Posted by platinumbride on January 10, 2006, at 9:39:09
In reply to Re: can abilify replace lithium? » platinumbride, posted by yxibow on January 9, 2006, at 1:41:19
Thank you for such a thoughtful reply...
I am sorry to see what you wrote about your aunt.Diane
> > Lithium seems to have lost its love for me :(
> >
> > I am Bipolar II, seeing a new doc in a week and thinking of asking about abilify and an maoi.
>
> It was approved for Bipolar I earlier last year.
> >
> > Is abilify a no no for a person experiencing more accute anxiety than ever?
>
> It can cause akathisia, which is a wholly clear and distinct feeling from anxiety but is not helpful in someone anxious. That doesn't mean that you will experience it. I have, and some people do.
>
> Have you thought of Zyprexa or Symbyax instead ? They're a bit more gentle on the system and were approved earlier -- at least Zyprexa I think for BP.
>
> Though BPII doesnt have the psychosis that comes with BPI, so I don't know how effective an AP would be. Maybe someone with BPII can better define this than myself.
>
> >
> > It is clear to me that even though i have tried so hard not to abuse klonopin, after 8years of use, a tolerance has developed and I am not sure that it can offset the possibility of maoi induced anxiety.
>
> Tolerance does develop over long term benzodiazepine use though that doesnt mean that the dose is ineffective, it just may mean you may not notice it as much. I wouldn't at all call it abusing the medication unless you didn't follow your doctors orders.
>
> > The same is true of neurontin. There are days where I take 8000 mgs and I feel minimal relief. Sigh...it seems to work least when I need it the most.
>
> I find Neurontin very subtle but an adjunct to my Valium. 8000mgs -- wow. I take 3600 and I thought that was high. Basically after 900mgs at a dose, for the most part, it eliminates itself from the body, so it is a safe drug, it just doesnt do much after a certain point.
>
> >
> > I think I am just babbling now - kind of chasing my tail here...Things are quite out of control and I'm scared.
>
> There are people here who can work you through your suffering. One of my aunts, well.. succumbed to BP-II shall we say and I dont want to see anything happen to someone that way.
>
> -- J
poster:platinumbride
thread:596724
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060108/msgs/597529.html