but everybody has been great about helping me out.

I take Abilify for bipolar II disorder. It is a relatively new medication in my med cocktail. I started out on 10mg, then went to 5, and now just recently went to 15 to stave off some hypomania.

The first night I took the 10mg I had some restlessness and inability to sleep. I felt the need to move a lot. My pdoc then lowered it down to 5mg and I started taking it in the morning. The 5mg agreed more with me in the beginning. I am now on 15mg at night again am sleeping well and the hypomania has subsided.

My main problem with the BPII is depression and I have not had an episode since I started taking it.

My opinion would be that your body just needed a little time to adjust to the new med. 2mg is a very small dose so I would not be concerned about the EPS that you were describing. They have not appeared at my dose of 15. They are much more common at the doses necessary to treat schizophrenia.

I would talk to you pdoc at the next appointment about possibly recontinuing the medication. However, there are certainly other medications in this same class that affect similar receptors.

Make sure that if you continue the medication that you suggest your pdoc order a fasting blood sugar. The medications in this class do have the ability to cause hyperglycemia and eventually diabetes. I just learned today in my nursing orientation that Abilify is one of the worst offenders. I will be asking for a lab draw slip this Wednesday.

If all of this seems like too much for you, then maybe you should reconsider. This class of medications is wonderful for those who need them and are willing to put up with the side effects. However, since you do not carry a dx of bipolar or schizophrenia there may be a better option out there for you. I, however, have never had better luck with any other psychotropic medication.

Good luck to you.

[doodlebug63]

I am new to this site as well, and have a situation that sounds fairly similar to yours. I have been on a combination of Adderall and Cymbalta for about the past nine months. About three months ago, I started having some more problems with anxiety than I had been experiencing before, so my doctor put me on 10 mg of Lexapro as well. That did help get rid of the anxiety symptoms I had been experiencing, but a different nasty symptom decided to join the fun. My irritability and lack of patience/tolerance had gotten so out of hand that many people in my life were finding it hard to be around me. Most people felt like they were talking to a loose cannon when they were having a conversation with me, because they would never know what would get a negative reaction out of me. Because these symtpoms are fairly severe and disruptive to my life, my doctor decided to discontinue the Lexapro and added 2 mg. of abilify. In the past I had tried Depakote and Seroquel, but both had such negative side effects that they were not worth it to me to continue them. Well, I took my first dose of Abilify this morning and everything was fine for the first few hours. Now I have developed severe muscle aches that is making if painful to even sit at my desk. I will probably give my doctor a call if this continues, but I just wanted to let you know that I know the same kind of struggle you are going through with this new medication.

[DePressMe]

Sorry you are having so many problems with the abilify. I have been on it for a couple years and it has worked wonders for me. I also take wellbutrin and dexedrine with no problems of interactions. I am surprised you had a reaction on such a small dose--I take 30 mgs a day. I hope you find something that works for you soon.

[momscare]

My daughter was recently prescribed Abilify. She is already on Tenex & Cymbalta. She has had significant weight gain, about 10 lbs on a 12 year-old. I don't want to be superficial, but this is a bad time of her life to add weight gain. He doctor didn't seem to think it was the Abilify, but 10 lbs is a lot over just 2 months. She is 5'1" & now about 140 lbs. He dad is overweight so I am not sure it's the Abilify or heredity. I don't see any improvements in he mood swings. She is very, very irritable. Again, I wonder if this is puberty. I am very confused. I want to make sure she is on the right meds to help her, but am unsure of what signs I should be looking for. She isn't able to understand her moods at her age & hates to admit to the doctor that she feels bad or has had bad days. She thinks that makes her a bad person. I have taken her to several therapist to help her work through these issues Can anyone give me any direction?

[DePressMe]

momscare, sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I wish I could be of help, but I know teens often display signs differently than adults. I just wanted you to know I read your post and I am hoping you can get some help with your daughter.