Posted by KayeBaby on July 25, 2007, at 23:12:38
In reply to Re: Abilify users I need your feedback » KayeBaby, posted by Michael on July 25, 2007, at 17:57:52
> Hi,
>
> I have a similar diagnosis - dysthymia, some add-like symptoms, not much anxiety...
>
> I had largely the same experience as you... I added it to welbutrin. Did much better, though sleep was thrown off some; didn't sleep much at night (maybe 4 hours?) and slept a couple/few hours during the day.
>
> I was hoping that the akathisia, or restlessness would diminish with time, along with the sleep issues... which it seemed to be doing.
>
> I went from 2.5 mg to 5 mg, (after 2 weeks) and I experienced the opposite effect - that is to say, it sedated me. I stopped for a while, (a couple weeks, maybe) and started again @ 2.5 mg again, but I still experienced the sedation this time.
>
> So, I'm wondering how you're doing now? Has the sedation returned for you?
>I did the same thing. Couple weeks at 2.5 then up to 5mg. # weeks to the day I became fatigued and slept for literally half the weekend.
A few days later I got chills and fever and went to the dr. Found ear infection.
Did I get fatigued at 3 weeks becuase the abilify reached asteady state and was too much or was it the infection. I quit abilify the moment I experienced the profound fatigue although it had been working great till then. The longer I was off the abilify the worse I felt. Tired and depressed. I was off for about 10 days and I began feeling better about 4 days back on the Abilify.
> Does anyone know, does the stimulation typically change to sedation as the dose is raised? Or simply over time? It was such a drastic reversal - from stimulation to sedation - that I don't understand how & why the change happened.
>
> Perhaps 2.5 mg / day was too much, as time passed and it built up in my body? Maybe taking it a couple times a week would've been better than every day? ...don't know if that makes any sense?
>
> [does anyone take it less frequently than daily?]
>
> In any case, I hope you're still getting a benefit from it... Any feedback or insights that you or others may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated.
>I was doing really well for the week or so I was on the 5mg before I quit it. I am thinking of going back up to that again. Maybe 2.5 one day and 5mg the next.
How long were you at the 5mg dose before you became fatigued?
I know some people take as little as 1mg with good results for energy.
What time of day do you take it?
Also-point to ponder. One thing I considered was that before I crashed I had been experiencing sleep disturbance and wonder if I maybe built up a sleep deficit and this played into my tiredness. I really slept for a couple of days.
Maybe you are cathing up on your sleep?
> ... I really had my hopes up - it helped so much initially, w/energy & motivation, etc. ...and then it was like a sleeping pill, knocking me out...? Does that make any sense, or tell me anything about HOW my brain is [not] working?
>
> Thanks,
>
> michael
It is helping but I am hoping I will become more enrgetic and motivated the it was before I got sick. I know people go on it and off it with mostly consistant results. Not true with alot of meds and definately not true often with me. I usually try to be really sure before stopping a med as it usually will not work the same for me.I was looking at my journal and my response so far seems consistant with taking it the first time so I am hopeful.
Let's keep each other up on our experimentation with this med.
Thanks!
Kaye
poster:KayeBaby
thread:770698
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070719/msgs/772023.html