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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 18:41:37
How do you cope with abilify anxiety? Do you have to take it with a sleep med? Those were the 2 reasons I stoped it last time.
Posted by ed_uk on December 5, 2004, at 18:51:10
In reply to Abilify anxiety, posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 18:41:37
Hi Sebastian,
Perhaps it would be better to try a different AP instead.
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:01:16
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by ed_uk on December 5, 2004, at 18:51:10
Geodon? Zyprexa has put on 20 lbs in 5 months.
Posted by ed_uk on December 5, 2004, at 19:07:19
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:01:16
Hi,
Geodon is one possibility, you could also consider Risperdal.
Ed.
Posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:15:33
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by ed_uk on December 5, 2004, at 19:07:19
I tried risperdal before, about 7 years ago. It didn't work, but then zyprexa did. I also hear that risperdal puts on weight too. I did eat more on risperdal, but I needed it than, after so many years of zyprexa I need to lose weight. I want to take less zyprexa, but kill anxiety. My doc thinks I need an AP. Maybe lamictal is enough. I've never had luck getting off zyprexa in the past, but I realy need to. Want to. I'm wondering if abilify plus a anxiety med and some thing for sleep would work. The only one I have not tried is geodon?
Posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:36:31
In reply to Abilify anxiety, posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 18:41:37
I'm fat I'm lazy, I need help. Do I take a diet pill? Get a new AP, add many different APs and reduce the bad one?
Posted by banga on December 5, 2004, at 19:56:08
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:36:31
Geodon doesnt lead to weight gain, it helped me with anxiety. My impression from this board is that abilify is more activating, thus may be more likely to increase anxiety? Of course this is just my own observation.....
Posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:58:57
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by banga on December 5, 2004, at 19:56:08
Have you tried zyprexa? Does geodon help with anxiety fairly well. Maybe as good as zyprexa?? I also wonder if mixing abilify and geodon works.
Posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 20:01:29
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by banga on December 5, 2004, at 19:56:08
Is there any similarity between zyprexa and geodon?
Posted by ed_uk on December 6, 2004, at 5:57:36
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:36:31
Hi,
I think that it would be a good idea to ask your pdoc about Geodon.
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by banga on December 6, 2004, at 10:22:14
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by ed_uk on December 6, 2004, at 5:57:36
Geodon helpes immensely with my anxiety. But that effect seemed to wear off in about two months. I think it broke ruminative, anxiety-provoking thoughts and I felt free. I also felt a bit in a fog. So I no longer take it, but it's in my arsenal for the future if other paths don't work.
I never tried Zyprexa. I was put on risperdal in the hospital--thats where I found out about APs effects on obsessive thinking and anxiety. But I gained weight and felt dead tired and disliked its mucking with hormonal systems.
Posted by Sebastian on December 6, 2004, at 11:23:40
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by banga on December 6, 2004, at 10:22:14
I called my pdoc about both, abilify and geodon. I wonder if a mix will work? At what dose did geodon go bad on? I'm thinking a small of each.
Posted by cybercafe on December 6, 2004, at 18:10:48
In reply to Abilify anxiety, posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 18:41:37
> How do you cope with abilify anxiety? Do you have to take it with a sleep med? Those were the 2 reasons I stoped it last time.
don't remember if abilify caused long term anxiety, at least at the low dosages i was taking... but... i was already taking clonazepam for anxiety so i may have just raised/lowered the dose as needed, who knows....
when you are taking ritalin, a stimulating AD, and a stimulating antipsychotic, i imagine you can take some benzos without having to worry too much about sleepiness.... or at least that was my reasoning :)
Posted by banga on December 6, 2004, at 20:15:53
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by cybercafe on December 6, 2004, at 18:10:48
I took doses of Geodon anywhere from 20-60 mg; 20 mg helped, larger doses helped more but also caused more brain fog. I was also taking Lexapro 15 mg and anafranil 50 mg, and amantadine 200 mg.
Posted by Sebastian on December 6, 2004, at 21:11:06
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by banga on December 6, 2004, at 20:15:53
It is setled, I'm taking geodon, starting this friday. He wants me on 60 mg pills, right from the begining, is that wise? So I take one in the morning, 2 for bed. Shoud I take less in the begining, slow transision off zyprexa. I don't know why he always does this, stop one, start the other full steam ahead.? He said less side-effects this way.
Posted by D minor on December 7, 2004, at 0:40:28
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by Sebastian on December 5, 2004, at 19:01:16
I don't know if anyone suggested this to you already, but you could try a small dose of propranolol (Inderal). It works against physical symptoms of anxiety (like tremor). Eventually I juat had to lower my dose of Abilify though. A low dose combined with Seroquel (which has anti-anxiety affects) works well for me.
dm
Posted by yxibow on December 7, 2004, at 6:38:24
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by D minor on December 7, 2004, at 0:40:28
Propranolol works wonders for reducing what is.... not anxiety. None of these are actually "anxiety", which doesnt make it any better -- they're akathisia, an extrapyramidal movement side effect of neuroleptics which makes you want to walk through brick walls, but I'm sure a lot of you have already heard of this. For me and my condition, Geodon about floored me, Abilify was somewhat antsy, risperdal probably was also slightly in that direction too but I wasnt on much then. Just dont overdo the propranolol so you feel faint. Other augmenters are a pinch of klonopin. Or cogentin or akineton (third class of anti-EPS meds) can be added if the patient can tolerate the initial drowsiness.
My 2c
tidings
> I don't know if anyone suggested this to you already, but you could try a small dose of propranolol (Inderal). It works against physical symptoms of anxiety (like tremor). Eventually I juat had to lower my dose of Abilify though. A low dose combined with Seroquel (which has anti-anxiety affects) works well for me.
>
> dm
Posted by justplainflakey on December 9, 2004, at 5:23:12
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety » D minor, posted by yxibow on December 7, 2004, at 6:38:24
For me the geodon made me really high. I seen to get along pretty well on 5 mg abilify and 5 mg zyprexa. I couldnt't quit the zyprexa outright either. At first I took 7.5 zyprexa and tappered down. I like how I feel on the abilify and the zyprexa lets me get some sleep and less anxiety. Also, I prefer to split a 10 mg dose of the zypexa rather than taking a 5 mg tab as it is less sedating. If I start to feel a little to antsy I'll take a 5 mg tab for a few days. I also take xanax, but have for a long time, so I figure that it is neutral. Good luck.
Posted by Sebastian on December 9, 2004, at 12:09:53
In reply to Re: Abilify anxiety, posted by justplainflakey on December 9, 2004, at 5:23:12
I've decided against the abilify again. I try geodon for the first time.
Posted by ghost on December 10, 2004, at 19:18:09
In reply to no Abilify anxiety taking geodon instead, posted by Sebastian on December 9, 2004, at 12:09:53
i take abilify and was prescribed xanax for anxiety. (also tried klonopin, and 2mg helps me sleep but doesnt do a lot for the anxiety, personally.)
my pdoc said abilify and geodon were very similar, as far as they go, but geodon had more of the less desirable side effects (the eye rolling, and TD and crap), but probably was less anxiety-causing. i chose to stick with abilify and deal with taking xanax when i'm jumping out of my skin. also, increasing the dose from 7.5mg to 10mg seems to have alleviated the insomnia it caused, too. (however, it's only been a couple weeks, so the insomnia could still kick in).
good luck with geodon, though.
ghost
Posted by Sebastian on December 11, 2004, at 11:41:54
In reply to Re: no Abilify anxiety taking geodon instead, posted by ghost on December 10, 2004, at 19:18:09
I love the geodon! Think I may get off zyprexa now. I like geodon because it has no anxiety with it.
If you made it this far with abilify, and no bad effects, I don't think you will have any problems.
Did you have TD and eye rolling on geodon? How soon did it start?
Posted by ghost on December 11, 2004, at 21:41:09
In reply to Re: no Abilify anxiety taking geodon instead, posted by Sebastian on December 11, 2004, at 11:41:54
haven't tried geodon yet (pity, because it's one of the drugs that'd be free with my insurance). i think most folks tend to have the side effects within the first couple weeks... that's just what i've heard and read of the top of my head though.
i'm so glad you love it! i'll keep it in mind if abilify doesnt work in the future.
Posted by Sebastian on December 12, 2004, at 10:13:25
In reply to Re: no Abilify anxiety taking geodon instead » Sebastian, posted by ghost on December 11, 2004, at 21:41:09
Why does your insurance give geodon for free. I wish mine did. Geodon has the highest of copays on my insurance. Not prefered.
Posted by ghost on December 12, 2004, at 12:56:29
In reply to Re: no Abilify anxiety taking geodon instead, posted by Sebastian on December 12, 2004, at 10:13:25
i work for a pharmaceutical company, so i get certain brand drugs for free.
(indeed. i guess that makes me "the enemy.")
;)
ghost
Posted by Sebastian on December 12, 2004, at 14:11:28
In reply to Re: no Abilify anxiety taking geodon instead, posted by ghost on December 12, 2004, at 12:56:29
Ya, give up the free drugs.. (:
This is the end of the thread.
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