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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lesliekay on July 27, 2003, at 0:03:30
Hi! I am new.... I read previously that there are people on this site that have been experiencing a lot of anxiety and movement disorders on Abilify, Has anyone solved the puzzle? Has anyone started any med for the side effects that seems to be working? I am on Artane and Ativan and they do an OK job, but is there something better?
Posted by River1924 on July 27, 2003, at 0:28:46
In reply to ABILIFY!!!!!!, posted by lesliekay on July 27, 2003, at 0:03:30
Posted by lesliekay on July 27, 2003, at 2:34:11
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!! ?Cogentin ?Benadryl (nm), posted by River1924 on July 27, 2003, at 0:28:46
cogentin made my eyeballs about to explode.... benadryl didn't work....thanks for responding
Posted by SLS on July 27, 2003, at 8:35:57
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!! ?Cogentin ?Benadryl, posted by lesliekay on July 27, 2003, at 2:34:11
> cogentin made my eyeballs about to explode.... benadryl didn't work....thanks for responding
Perhaps amantadine (Symmetrel)?
- Scott
Posted by jlo820 on July 27, 2003, at 11:23:17
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!! ?Cogentin ?Benadryl, posted by SLS on July 27, 2003, at 8:35:57
I think your best bet would be to try propanolol - it is a beta-blocker and commonly used to treat akathisia. Amantadine might also work, as a previous poster said, but propanolol should be tried first.
Instead of Ativan, you could also try Klonopin.
Posted by maxime on July 27, 2003, at 15:33:22
In reply to ABILIFY!!!!!!, posted by lesliekay on July 27, 2003, at 0:03:30
An added question - if one takes Abilify with say cogentin what would happen once you stop both meds (for whatever reason). In other words would you suddenly find out that you were having a movement disorder after the fact? This concerns me since the movement disorders are sometimes irreversible.
Maxime
> Hi! I am new.... I read previously that there are people on this site that have been experiencing a lot of anxiety and movement disorders on Abilify, Has anyone solved the puzzle? Has anyone started any med for the side effects that seems to be working? I am on Artane and Ativan and they do an OK job, but is there something better?
Posted by jlo820 on July 27, 2003, at 17:20:19
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!!, posted by maxime on July 27, 2003, at 15:33:22
I believe that the only movement disorder that is (or can become) irreversible is tardive dyskenisia. No medication can reverse TD.
This is a very scary syndrome, but chances of developing TD are supposed to be less on the atypicals like Abilify, but all anti-psychotics have the potential (except for clozapine).
I would do a google search for info on TD and you will find all you need to know.
Posted by JGDiaz on July 28, 2003, at 14:48:10
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!! ?Cogentin ?Benadryl (nm), posted by River1924 on July 27, 2003, at 0:28:46
I have been on Abilify since July 4, what should I look for, as far as side effects? I am also getting off topamax and I just got off seroquel, I feel like crap and I am not sure from which. Any help out there?
Posted by katiemom on July 28, 2003, at 15:43:37
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!! ?Cogentin ?Benadryl, posted by JGDiaz on July 28, 2003, at 14:48:10
When I first started taking abilify I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. My pdoc gave me Artane. I took it for 2 months and it help a lot. After awhile I stopped Artane and have had no problems with Abilify. My pdoc says that the initial few months you get the side affects, but they start to go away. Hope this helps.
Colleen
Posted by lesliekay on July 29, 2003, at 5:45:17
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!! ?Cogentin ?Benadryl, posted by JGDiaz on July 28, 2003, at 14:48:10
You have read some of the side effects of Abilify already...there is also some early insomnia that I had the first 5 weeks but it passed. I can't comment on the Seroquel...I have never had the joy of that one..but I have been on Topamax 4 separate times. I personally don't do well coming off of it. Not only do I gain a lot of weight,(big deal) but I develop a panic disorder. That is why I have sworn to always take at least 100mg for the rest of my life...it works, plus I can't seem to live without it. Think twice
Posted by lesliekay on July 29, 2003, at 23:50:12
In reply to Re: ABILIFY!!!!!! ?Cogentin ?Benadryl..Topamax, posted by lesliekay on July 29, 2003, at 5:45:17
I am doing that small dose of cogentin stuff..nowhere near the side effects I had the last time. I think it might be early to say but I think it is working!!!!!!!
Posted by pianolady on August 10, 2003, at 17:56:11
In reply to YEAH.....I LOVE COGENTIN NOW, posted by lesliekay on July 29, 2003, at 23:50:12
I too am having great problems with Abilify. I have studied its neurotransmitter activity and I think it sounds like it should be a great drug for me, but I am going out of my skin on this drug. My pdoc told me to take 0.5 mg Xanax when I was feeling the akithesia (I'm not sure why, but he's not sure it is real akithesia--but I don't have any idea what else it could be. I can't sit still; I feel this tremendous inner restlessness, etc.). It's just not working to take the Xanax. It may work for at most 2 hours but I'm not into taking the amount of Xanax I would need to take if I took 0.5 mg every 2 hours. I can't take propranalol as some others have suggested because it lowers my blood pressure dangerously. Any other words of wisdom or help?
I'm getting so anxious about all of this because my pdoc has changed so many meds in the last 3 - 4 weeks or so and I had to go into the hospital for about a week, but I don't think things are any better as far as the meds go. My pdoc isn't really one I can call except in dire emergencies (like if I need to be admitted to the hospital).
Thanks in advance to anyone who has other suggestions.
Posted by jlo820 on August 10, 2003, at 23:42:09
In reply to Reprint of question on Abilify from earlier board, posted by pianolady on August 10, 2003, at 23:20:18
If the benztropine (Cogentin) doesn't work, you can try Amantadine.
Sorry, you can't take propanolol - it was pretty much the only thing that worked for me. Instead of Xanax, could you try Klonopin - it lasts a lot longer and helped me too, but not like the propanolol.
Posted by pianolady on August 10, 2003, at 23:51:09
In reply to Re: Reprint of question on Abilify from earlier board, posted by jlo820 on August 10, 2003, at 23:42:09
Thanks for the suggestions!
This is the end of the thread.
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