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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2012, at 22:52:23
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 22:48:07
You say motivational? Staying in bed? What does your therapist said reguarding this? Do you feel you need another med or a jump start so to speak? Phillipa
Posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 23:14:38
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt » JohnLA, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2012, at 22:52:23
hi phillipa-
my fellow anosmic! :) by the way, since i'm tossing greek terms around (i'm greek) did you know that your nickname means 'lover of horses' in ancient greek?
thanks for responding to my thread.
yes. i need a 'jump-start' as you say. i'm not sure meds are the answer. or, if i'm not on the right meds. over the course of the last 2 years of all the treatments i've tried wellbutrin (eventual huge anxiety) and just plain ol' coffee have worked somewhat.
again, i'm nervous to use abilify even at a low dose because i researched the potential side effects. scary stuff. though, staying in bed for as a long as i have has been a nightmare in itself.
thanks again for your reply.
john; the other person here who can't smell either! ;)
Posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 23:22:48
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt » JohnLA, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2012, at 22:52:23
sorry phillipa i didn't answer your ? about what my therapist tells me...
that i need to take that 'first step' and move my butt and the mind will follow. easier said than done. i was always a 'bed' person before my depression it. reading, sleeping, internet. safe haven for me my whole life. (i'm 49 now.) now it's becoming a death sentence.
a relaxed habit has become a lifestyle unfortunately...
Posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2012, at 23:34:57
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 23:14:38
John if you can't smell you can't taste either like me? Is this the reason for the depression as I find this the hardest thing to ever happen to me and it's permanent. Since you don't have your babblemail on so can write you privately could you write me? See my posting name Phillipa? Click on it a screen appears and you can write me a personal message at the very bottom is a send button make sure you click that and I will get the message in my emails. I'd love to talk with you about the smell. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by JohnLA on January 6, 2012, at 0:25:34
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt » JohnLA, posted by Phillipa on January 5, 2012, at 23:34:57
dear phillipa;
i wonder if the smell and moving my butt are connected in some way?! ;)
seriously though, my depression and my loss of smell are connected. you are not alone. if you remember, i did reply to the study you posted about depression/anhedonia last month or so.
i lost my sense of smell about 1o years ago. looking back i realize i was in a mild depression from that point on. my major depression though hit when i suffered several losess; financial, health, and emotional stressors that all took place over 2009/2010.
i think you and i suffer a double whammy because just like people who don't 'get' depression and have no understanding of it, i feel that people who smell and taste have absolutely no clue what a loss it is not to have these senses. i would love to smack a person each time i hear, 'that must be great for losing weight; not being able to taste food!' what idiots.
i have had 2 sinus surgeries for nasal polyps. i usually get a little bit of smell back for a few months after each surgery and then nothing. also, prednisone also works for reducing the swelling of the polyps. though being on a steroid long-term is not good news and should be avoided.
i do a saline rinse with a steroid solution. some people are having some luck with this. check-out the site 'sinusdynamics.com' for more info on this.
it depends on the cause of your ansomnia; mine is due to the polyps and chronic sinusitis.
sorry about the babblemail. i just rather leave it off. feel free to ask me anything you like here in this thread.
i think i read that you eat a lot of sweets? me too. it's one of the few things we can taste...
Posted by Emme-V2 on January 6, 2012, at 19:15:43
In reply to low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 22:31:22
> so, has anybody found 2 to 5 mg of abilify to help in regards to getting your butt out of bed and back to life?
YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2.5 mg makes a huge difference for me. I had tremendous apathy problems at one point. After 4 days on low-dose Abilify, I remember thinking "so this is what everyone else feels like..." I could actually get things done. Not in a manic way. Just in a normal way. Also, it helps my anxiety.
As far as side effects, it's not without them. I have to watch out for fatigue (not apathy, just tiredness), which a low dose stimulant helps. I've had some weight gain. But compared to most antidepressants, it feels way easier to tolerate.
Good luck with it.
emme
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 19:31:40
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by JohnLA on January 6, 2012, at 0:25:34
Just reading this and yes do remember. But since mine isn't due to sinus problems same treatments won't work. Yes lindtt truffles. The texture the most. Fine with babblemail off no problem. Phillipa
Posted by Phidippus on January 6, 2012, at 23:31:33
In reply to low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 22:31:22
I would do Geodon on or Latuda before I did Abilify.
Eric
Posted by JohnLA on January 7, 2012, at 19:03:56
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt » JohnLA, posted by Emme-V2 on January 6, 2012, at 19:15:43
thanks emme for your response.
i appreciate it.
still not sure i'm gonna 'bite' on the abilify...
john
Posted by JohnLA on January 7, 2012, at 19:07:02
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt » JohnLA, posted by Phidippus on January 6, 2012, at 23:31:33
hi eric-
thanks for your reply to my post.
can i ask why you prefer geodon or latuda over abilify?
thanks again.
john
Posted by Phidippus on January 7, 2012, at 21:32:50
In reply to geodon or latuda over abilify?, posted by JohnLA on January 7, 2012, at 19:07:02
Abilify is a D2 partial agonist, which can lower serotonin levels. Its efficacy as a 5ht1a agonist falls short when compared to Latuda or Geodon.
Geodon is also an SNRI, so it has a lot of potency as an antidepressant.
Eric
Posted by Emme-V2 on January 7, 2012, at 22:46:46
In reply to thanks emme-V2, posted by JohnLA on January 7, 2012, at 19:03:56
> thanks emme for your response.
>
> i appreciate it.
>
> still not sure i'm gonna 'bite' on the abilify...
>
> john
What is worrying you about it?emme
Posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 1:02:17
In reply to Re: thanks emme-V2 » JohnLA, posted by Emme-V2 on January 7, 2012, at 22:46:46
What is worrying you about it?
emme-
i'm scared about the side effects; especially the potential that some of the side effects could be permanent from what i have researched.
i realize at such a low dosages the risk is small...also, my 'faith' in psychiatry is a bit of the problem as well. (i was somewhat talked into ect by another doc and that didn't work, so i guess i'm a little entitled to be skeptical.)
still, something needs to be done.
thanks again for your help.
john
Posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 1:58:14
In reply to Re: geodon or latuda over abilify? » JohnLA, posted by Phidippus on January 7, 2012, at 21:32:50
thanks for the info eric.
john
Posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 6:19:38
In reply to Re: thanks emme-V2, posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 1:02:17
> What is worrying you about it?
>
> emme-
>
> i'm scared about the side effects; especially the potential that some of the side effects could be permanent from what i have researched.
>
> i realize at such a low dosages the risk is small...also, my 'faith' in psychiatry is a bit of the problem as well. (i was somewhat talked into ect by another doc and that didn't work, so i guess i'm a little entitled to be skeptical.)
>
> still, something needs to be done.
>
> thanks again for your help.
Because of where in the brain Abilify works, movement disorders are very unlikely to emerge. Akathisia is a possible reaction, however. It would occur very early in treatment, so you can stop taking Abilify if it becomes intolerable without risking any irreversible effects. Some people experience a mild "akathisia-like" reaction that disappears within a week or two. If you are looking for a dopamine boost, Abilify might fit the bill. It can actually stimulate dopamine receptors without overstimulation. Drugs like Mirapex and Requip are harder to work with because they overstimulate dopamine receptors - both presynaptically and postsynaptically. Abilify is more of a dopamine system stabilizer. It does other things too, of course. 5-HT2a antagonist and NE alpha-1 partial agonist properties might be important in its antidepressant effects as well.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 6:23:01
In reply to Re: geodon or latuda over abilify?, posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 1:58:14
> thanks for the info eric.
>
> johnI would try Abilify first. It works. Theory is nice, but clinical observation is perhaps more important in evaluating the properties of a drug. Geodon is certainly a drug to keep in mind, but it is somewhat erratic in the way it affects different people.
- Scott
Posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 15:24:04
In reply to Re: thanks emme-V2 » JohnLA, posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 6:19:38
thanks scott.
really appreciate the advice and 'hand-holding' regarding the abilify.
i decided to stat at 1mg for a week then go to 2 mg next week. does this matter? i've read on some other sites where people even take it every other day at 1 or 2 mg...
thanks again.
Posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 15:26:54
In reply to Re: thanks emme-V2 » JohnLA, posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 6:19:38
thanks scott.
really appreciate the advice and 'hand-holding' regarding the abilify.
i decided to stat at 1mg for a week then go to 2 mg next week. does this matter? i've read on some other sites where people even take it every other day at 1 or 2 mg...
thanks again.
Posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 15:52:13
In reply to Re: thanks emme-V2 » JohnLA, posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 6:19:38
scott-
i just read your post about stopping abilify due to cholesterol. you also mentioned in another post about weight gain. i suffer from high cholesterol and have put on about 10 pounds since i've been on remeron for the past year...
do you know if these are factors in low doses of abilify?
thanks. (i'll try not to double post this time.)
john
Posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 18:29:41
In reply to Re: thanks emme-V2, posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 15:52:13
> scott-
>
> i just read your post about stopping abilify due to cholesterol.Actually, my cholesterol is fine. My triglycerides are elevated. I gained about 50 pounds on Abilify, but it took several years.
> do you know if these are factors in low doses of abilify?
That's a great question. I don't know if the weight gain is dosage dependent.
Geodon is weight-neutral compared to the other antipsychotics.
- Scott
Posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 20:36:07
In reply to Re: thanks emme-V2 » JohnLA, posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 18:29:41
thanks scott.
if i ever get well, you are on a long list of people that i will invite to stay free-of-charge at my family's hotel on a gorgeous greek island.
no joke.
thanks agin.
Posted by SLS on January 8, 2012, at 21:49:07
In reply to thank-you scott, posted by JohnLA on January 8, 2012, at 20:36:07
> if i ever get well, you are on a long list of people that i will invite to stay free-of-charge at my family's hotel on a gorgeous greek island.
>
> no joke.Woohoo!
We better get you well in a hurry...
- Scott
Posted by creepy on January 15, 2012, at 1:35:09
In reply to low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 22:31:22
some people respond better to TCAs and MAOIs. Might be worth a try as well.
The side effects are probably less with the AAP.
The odds of any EPS are pretty low.
Posted by Noa on July 29, 2015, at 11:38:52
In reply to low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by JohnLA on January 5, 2012, at 22:31:22
So I'm reactivating this thread because I have more or less the same question.
The short version:
--Need help with motivation and mobilization--the cumulative effect of years of not getting anything done is seriously alarming!!!
--Wonder if Abilify can help
--Concerned about effects on blood sugar
The Long Version:Been on cocktail of Effexor XR, Nefazodone, Adderall XR, and small dose of Ativan at night to counter restless legs caused by Effexor. Why the combo? Don't do well on higher doses of Effexor--anything over 300 mg causes major word retrieval and other memory issues plus muscle jerks, etc. So Nefazodone balances that out and adds more AD effect. Adderall is for augmented Ad effect and to counter lack of focus from depression and the other AD meds.
Anyway, the reason I'm inquiring is that my depression has been well controlled for many years. My mood is good, etc. BUT, I have had 'residual' symptoms that are either residual depressive symptoms or unwanted effects of my AD meds. These problems seem to have gotten worse over time, and their effect on my life has really worsened cumulatively. I guess 'apathy' or 'lack of motivation' comes close to describing what I mean. Or perhaps more accurate to call it inability to mobilize, get anything done. Nothing gets done and over time the cumulative effect goes from being an annoying sort of pile-up of objects, tasks, deadlines, etc., to a rather alarming set of totally overwhelming dysfunctional areas of life. That is why I'm wondering if I should request a trial of some abilify.I know someone who went from being totally unable to face a very challenging situation at work (suddenly being assigned a large project beyond her skill level)...taking to bed 24 hours a day for over a week...to being able to get up and face the problem and begin to work on it...with human help to make a plan for how to work on it, and identify which parts she has the skills for and who/what can help her with the areas of challenge, whereas before the Abilify (added to her ADs and anti-anxiety meds) she could make Zero use of such support.
One concern I have about Abilify is that it is reported to elevate blood sugar. Secondarily I also wonder about it effect on cholesterol.
Any comments?
Posted by SLS on July 29, 2015, at 14:42:26
In reply to Re: low dose abilify as a add-on to move my butt, posted by Noa on July 29, 2015, at 11:38:52
Hi Noa.
It's nice to see you again.
Abilify can indeed produce metabolic changes. Weight-gain can be latent and insidious. It doesn't happen right away, and then sneaks up on you little by little. I take Abilify 10 mg/day. It helps with motivation. Abilify is a unique drug, though, and might be worth a try. If you don't like what you see, you can stop taking it. Weight gain is just as likely at 2.0 mg/day as it is at 20.0 mg/day.
I like Pristiq better than Effexor. Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is the major active metabolite of Effexor. You can get a robust therapeutic effect at a much reduced dosage. You might be able to push the drug to 100 mg/day or higher without suffering cognitive side effects. 100 mg/day is very often the optimal dose.
Have you tried adding Wellbutrin or nortriptyline to Effexor? A friend of mine is doing very well with a combination of Pristiq 100 mg/day and Wellbutrin. She failed to respond to quite a few drugs, including Parnate.
You could try adding Lamictal 200 mg/day. It can help with both mental energy and motivation. Abilify and Lamictal seem to work well together.
If you decide not to go with Abilify immediately, the following plan might make some sense as an alternative:
1. Switch from Effexor to Pristiq
2. Add Wellbutrin
3. Add Lamictal
4. Switch from Wellbutrin to nortriptyline
5. Add Abilify
6. Smile and be happyLike I said, if you opt to go with Abilify now, you can always stop taking it if you don't like what you see. Just know that some people experience significant anxiety as a withdrawal effect. I couldn't guess as to how often this occurs.
Take care of yourself.
- Scott
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