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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TomG on July 22, 2005, at 22:35:16
I would have thought this would send me through the roof. I've been on the 100mgs Seroquel and 150mgs Wellbutrin XL for over two months and 5mgs Abilify for about a week and I've got the same flatness and anergia as always.
Whats wrong here?
I'm trying to treat negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Tom
Posted by med_empowered on July 23, 2005, at 3:19:40
In reply to I'm On Abilify,Wellbutrin, Seroquel- No Activation, posted by TomG on July 22, 2005, at 22:35:16
hey! I think one problem is taking 2 antipsychotics at the same time. Granted, seroquel and abilify do work differently, and the dosages are pretty low. Still...even with atypicals, the best way to treat the negative sypmtoms of psychotic disorders is to keep the antipsychotic doses as low as possible, so you might get a selective boost in dopamine, instead of just lowering dopamine levels like you would with higher dose antipsychotics. If you're going for something more "activating," why not just try the abilify? Seroquel is VERY sedating (which is why its popular off-label as a sleeping med). Abilify at 10mgs is enough to control schizophrenia or bipolar for a lot of people; 15mgs is also a popular dose (20-30mgs are used in more complicated cases). Usually, docs combine 2 or more antipsychotics to treat "positive" symptoms of schizophrenia or control other kinds of psychotic disorders...mixing and matching to treat negative symptoms isnt a really good idea. Interestingly enough, all kinds of meds may help negative symptoms...there's some research that shows promise for Provigil, for instance.
Posted by SLS on July 23, 2005, at 9:10:44
In reply to I'm On Abilify,Wellbutrin, Seroquel- No Activation, posted by TomG on July 22, 2005, at 22:35:16
Hi Tom.
You might not get much relief of negative symptoms until you reach 20mg of Abilify. I know someone who does well on a combination of:
Wellbutrin 300mg
Abilify 30mg
Seroquel 700mg
Neurontin 1200mgShe suffers from a bipolar spectrum disorder with psychotic features as a mixed-state. The best I had ever seen her was when she was taking Risperdal 2.0mg + Seroquel 100mg. She had been on the Rispersal when the Seroquel was added. The Seroquel acted as an *antidepressant*. She did not need Abilify. For some odd reason, she and her doctor chose to swap the Risperdal for Abilify. It necessitated the increase of Seroquel to 700mg to keep her mixed-state at bay. I feel she should actually be taking 800mg. I think her complaint with Risperdal is that it caused some moderate weight gain. She suffered no EPS, including akathisia. Her depression did not remit optimally until she increased her Wellbutrin from 150mg to 300mg.
I would just emphasize that she does not have schizophrenia, so none of this might be applicable to you.
- Scott
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