Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mike634 on December 21, 2004, at 18:07:23
Hi,
I have bipolar depression and after a long time in a mixed state, have finally gotten stable. I still have this low level depression though, and I take 5mg of zyprexa as part of my cocktail. My doctor is having me switch from the zyprexa to abilify; first raising the abilify up to 10mg, then losing the zyprexa.So I have heard that the dopamine boosting mechanism of abilify can help with motivation, feeling lighter, and concentration - among other things. Zyprexa actually works against this apparently, and I have always suspected that my thinking had been slowed and disturbed on that drug.
After years of distress, I am finally getting confident that I may be getting to a solution, so I hope this is a good substitution to make as part of my cocktail. Would like to hear of anyones experiences on abilify. - Thanks so much!
Posted by TomG on December 21, 2004, at 18:22:25
In reply to Anyone with Abilify Experiences?, posted by Mike634 on December 21, 2004, at 18:07:23
I was trying to switch from Geodon to Abilify about a week ago because of sedation. I started Abilify for two days at 5mgs and got even more sedated and sore weak muscles. I also got a bit of the insomnia people so often get with Abilify. I didn't give it enough time to see if it was activating because I was still taking the Geodon along with it so I was still sedated. I have given up on the switch due to other circumstances in my life and will reevaluate the situation at my next pdocs appointment. My doctor wanted me to try an ultra low dose of Seroquel 25mgs but I wanted the Abilify. I'm thinking now I should have gone along with his plan. I have been in somewhat of a recovery for about 6 months so I think he thinks I may need only a tiny dose of something. I think I will save Abilify for maybe my last choice.
Posted by Sebastian on December 23, 2004, at 9:25:24
In reply to Anyone with Abilify Experiences?, posted by Mike634 on December 21, 2004, at 18:07:23
Sounds like you are having a good response on Abilify. I hear the zombie like ness on zyprexa. I tried abilify and now I'm taking geodon. Abilify is non zombie, and full of energy. Hope it goes well.
Posted by anxiety_free on December 24, 2004, at 6:57:52
In reply to Anyone with Abilify Experiences?, posted by Mike634 on December 21, 2004, at 18:07:23
Hi! I have schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (the exact dx isn't clear yet, apparently), and Abillify has absolutely saved me. Zyprexa made me chunky, slow, and gave me akathisia; seroquel was too sedating and gave me horrible dreams; but abilify has worked well from the beginning. Mind you, I take a cocktail-20mgs abilify, 200mgs tofranil, 90mgs ccymbalta, and 30mgs buspar and 60mgs adderall- but the abilify does the heavy lifting. I personally still need separate ADs, but a lot of people don't.
Posted by bimini on December 24, 2004, at 15:25:20
In reply to Anyone with Abilify Experiences?, posted by Mike634 on December 21, 2004, at 18:07:23
Not dopamine boosting but modulizing so it doesn't puddle up here and there, instead the dopamine disperses, mingles and changes to other chemicals. Help me out bio-chemists out there.
It is the endorphines who your warm and cuddly friends are.Every one reacts different, you need to try it out to see. After two weeks you should be able to have a good idea if this works for you.
Past, present and future science project, bimini.
This is the end of the thread.
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