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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by labrat0017 on April 20, 2003, at 1:31:20
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by laurarn on March 11, 2003, at 11:01:50
i started abilfy a little while ago, maybe two weeks, for atypical depression and impusivity and mood swings. i'm also on wellbutrin and prozac and some other stuff. i have noticed that i can't sit still, i can't sleep, and i feel so unbearbly unsatiable. nothing keeps my attention for more than a minute, and i can't sit still at all. i found out that this was akathesia caused by the abilfy. i found that i feel a little better when i have caffiene, even though that doesn't seem to make sence....i switched from zyprexa because of weight gain, but i'd rather gain weight than be this uncomfortable. i'm glad to hear i'm not alone, although i'm not glad that anyone else has to deal with this. it really does suck
Posted by lauran on April 20, 2003, at 13:44:30
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by labrat0017 on April 20, 2003, at 1:31:20
Hi labrat. I feel for you as I know just what you are going through. I had to stop the Abilify as I simply could not tolerate the akathisia. My pdoc has actually switched me to Zyprexa. I am concerned about the weight gain but it seems much better than experiencing the akathisa.
Hang in there, it does go away over time. My advice though is to not just stop an AP altogether suddenly. It would be better to talk to your pdoc about going back on the Zyprexa and then tapering if need be. Just a thought. Good luck.
Posted by Ellen S. on April 21, 2003, at 22:30:58
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » labrat0017, posted by lauran on April 20, 2003, at 13:44:30
>... I had to stop the Abilify as I simply could not tolerate the akathisia. My pdoc has actually switched me to Zyprexa. I am concerned about the weight gain but it seems much better than experiencing the akathisa.
FWIW, Geodon (ziprasidone) is another AP that does not seem to contribute to weight gain. There is, however, a possible cardiac complication from Geodon.
Posted by DrMom on May 2, 2003, at 13:48:54
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by Ellen S. on April 21, 2003, at 22:30:58
Thanks for all the post on akathesia. I had no idea it was a side effect of the abilify my daughter was taking for Schizophrenia. It is getting impossible for her to concentrate at school because of it. I did read that this drug was not recommened for children so now I'm wondering why it was prescibed. She is also taking the medication for the side effects of the muscle stiffness. Does anyone know of a better alternative to switch to, I know most of the antipsychotic drugs are full of side effects.
Posted by Nicole Foster on May 4, 2003, at 10:28:24
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » SLS, posted by kb on March 5, 2003, at 13:35:56
> I was on Zyprexa, which was a good drug for me, but caused steady weight gain - I now weigh the most I have in my life, so my pdoc switched me to Abilify.
My husband was just switched from Zyprexa to Abilify. With the Zyprexa (plus Zoloft) he was totally sedated all day, and if woken would be very aggitated, sometimes angry... Has anyone else had this?
Also what can he expect from switching?
Thanks
Posted by canwetalk on May 5, 2003, at 9:01:45
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » kb, posted by Nicole Foster on May 4, 2003, at 10:28:24
Nicole please keep us posted as to how you and your husband are doing on the Abilify. I do know that it can cause anxiety, a problem with sleeping. In some people it can cause agitation.
My daughter is on Abilify 15mg and has been now for 4 months. She has experienced these symptoms and would like to know Nicole if you and your husband do also.
Abilify is a new med and we really do not know all of the side effects of it. It is a safe med of course because the FDA would not have approved it. Keep us posted if you don't mind. Thanks
Posted by Griobhtha on May 5, 2003, at 10:15:33
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by DrMom on May 2, 2003, at 13:48:54
The FDA prescribing information for Abilify states NOT to prescribe for children.
Which AP to try is almost getting as hard as which AD to try. I've beeen on Seroquel, which put me to sleep. Zyprexa made me tired and caused my hands to balloon. Geodon made me very ansy.
I had been taking Risperdal for quite some time (2mg/day). It works great for me, even calming my nerves quite a bit and giving me 1 or 2 points (10 pt scale) on my depression scale. My only problems have been weight gain and loss of libido. I gained 30 pounds after starting it (massive increase in appetite (and I was already overweight), but through working out 6 days per week I've lost that 30 pounds. However, though still working out, I can't get down past 265lbs.
The loss of libido has been a bigger problem. Even after switching to Abilify (2 weeks now), the problem persists. I want to try adding Dostinex (cabergoline) to combat this, but I'm not sure how it will work.
As for the Abilify, I think I too have reached my limit with the uncontrollable sense of needing movement (agitation?); and it's hard to get to sleep and stay asleep. I think I may go back to Risperdal and wait for a newer version of it, or a direct competitor, to come out.
> Thanks for all the post on akathesia. I had no idea it was a side effect of the abilify my daughter was taking for Schizophrenia. It is getting impossible for her to concentrate at school because of it. I did read that this drug was not recommened for children so now I'm wondering why it was prescibed. She is also taking the medication for the side effects of the muscle stiffness. Does anyone know of a better alternative to switch to, I know most of the antipsychotic drugs are full of side effects.
Posted by DrMom on May 5, 2003, at 11:34:26
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » DrMom, posted by Griobhtha on May 5, 2003, at 10:15:33
> The FDA prescribing information for Abilify states NOT to prescribe for children.
>
> Which AP to try is almost getting as hard as which AD to try. I've beeen on Seroquel, which put me to sleep. Zyprexa made me tired and caused my hands to balloon. Geodon made me very ansy.
>
> I had been taking Risperdal for quite some time (2mg/day). It works great for me, even calming my nerves quite a bit and giving me 1 or 2 points (10 pt scale) on my depression scale. My only problems have been weight gain and loss of libido. I gained 30 pounds after starting it (massive increase in appetite (and I was already overweight), but through working out 6 days per week I've lost that 30 pounds. However, though still working out, I can't get down past 265lbs.
>
> The loss of libido has been a bigger problem. Even after switching to Abilify (2 weeks now), the problem persists. I want to try adding Dostinex (cabergoline) to combat this, but I'm not sure how it will work.
>
> As for the Abilify, I think I too have reached my limit with the uncontrollable sense of needing movement (agitation?); and it's hard to get to sleep and stay asleep. I think I may go back to Risperdal and wait for a newer version of it, or a direct competitor, to come out.
>
>
> > Thanks for all the post on akathesia. I had no idea it was a side effect of the abilify my daughter was taking for Schizophrenia. It is getting impossible for her to concentrate at school because of it. I did read that this drug was not recommened for children so now I'm wondering why it was prescibed. She is also taking the medication for the side effects of the muscle stiffness. Does anyone know of a better alternative to switch to, I know most of the antipsychotic drugs are full of side effects.
>
>
I did notice on a current website that Abilify wasn't suppose to be prescibed to children. Unfortunately the doctor at the hospital that prescribed it wasn't a child psychiatrist. I had no clue this hospital didn't have a child psychiatrist in their adolescent floor - how stupid! Our experience with him was a nightmare especially since he filed commital papers when he knew I didn't trust him or his staff. So she was stuck seeing him for 2 weeks and I had no choice - this is another subject matter however that would take days for me to vent about. She sees a new doctor now that the hospital stay is over and someone else takes over the commital and this new doctor just told us to increase the cogentin and this would help get rid of the akathesia. I am skeptical however since one of the side effects I read about cogentin is listlessness. I am only going to give it a few more days and then this Abilify will be out the door. No one should have to live like that.
Posted by lynn3 on May 9, 2003, at 7:52:37
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by DrMom on May 5, 2003, at 11:34:26
I have been on Abilify since November, the agitation was getting really bad about a month ago. My doc cut my dose from 15 mg to 10mg every day, also added a sm. dose of seroquel (50mg) at bedtime. The agitation is gone! It amazes me how they tweek these meds to help a person.
Posted by smg on May 11, 2003, at 9:39:20
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lynn3 on May 9, 2003, at 7:52:37
Sorry to hear that there are so many of us on Abilify. I have not experienced the akathisia that so many seem to have. I'm being treated for bipolar disorder and Abilify is one of the many meds that I take(Prozac, Risperdal, Depakote, Cogentin if needed). My main problems are dizziness and sleepiness. Sometimes I feel that I could sleep for days. I don't know which is worse, the illness or the cure.
Posted by SLS on May 11, 2003, at 10:48:46
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by smg on May 11, 2003, at 9:39:20
> Sorry to hear that there are so many of us on Abilify. I have not experienced the akathisia that so many seem to have. I'm being treated for bipolar disorder and Abilify is one of the many meds that I take(Prozac, Risperdal, Depakote, Cogentin if needed). My main problems are dizziness and sleepiness. Sometimes I feel that I could sleep for days. I don't know which is worse, the illness or the cure.
For what reason are you taking two antipsychotics?
- Scott
Posted by Ms.Zebra on May 11, 2003, at 14:13:05
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by smg on May 11, 2003, at 9:39:20
I just started Abilify (15mg) about one week ago and ever since my irritability has increased, and I am not sleeping through the night. I get to sleep just fine, but I wake up several times. I can not tell if these are side effects from the medication or not. Has anyone else experienced increased irritability?
Posted by colinear on September 1, 2003, at 8:38:15
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lynn3 on May 9, 2003, at 7:52:37
> I have been on Abilify since November, the agitation was getting really bad about a month ago. My doc cut my dose from 15 mg to 10mg every day, also added a sm. dose of seroquel (50mg) at bedtime. The agitation is gone! It amazes me how they tweek these meds to help a person.
this is very helpful. i am going to tell my pdoc about your med situation and maybe it will work for me. the agitation with abilify is very frustration but i am going to stick it out a while longer. for now it is better than the rapid cycling horror show that is bpII!
Posted by cybercafe on September 1, 2003, at 18:39:25
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » lynn3, posted by colinear on September 1, 2003, at 8:38:15
> > I have been on Abilify since November, the agitation was getting really bad about a month ago. My doc cut my dose from 15 mg to 10mg every day, also added a sm. dose of seroquel (50mg) at bedtime. The agitation is gone! It amazes me how they tweek these meds to help a person.
>
> this is very helpful. i am going to tell my pdoc about your med situation and maybe it will work for me. the agitation with abilify is very frustration but i am going to stick it out a while longer. for now it is better than the rapid cycling horror show that is bpII!
you found that abilify worked for bp? ... mind if i ask.. what dose you are taking? that is great news
Posted by Daniel J. on September 2, 2003, at 13:38:10
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lynn3 on May 9, 2003, at 7:52:37
My 15 year old son was started on Abilify (1st) med 2 mo ago. He took 5mg Lexapro and 5mg of Abilify. This didn't work well for him. There were terrible tremors after 2 weeks and he still wasn't eating or
sleeping much. Now he is taking Zyprexa. I honestly thought the Abilify was helping but the Lexapro was causing problems. Has anyone experienced bad tremors while taking Abilify only? Lexapro side effects?
Posted by colinear on September 2, 2003, at 21:36:43
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by cybercafe on September 1, 2003, at 18:39:25
> > > I have been on Abilify since November, the agitation was getting really bad about a month ago. My doc cut my dose from 15 mg to 10mg every day, also added a sm. dose of seroquel (50mg) at bedtime. The agitation is gone! It amazes me how they tweek these meds to help a person.
> >
> > this is very helpful. i am going to tell my pdoc about your med situation and maybe it will work for me. the agitation with abilify is very frustration but i am going to stick it out a while longer. for now it is better than the rapid cycling horror show that is bpII!
>
>
> you found that abilify worked for bp? ... mind if i ask.. what dose you are taking? that is great newsI started taking 10mg once a day and the effects were immediate. I felt great for the first time in a very very long time. BUT... the agitation kicked in and I felt like I was going to explode or implode or just go berzerk. So, I got some Ativan to help me through, but it only helps so much, so I took it upon myself to titrate my Abilify dose down to 5mg, which was somewhat better. After a few days though, I titrated down to 2.5mg per day and with an Ativan here and there the agitation is much more manageable. All I can say, especially to those folks that are suffering from bp... try Abilify! It works. You will feel alive again. The rapid cycling stops. It is glorious.
Posted by colinear on September 2, 2003, at 21:42:50
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by Daniel J. on September 2, 2003, at 13:38:10
> My 15 year old son was started on Abilify (1st) med 2 mo ago. He took 5mg Lexapro and 5mg of Abilify. This didn't work well for him. There were terrible tremors after 2 weeks and he still wasn't eating or
> sleeping much. Now he is taking Zyprexa. I honestly thought the Abilify was helping but the Lexapro was causing problems. Has anyone experienced bad tremors while taking Abilify only? Lexapro side effects?I take Abilify and the only side effect that I have experienced is the agitation that I documented in earlier posts. I also took Lexapro for about 6 months (20mg) and never experienced any trembling. My guess is that taking these two drugs in combination is not a good thing.
Posted by cybercafe on September 3, 2003, at 0:49:58
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by colinear on September 2, 2003, at 21:36:43
> > you found that abilify worked for bp? ... mind if i ask.. what dose you are taking? that is great news
>
> I started taking 10mg once a day and the effects were immediate. I felt great for the first time in a very very long time. BUT... the agitation kicked in and I felt like I was going to explode or implode or just go berzerk. So, I got some Ativan to help me through, but it only helps so much, so I took it upon myself to titrate my Abilify dose down to 5mg, which was somewhat better. After a few days though, I titrated down to 2.5mg per day and with an Ativan here and there the agitation is much more manageable. All I can say, especially to those folks that are suffering from bp... try Abilify! It works. You will feel alive again. The rapid cycling stops. It is glorious.oh .. you are only taking 2.5 mg a day? wow that isn't very much
glad it works for you :)
Posted by lesliekay on September 3, 2003, at 4:10:03
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » colinear, posted by cybercafe on September 3, 2003, at 0:49:58
I have rapid cycling bp disorder and I take Abilify for it and it is wonderful...I also have akathesia. This is exactly what I take and it is perfect now, no tremors, no anxiety, nothing...
1.I wake up in the morning and take 1mg of Cogentin and 1mg of Klonopin
2.Later I take all my meds which are 15mg of Abilify, 100mg of topamax, 10mg of Lexapro
3.then if I drink too much coffee or if I have some breakthrough agitation which is rare, I take 2mg of Ativan
This works perfectly for me and I am not tired or wired or anything...and I can sleep.
Leslie
Posted by cybercafe on September 5, 2003, at 2:15:13
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lesliekay on September 3, 2003, at 4:10:03
> I have rapid cycling bp disorder and I take Abilify for it and it is wonderful...I also have akathesia. This is exactly what I take and it is perfect now, no tremors, no anxiety, nothing...
what dose /how long was it before you started getting akathisia?
> 1.I wake up in the morning and take 1mg of Cogentin and 1mg of Klonopin
hmm... mind if i ask how much cogentin you take and what are hte side effects like?
> 2.Later I take all my meds which are 15mg of Abilify, 100mg of topamax, 10mg of Lexapro
> 3.then if I drink too much coffee or if I have some breakthrough agitation which is rare, I take 2mg of Ativan
> This works perfectly for me and I am not tired or wired or anything...and I can sleep.cool.. how much sleep do you manage to get on the abilify?
Posted by lesliekay on September 5, 2003, at 2:55:17
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » lesliekay, posted by cybercafe on September 5, 2003, at 2:15:13
I got akathesia pretty much right away. I only take one mg of Cogentin a day, period. If I take more I get really blurry vision and eye pain...a total inability to focus. It took me 6 wks to sleep through the night again on Abilify. It was frustrating as hell, but worth it. The results I get from Abilify are worth anything I have to do for it. I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
Posted by colinear on September 7, 2003, at 18:02:27
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lesliekay on September 5, 2003, at 2:55:17
>I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
same here. the agitation is horrific though. i have heard of some people taking seroquel at night (like 50mg) in order to stop the extreme restlessness. I wonder if straterra would work for the lack of concentration one gets when they are on abilify...
Posted by colinear on September 7, 2003, at 18:03:49
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » colinear, posted by cybercafe on September 3, 2003, at 0:49:58
>
> > > you found that abilify worked for bp? ... mind if i ask.. what dose you are taking? that is great news
> >
> > I started taking 10mg once a day and the effects were immediate. I felt great for the first time in a very very long time. BUT... the agitation kicked in and I felt like I was going to explode or implode or just go berzerk. So, I got some Ativan to help me through, but it only helps so much, so I took it upon myself to titrate my Abilify dose down to 5mg, which was somewhat better. After a few days though, I titrated down to 2.5mg per day and with an Ativan here and there the agitation is much more manageable. All I can say, especially to those folks that are suffering from bp... try Abilify! It works. You will feel alive again. The rapid cycling stops. It is glorious.
>
> oh .. you are only taking 2.5 mg a day? wow that isn't very much
>
> glad it works for you :)i am now up to 15mg per day of abilify. it works great on depression!!!! i just wish i could get rid of this berzerker agitation and restlessness!!!
Posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 18:54:50
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by colinear on September 7, 2003, at 18:02:27
> >I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
>
> same here. the agitation is horrific though. i have heard of some people taking seroquel at night (like 50mg) in order to stop the extreme restlessness. I wonder if straterra would work for the lack of concentration one gets when they are on abilify...
lack of concentration? hmmm.. i thought abilify was supposed to be good for concentration and motivation
Posted by colinear on September 8, 2003, at 20:01:43
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 18:54:50
> > >I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
> >
> > same here. the agitation is horrific though. i have heard of some people taking seroquel at night (like 50mg) in order to stop the extreme restlessness. I wonder if straterra would work for the lack of concentration one gets when they are on abilify...
>
>
> lack of concentration? hmmm.. i thought abilify was supposed to be good for concentration and motivationabilify has been awesome in treating my depression and it works great for motivation, too. the akathisia is really really bad, though. i go to my pdoc this thurs and i hope she can give me something to reduce it.
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