Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 573275

Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 28. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Just starting abilify

Posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 2:59:54

This is my third night of taking 5mg of abilify and the problem I am having is I can't sleep after about 1am for the rest of the night. Is this normal? Will it go away or is it time to stop using it?

Thanks for any help.

 

Re: Just starting abilify

Posted by SLS on October 30, 2005, at 6:51:28

In reply to Just starting abilify, posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 2:59:54

> This is my third night of taking 5mg of abilify and the problem I am having is I can't sleep after about 1am for the rest of the night. Is this normal? Will it go away or is it time to stop using it?
>
> Thanks for any help.

Hi.

If you don't mind my asking, what are you taking Abilify to help treat?

Abilify can produce anxiety and insomnia when you first begin taking it. These are called "start up" side effects because they usually disappear over time. I take Abilify 5.0mg in the morning and have no trouble sleeping. You might want to try morning doses, at least temporarily. It might or might not help. Abilify has a long half-life. It takes about three days for the body to eliminate half of what was ingested. For this reason, morning dosing is no guarantee that you won't still have insomnia.

With Abilify, some people experience akathisia-like symptoms as a startup side effect. Akathisia is described as a feeling of inner restlessness or motor restlessness. It is hard to keep still. You might find yourself rocking in a chair or pacing or shifting weight from one foot to the other. Although very uncomfortable, this too seems to pass rather quickly with Abilify. I cannot provide statistics for you as to how many people develop akathisia, but the number is high enough such that doctors should really make their patients aware of this as a possibility and that they should continue taking the medication as it soon disappears. It might take a week once it develops to dissipate.


- Scott

 

Re: Just starting abilify » SLS

Posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 8:21:54

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify, posted by SLS on October 30, 2005, at 6:51:28

> > This is my third night of taking 5mg of abilify and the problem I am having is I can't sleep after about 1am for the rest of the night. Is this normal? Will it go away or is it time to stop using it?
> >
> > Thanks for any help.
>
> Hi.
>
> If you don't mind my asking, what are you taking Abilify to help treat?
>
> Abilify can produce anxiety and insomnia when you first begin taking it. These are called "start up" side effects because they usually disappear over time. I take Abilify 5.0mg in the morning and have no trouble sleeping. You might want to try morning doses, at least temporarily. It might or might not help. Abilify has a long half-life. It takes about three days for the body to eliminate half of what was ingested. For this reason, morning dosing is no guarantee that you won't still have insomnia.
>
> With Abilify, some people experience akathisia-like symptoms as a startup side effect. Akathisia is described as a feeling of inner restlessness or motor restlessness. It is hard to keep still. You might find yourself rocking in a chair or pacing or shifting weight from one foot to the other. Although very uncomfortable, this too seems to pass rather quickly with Abilify. I cannot provide statistics for you as to how many people develop akathisia, but the number is high enough such that doctors should really make their patients aware of this as a possibility and that they should continue taking the medication as it soon disappears. It might take a week once it develops to dissipate.
>
>
> - Scott

Thanks for the informative reply. To answer your question they are giving me abilify treat my feelings of "everyone is out to get me". It sounds like waiting it out a while longer and perhaps taking it in the morning would help.

 

Re: Just starting abilify » highone

Posted by theo on October 30, 2005, at 10:52:28

In reply to Just starting abilify, posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 2:59:54

> This is my third night of taking 5mg of abilify and the problem I am having is I can't sleep after about 1am for the rest of the night. Is this normal? Will it go away or is it time to stop using it?
>
> Thanks for any help.

I just started Abilify yesterday and my pdoc prescribed 5mg target dose taken at bedtime, but to start at 2.5mg. I took my first dose around 1:00pm just to see how I would react. I felt a little akathesia, but that only lasted an hour or so. You may want to cut your pills and take just 2.5mg for a couple of days and then jump up to 5mg.

I don't think at 2.5mg I'll have any problem taking this in the evening, but I would suggest taking it around 6:00-7:00pm instead of right before going to bed. As Scott mentioned, this med has a half life of 75 hours, so taking it AM or PM may not make much difference. If at all possible, I like taking meds in the evening because if I start a med in the morning, I feel a bit strange sometimes at work because the meds at it's peak.

Strange observation; a couple of hours after I took it, I had a strange desire to clean my car, wipe down the dash, clean the inside of my windows. I usually have my car detailed and am usually to non motivated to do stuff like this. I wasn't wired or anything, almost like a calm motivated feeling. I'm not getting my hopes up but it was strange in a good way for me. One recent observation is it's been close to 24 hours since my last dose and I'm starting to feel nausea that I didn't feel at all when I initially took it, weird.

 

Re: Just starting abilify

Posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 11:02:22

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » highone, posted by theo on October 30, 2005, at 10:52:28

> > This is my third night of taking 5mg of abilify and the problem I am having is I can't sleep after about 1am for the rest of the night. Is this normal? Will it go away or is it time to stop using it?
> >
> > Thanks for any help.
>
> I just started Abilify yesterday and my pdoc prescribed 5mg target dose taken at bedtime, but to start at 2.5mg. I took my first dose around 1:00pm just to see how I would react. I felt a little akathesia, but that only lasted an hour or so. You may want to cut your pills and take just 2.5mg for a couple of days and then jump up to 5mg.
>
> I don't think at 2.5mg I'll have any problem taking this in the evening, but I would suggest taking it around 6:00-7:00pm instead of right before going to bed. As Scott mentioned, this med has a half life of 75 hours, so taking it AM or PM may not make much difference. If at all possible, I like taking meds in the evening because if I start a med in the morning, I feel a bit strange sometimes at work because the meds at it's peak.
>
> Strange observation; a couple of hours after I took it, I had a strange desire to clean my car, wipe down the dash, clean the inside of my windows. I usually have my car detailed and am usually to non motivated to do stuff like this. I wasn't wired or anything, almost like a calm motivated feeling. I'm not getting my hopes up but it was strange in a good way for me. One recent observation is it's been close to 24 hours since my last dose and I'm starting to feel nausea that I didn't feel at all when I initially took it, weird.
>
>
>
>

Thanks theo; what are you taking abilify for?

 

Re: Just starting abilify » highone

Posted by theo on October 30, 2005, at 11:31:39

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify, posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 11:02:22

> Thanks theo; what are you taking abilify for?
>

I'm taking it for symptoms such as, mild depression, doom and gloom feeling, zero motivation, self esteem issues and ADD symtoms. People don't see me as having a problem, but I have this horrible internal restlessness that has held me back in many areas of life.

I've tried SSRI's, anticonvulsants, and I guess this is the next class of meds the pdocs go to when everything else fails. Diagnosis in mental illness is so hard that in reality, until you try different classes of meds and find something that works, diagnosis ought to be "mental illness unknown." Example being, I always have had bad anxiety, but a can take a stimulant with no direct effect on anxiety, as a matter of fact it helps, but my pdoc will only use stims as a last resort.

What are you taking Abilify for?

 

Re: Just starting abilify

Posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 11:40:23

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » highone, posted by theo on October 30, 2005, at 11:31:39

> > Thanks theo; what are you taking abilify for?
> >
>
> I'm taking it for symptoms such as, mild depression, doom and gloom feeling, zero motivation, self esteem issues and ADD symtoms. People don't see me as having a problem, but I have this horrible internal restlessness that has held me back in many areas of life.
>
> I've tried SSRI's, anticonvulsants, and I guess this is the next class of meds the pdocs go to when everything else fails. Diagnosis in mental illness is so hard that in reality, until you try different classes of meds and find something that works, diagnosis ought to be "mental illness unknown." Example being, I always have had bad anxiety, but a can take a stimulant with no direct effect on anxiety, as a matter of fact it helps, but my pdoc will only use stims as a last resort.
>
> What are you taking Abilify for?
>
>
>
>

Read my second post, I think they are also hoping it will help with my depression.

 

Abilify is an odd drug

Posted by med_empowered on October 30, 2005, at 15:18:10

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify, posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 11:40:23

When I first started Abilify, I loved the stuff--I could finally leave the house without a weird, poorly developed sense of paranoia haunting me (I wasn't psychotic per se, but I had anxiety to such an extreme degree it could be considered psychotic). But..as the dose went up, the good effects diminished, and the ill-effects popped up. Anyway, in my experience a morning dose is a good idea (abilify is **usually** non-drowsy, especially at low-doses, when it tends be kind of acitvating)..you might also benefit from short-term nite time sleep aids (benadryl, ambien, whatever) to get over the hump. As for the anxiety...some people get over the akathisia/anxiety that abilify causes after a little while. If you can, that's nice. But..I experienced akathisia while on low-dose (2.5mgs) zyprexa, and it was HELL. So...the best thing would be for your doc to RX something just in case, instead of telling you to "get over it"..akathisia may strike a medical professional as a "minor side effect," but it can be unbelievably uncomfortable. Propranolol can help; benzos also help; I personaly found the combo of klonopin+propranolol to be highly beneficial. Good luck!

 

Re: Abilify is an odd drug

Posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2005, at 19:44:09

In reply to Abilify is an odd drug, posted by med_empowered on October 30, 2005, at 15:18:10

I know someone taking abilify and it wakes them up quite early in the morning. But from my observations they seem to be getting better less paranoid. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Abilify is an odd drug » med_empowered

Posted by theo on October 30, 2005, at 22:48:37

In reply to Abilify is an odd drug, posted by med_empowered on October 30, 2005, at 15:18:10

I guess I'm lucky so far, it's neutral so far as keeping me awake. I have noticed when I stand up sometimes I feel a bit dizzy and off balance. I also feel a little warm, mild hot flashes. Is this common?

 

Re: Just starting abilify » highone

Posted by Frumpter on December 8, 2005, at 17:57:12

In reply to Just starting abilify, posted by highone on October 30, 2005, at 2:59:54

You might be taking it too late at night. Or, you might be eating a large meal along with it or beforehand which is slowing down its digestion, hence its affects.

Perhaps suggest to your doctor that you take it a bit earlier in the evening.

If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at frumpter@gmail.com or visit my web site (I am also on Abilify and I speak about it a lot on my site) at http://frumpter.blogspot.com ...

Warm regards,
Zoe

> This is my third night of taking 5mg of abilify and the problem I am having is I can't sleep after about 1am for the rest of the night. Is this normal? Will it go away or is it time to stop using it?
>
> Thanks for any help.

 

Re: Just starting abilify

Posted by Frumpter on December 8, 2005, at 18:00:59

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » highone, posted by theo on October 30, 2005, at 10:52:28

That's funny. When I take it, within an hour, all I want to do is sleep. :)

I also started with 2.5mg (half a tablet), and then my pdoc moved me up to 5mg coupled with Fluoxetine for OCD symptoms from being bipolar.

Warm regards,
Zoe
> Strange observation; a couple of hours after I took it, I had a strange desire to clean my car, wipe down the dash, clean the inside of my windows. I usually have my car detailed and am usually to non motivated to do stuff like this. I wasn't wired or anything, almost like a calm motivated feeling. I'm not getting my hopes up but it was strange in a good way for me. One recent observation is it's been close to 24 hours since my last dose and I'm starting to feel nausea that I didn't feel at all when I initially took it, weird.
>
>
>
>

 

Re: Just starting abilify » Frumpter

Posted by theo on December 11, 2005, at 9:49:13

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify, posted by Frumpter on December 8, 2005, at 18:00:59

> I also started with 2.5mg (half a tablet), and then my pdoc moved me up to 5mg coupled with Fluoxetine for OCD symptoms from being bipolar.
>
> Warm regards,
> Zoe

Are you feeling better at 5mg or was it better at 2.5mg?

 

Re: Just starting abilify » theo

Posted by Frumpter on December 11, 2005, at 10:43:41

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » Frumpter, posted by theo on December 11, 2005, at 9:49:13

> > I also started with 2.5mg (half a tablet), and then my pdoc moved me up to 5mg coupled with Fluoxetine for OCD symptoms from being bipolar.
> >
> > Warm regards,
> > Zoe
>
> Are you feeling better at 5mg or was it better at 2.5mg?

Feeling normal at 5mg. At 2.5mg, I was still cycling; going thru antisocial depression stages and manic stages.

 

Re: Just starting abilify » SLS

Posted by Tepiaca on December 13, 2005, at 17:38:08

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify, posted by SLS on October 30, 2005, at 6:51:28


>
> If you don't mind my asking, what are you taking Abilify to help treat?
>
> Abilify can produce anxiety and insomnia when you first begin taking it. These are called "start up" side effects because they usually disappear over time. I take Abilify 5.0mg in the morning and have no trouble sleeping. You might want to try morning doses, at least temporarily. It might or might not help. Abilify has a long half-life. It takes about three days for the body to eliminate half of what was ingested. For this reason, morning dosing is no guarantee that you won't still have insomnia.
>
> With Abilify, some people experience akathisia-like symptoms as a startup side effect. Akathisia is described as a feeling of inner restlessness or motor restlessness. It is hard to keep still. You might find yourself rocking in a chair or pacing or shifting weight from one foot to the other. Although very uncomfortable, this too seems to pass rather quickly with Abilify. I cannot provide statistics for you as to how many people develop akathisia, but the number is high enough such that doctors should really make their patients aware of this as a possibility and that they should continue taking the medication as it soon disappears. It might take a week once it develops to dissipate.
>
>
> - Scott


Hi Scott, How are you doing ?
Im thinking in trying Abilify. Can you describe me if it has been helpful ? , what are you using it for?
have you taken others AP´s?

Tep

 

Re: Just starting abilify » Tepiaca

Posted by SLS on December 13, 2005, at 22:03:45

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » SLS, posted by Tepiaca on December 13, 2005, at 17:38:08

> Hi Scott, How are you doing ?

I've been worse. I'm taking 5 different medications just to keep my head above water.

> Im thinking in trying Abilify. Can you describe me if it has been helpful ?

What exactly are you hoping that Abilify will do for you?

I find that it helps promote motivation and mental energy. It is a clean drug. I cannot discern any side effects other than those that occurred during the first one to two weeks of treatment. These were primarily akathisia-like phenomena, including a feeling of restlessness and agitation.

> what are you using it for?

Chronic severe bipolar depression

> have you taken others AP´s?

Yes. I have tried all the atypicals except for clozapine (Clozaril). I like Abilify the best. If it weren't for the weight gain and moderate risk for producing diabetes and dyslipidemia, Zyprexa would make an ideal AP choice for TRD (treatment-resistant depression). I had given Zyprexa a trial for depression and found that it produced a significant improvement. Unfortunately, like so many other treatments, the effect faded for me, but my case is one of brief responses. I subsequently used Zyprexa intermittently successfully to remove suicidal ideation when I would have episodes of the most severe states that included anxiety and catastrophization. Since being on Abilify, I haven't had any such episodes.

What are your fears regarding the use of Abilify or other APs?


- Scott

 

Re: Just starting abilify » theo » Frumpter

Posted by theo on December 13, 2005, at 23:04:07

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » theo, posted by Frumpter on December 11, 2005, at 10:43:41

> Feeling normal at 5mg. At 2.5mg, I was still cycling; going thru antisocial depression stages and manic stages.

I just looked at your blog and noticed you are taking Abilify 2.5mg twice daily versus 5mg as a single dose at bedtime? How is twice daily versus once daily working for you?

 

Re: Just starting abilify » SLS

Posted by Tepiaca on December 16, 2005, at 17:10:40

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » Tepiaca, posted by SLS on December 13, 2005, at 22:03:45

How long have you been on meds scott?

>
> > Im thinking in trying Abilify. Can you describe me if it has been helpful ?
>
> What exactly are you hoping that Abilify will do for you?


to Save my life. Be able to be surrounded by people with my mind clear of intrusive thougths


>
> I find that it helps promote motivation and mental energy. It is a clean drug. I cannot discern any side effects other than those that occurred during the first one to two weeks of treatment. These were primarily akathisia-like phenomena, including a feeling of restlessness and agitation.


Does it give you Sexual Side effects?


>
> > what are you using it for?
>
> Chronic severe bipolar depression


How long have you been suffering this Scot?

> What are your fears regarding the use of Abilify or other APs?

Mainly TD.

So you feel a little better on abilify?


I hope you be ok
Tep

 

Re: Just starting abilify » Tepiaca

Posted by SLS on December 16, 2005, at 19:39:18

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » SLS, posted by Tepiaca on December 16, 2005, at 17:10:40

> How long have you been on meds scott?

Since 1982.

> > > Im thinking in trying Abilify. Can you describe me if it has been helpful ?

> > What exactly are you hoping that Abilify will do for you?

> to Save my life. Be able to be surrounded by people with my mind clear of intrusive thougths

I think Abilify is worth trying, especially because it does not tend to increase body weight and might have a reduced risk of producing TD. Abilify does not seem to affect the motor areas of the brain that are thought to be involved in the evolution of TD.

Be sure that you take into consideration that you might suffer some difficult side effects to deal with during the first one to two weeks. These startup side effects could include anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and a general need to keep moving. Some of this might be an episode of akathisia, but it usually disappears.

> Does it give you Sexual Side effects?

No.

> > > what are you using it for?

> > Chronic severe bipolar depression

> How long have you been suffering this Scot?

I became severely depressed at age 17. I first began by seeking psychotherapy. It was useless against the depression. Then, when I was 22, I was first diagnosed as having a biological affective (mood) disorder. One doctor got it right when I was 27, but he discontinued the effective medication when I became manic. The same drugs don't work anymore. I'm 45 now.

> So you feel a little better on abilify?

Yes. It helps prevent suicidal ideation and promotes motivation and perhaps mental energy.

> I hope you be ok

I made it through another day!

I guess that's ok.

I'll be interested to see how Abilify affects you. If you do experience the initial discomfort of akathisia and insomnia, I wouldn't know what to suggest but to know that it usually disappears within a week or two.

Good luck!


- Scott

 

Re: Just starting abilify » SLS

Posted by theo on December 16, 2005, at 23:14:01

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » Tepiaca, posted by SLS on December 16, 2005, at 19:39:18

Do you think Abilify and Keppra work good together? I was wondering if it could help with some of the restlessness Abilify brings. I know what you are talking about when you said it gives you the need to move around. Abilify made me want to leave my girlfriends house early to come home and do things around my house like clean my closets. It was semi productive but she was wondering if I was up to something, leaving her house around 8:30pm when I usually leave around 10:30pm. I was aware this was happening but had these urges of having to be on the move.

Also, tried 18mg Concerta and it helps with my anxiety, makes me a little slowed down? Ever heard of this from a stimulant? It doesn't help much with depression, just nips anxiety some. This might be an interesting combo with Abilify.

Any thoughts?

 

Re: Just starting abilify » SLS

Posted by Tepiaca on December 17, 2005, at 0:11:29

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » Tepiaca, posted by SLS on December 16, 2005, at 19:39:18

> > How long have you been on meds scott?
>
> Since 1982.


wow I was born in 1980

>
> > >
>

>
>
>


> > Does it give you Sexual Side effects?
>
> No.
>
> > > > what are you using it for?
>
>

Are you married Scot ?, do you have a job. Im very worried about money issues. I dont think I could handle a job.

> > So you feel a little better on abilify?
>
> Yes. It helps prevent suicidal ideation and promotes motivation and perhaps mental energy.
>

Cool !

> > I hope you be ok
>
> I made it through another day!
>
> I guess that's ok.
>

That is nice =)


> I'll be interested to see how Abilify affects you. If you do experience the initial discomfort of akathisia and insomnia, I wouldn't know what to suggest but to know that it usually disappears within a week or two.
>

I´m gonna try it !I am suspending risperdal today.
Im gonna ask my doctor about it. Im gonna see him 27 December. I wanna be off meds some days. It eels ok in the beggining


Today was a nightmare day. Suicide ideas. My parents are very worried about me and I am too.
I guess I am very far from where I was on Nardil.
Anyway I was not happy with Nardil, it was not the way I wanted to live forever. So I guess I´ll have to take the risk and look for something better.

Your friend
tep

 

Re: Just starting abilify » SLS

Posted by ed_uk on December 17, 2005, at 13:58:24

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » Tepiaca, posted by SLS on December 16, 2005, at 19:39:18

Hi Scott

Side effects aside, which med was most effective for your depression: Zyprexa or Abilify?

Regards

Ed

 

What happened to SLS???

Posted by theo on December 19, 2005, at 22:12:02

In reply to Re: Just starting abilify » SLS, posted by theo on December 16, 2005, at 23:14:01

> Do you think Abilify and Keppra work good together? I was wondering if it could help with some of the restlessness Abilify brings. I know what you are talking about when you said it gives you the need to move around. Abilify made me want to leave my girlfriends house early to come home and do things around my house like clean my closets. It was semi productive but she was wondering if I was up to something, leaving her house around 8:30pm when I usually leave around 10:30pm. I was aware this was happening but had these urges of having to be on the move.
>
> Also, tried 18mg Concerta and it helps with my anxiety, makes me a little slowed down? Ever heard of this from a stimulant? It doesn't help much with depression, just nips anxiety some. This might be an interesting combo with Abilify.
>
> Any thoughts??

 

Re: What happened to SLS??? » theo

Posted by Phillipa on December 20, 2005, at 18:59:12

In reply to What happened to SLS???, posted by theo on December 19, 2005, at 22:12:02

He's around maybe just not posting. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: What happened to SLS???

Posted by rod on December 22, 2005, at 11:16:49

In reply to Re: What happened to SLS??? » theo, posted by Phillipa on December 20, 2005, at 18:59:12

> He's around maybe just not posting. Fondly, Phillipa

I hope he's ok. You know which rate has its peak around christmas time..

I also experienced "christmas depression".. or breakthrough.. but I'm ok, now, somewhat.

*cyberhugtoscott* :-)

bye
R


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