Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on April 26, 2004, at 14:36:46
I just started taking Abilify a few days ago...and I have been feeling quite tired...Has anybody else felt this side effect from this? How long does it last? THanks alot.
Posted by smokeymadison on April 26, 2004, at 19:32:02
In reply to Abilify Question...., posted by becksA on April 26, 2004, at 14:36:46
i have been on Abilify for about a year now. the tiredness goes away after a week or two. it is really not as bad as other antipsychotics, in my opinion. try to put up with it for a little while longer, it really is a good drug.
Posted by utopizen on April 26, 2004, at 19:39:00
In reply to Abilify Question...., posted by becksA on April 26, 2004, at 14:36:46
> I just started taking Abilify a few days ago...and I have been feeling quite tired...Has anybody else felt this side effect from this? How long does it last? THanks alot.
>After taking it for the first time at around 8 at night, I suddenly felt like I hit the wall 20 minutes later. I was groggy the next day, and in an unusual move for me last school year, had snoozed a 9AM class as a result.
Two days later, it suddenly became so activating I had to take it in the AM! Milage may very, but Abilify is a rapidly acting drug, and its Principal Investigator noted changes after 7-10 days of psychotic patients taking it, and it led them to be more hygienic and stuff. (I just took it for soc. anx. dis.)
Unfortunately, I got akathasia, a common side effect, two weeks later and stopepd it. I wish I hadn't, since it's easy to treat with a benzo or other med. I'd like to go back on it, but right now I'm still battling my doctor to put me on Straterra+Provigil and take me off Klonopin+Desoxyn, which he refuses. Apparently he's not comfortable with it because Strat+Prov. has only been out for 3 years.
Geez! Why not wait 7 while you're at it, doc, and I can pay a generic co-pay by then.... it seems whenever I get the type of pdoc that wants to see me weekly, every appointment is so futile I may as well never see him at all, and my monthly sessions with other docs were more productive!
Yeah... always be suspicious of the docs who want to see you weekly if you're not paying out of pocket. If they're so great, why do they have the time to see you so often, I figure. At the very least, you'd think they would need more time to read up and stay current on things, which my doc obviously doesn't since he had to look up STRATERRA in the PDR like it was an obscure new drug. He even told me he wasn't sure if it was in the current PDR! LOL- I'd be more productive using my GP at this point.
Posted by utopizen on April 26, 2004, at 19:48:54
In reply to Re: Abilify Question...., posted by smokeymadison on April 26, 2004, at 19:32:02
> i have been on Abilify for about a year now. the tiredness goes away after a week or two. it is really not as bad as other antipsychotics, in my opinion. try to put up with it for a little while longer, it really is a good drug.
>Many have depression, as I was even in denial over it despite my extreme sleepiness and sleep studies coming back as normal. Took me all this school year to accept it's at the root of my energt levels.
So if you feel better on Abilify, and of course somnolence is like akathasia, it's common to come and nearly always goes away if you're patient. For me it was 2-3 days, then I had a lot of energy, even restlessness.
If you are worried, I'd ask for some Provigil to add on after a week (unless you're doing something superbly important at this time) because if I had asked for Provigil to add to it I would have the effect gone before being able to pick up the Rx.
But hopefully you're taking it at night, since the grogginess only is typical within the first day and the somnolence is mostly going to occur if you start an AM dose. I trust you haven't, hopefully?
Posted by becksA on April 26, 2004, at 22:00:51
In reply to Re: Abilify Question...., posted by utopizen on April 26, 2004, at 19:48:54
Well, I actually have been taking it in the mornings...it hasnt been so horrible that I can't really cope, although this morning I did lie down for a mid morning nap. Luckily I didnt have work today. Can I wait and take the next dose tomorow night? that will be 36 hours in between doses.
ALSO, anybody had good responses from this drug for social anxiety?
Posted by utopizen on April 27, 2004, at 10:48:54
In reply to Re: Abilify Question...., posted by becksA on April 26, 2004, at 22:00:51
> Well, I actually have been taking it in the mornings...it hasnt been so horrible that I can't really cope, although this morning I did lie down for a mid morning nap. Luckily I didnt have work today. Can I wait and take the next dose tomorow night? that will be 36 hours in between doses.
>
> ALSO, anybody had good responses from this drug for social anxiety?If you're taking it for psychosis, please don't head any of my advice and talk to your doc.
If you're not, I wouldn't worry about skipping the dose until nighttime, as it's obviously still in your bloodstream anyway.
I would try taking it at night. You may very well need to take it in the AM once you get adjusted to it and it is more activating... but take things one day at a time, and don't hesitate to call your doc if the side-effects are a concern to you in any way- often these things are managable, and a simple prescription add-on to help you adjust to it at first is all that's needed.
hang in there.
Posted by fraulein1456 on April 28, 2004, at 20:54:52
In reply to Abilify Question...., posted by becksA on April 26, 2004, at 14:36:46
Hi,
I've been taking Abilify for about six months. I don't remember being tired after I started taking it. In fact I felt quite awake. My Doc tells me to take it in the early afternoon so that by the time I go to bed I can sleep. I'm taking it for extreme depression and found that it helps me get out of bed in the morning and helps me get things done. I have gained about thirty pounds since starting it though. This is not listed as a side effect, but was a big one for me.
Posted by becksA on April 28, 2004, at 23:44:32
In reply to Re: Abilify Question...., posted by fraulein1456 on April 28, 2004, at 20:54:52
I'm taking it for social anxiety....
Posted by awatts on April 29, 2004, at 13:56:18
In reply to Re: Abilify Question...., posted by fraulein1456 on April 28, 2004, at 20:54:52
> Hi,
>
> I've been taking Abilify for about six months. I don't remember being tired after I started taking it. In fact I felt quite awake. My Doc tells me to take it in the early afternoon so that by the time I go to bed I can sleep. I'm taking it for extreme depression and found that it helps me get out of bed in the morning and helps me get things done. I have gained about thirty pounds since starting it though. This is not listed as a side effect, but was a big one for me.
>
What dosage is working for you? I'm taking 10mg and am wondering if I should go higher.
Thanks
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