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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by temoigneur on December 20, 2005, at 22:12:12
Hi, this is my proposal to my pdoc for Abilify, any impressions?
Thank you
Dr A.
On the current meds I’m on, my mood is very good; but it’s not me… almost as importantly, I won’t be able to attain independence on these meds. Dr. A. I appreciate that you do listen to what I say… I’m curious about Abilify.. and I respect that you cannot prescribe it, I have previously seen Dr. MacEwan who works with investigational compounds, and I’m hoping if you were willing to let me be cared by him for a short time, he would sanction it, perhaps through the special access program, I saw him fairly recently.. (in the summer)
If Dr. MacEwan Consents, could I see him while treatment with abilify is being initiated, then see you after. Could some sort of arrangement be worked out so that you would not be responsible for anything that happened if it did… I know you have to worry about that with foreign drugs.
I want to continue working with you long term however. , I just think that dopamine dysregulation is at the core of my illness, and I know you don’t think abilify is a good drug, but would you look at material I’ve brought, and see some of the testimonies. I think if Abilify worked for me like it does for some, I would be more naturally me, feeling an appropriate range of emotions. Right now I hate to complain because I feel good, but I’m always happy, my mind is dull.., I could never go through an academic program, and I don’t think I can attain independence…Before I show you the articles, the reason I feel an urgency to look at something that would give me my independence, is that my family is going through a rough time, and I need to be more self sufficient.., I don’t know if I’ll be able to ‘whether’ the financial problems that are coming.. without having hope that I’ll be able to move on, go to school and have a fulfilling life.
If there’s a drug out there that will enable me to go back to school I think it would be good to pursue it.
I know the following are the success stories, and I’m being selective by bringing them, but it’s hope.
Rating: Finally I feel better!!!!! by kezia
RATINGS
Weighted
7.7
Effectiveness
8
No Side Effects
9
Ease of Use
9
Effective After Long Term Use
8
Cost Effectiveness
2
kezia (18) [Houston - United States]
7/17/2003 9:02:20 AM
Finally I feel better!!!!!
Abilify has definitely increased my mood, brought back a lot of my sense of humor & I feel more motivated & focused than before. I've also had no psychotic episodes with Abilify........I've been on it for two months now & it continues to provide me with positive results and no side effects. My PDoc just raised me to 30mg to take care of some obsessive thoughts, but other than that it's been working great as it is. It's definitely working for me. I also take Topomax, Zoloft, & Provigil, and I'm weaning off of Geodon.
ARIPIPRAZOLE (Abilify):
Emerging as Next Great Hope for Schizophrenia
Editor's note: My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1999 at the age of eighteen. We tried respirdal, zyprexa, seroquel, navane and clozaril without success or reduction of voices and symptoms, in fact, things just got worse. In December, 2002, he switched to Aripiprazole (Abilify). Almost immediately there was a dramatic improvement which has continued until today. Now he is more independent, has a renewed interest in life, has returned to college, and has an active social life. Things that previously were beyond our wildest hopes, are now routine for him. Do not give up the search for something that works, every patient is unique! (June, 2004)
Aripiprazole (Abilitat) is being touted as the first member of the new generation of atypical antipsychotic drugs. This once-daily novel antipsychotic has undergone a number of studies, revealing that aripiprazole is significantly better at controlling both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia than placebo and has equaled haloperidol and risperidone in its ability to control these symptoms.
On October 31, 2001, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. filed a New Drug Application (NDA) with the FDA and the two companies anticipate the launch of aripiprazole late in the third quarter of 2002.
Stephen M. Stahl, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego, places aripiprazole in the class of antipsychotics called dopamine system stabilizers (DSSs). Stahl dubs these new therapeutic agents “Goldilocks” because of their ability to strike a balance between too much and too little dopamine. With “just right” result, negative and cognitive symptoms are reduced and motor side effects or prolactin elevation is absent. Previous atypical drugs block dopamine D2 receptors resulting in motor side effects such as pseudo-parkinsonism, and ultimately tardive dyskinesia.
[Dr. A, from my experience with medications that affect dopamine, I strongly wonder if my problems aren’t partly caused by dopamine dysregulation.. When I take Wellbutrin, or provigil the dopamine shoots through the roof and I become psychotic and paranoid. When I take an antipsychotic, I become drone like and dull. If this medication could regulate dopamine levels, along with some antidepressant activity, I might be much better off, all things considered.
Robert McQuade, Ph.D., director of Global Medical Marketing for Bristol-Myers Squibb, cites the evolution of antipsychotic medications and how their mechanisms of action have changed over time. “The big disadvantage was the side effects,” he says. “The atypicals were designed to address symptoms such as EPS, but brought about different side effects.” Each drug within the atypical category elicited its own particular adverse event, according to McQuade. Literature suggests, he says, that olanzapine causes weight gain, ziprasidone increases the QTc interval and risperidone increases plasma prolactin. “These drugs solved some problems, but created others.” “From a psychopharmacologic viewpoint, aripiprazole is bringing new science to the field,” he says. Unlike the older atypical antipsychotics that reduce positive symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions and hallucinations, by blocking D2 receptors, aripiprazole stabilizes or modulates them. McQuade underscores the multi-faceted benefits of aripiprazole based on the results of several controlled trials, some of which lasted up to 52 weeks in duration, involving more than 3,400 patients with schizophrenia. Aripiprazole was statistically superior to placebo on positive and negative symptoms and superior to haloperidol for negative symptoms, according to McQuade. “Aripiprazole delivers a package of tolerability that enhances the benefit to the patient and thus enhances compliance,” he concludes.
Posted by theo on December 20, 2005, at 22:31:42
In reply to Proposal to Dr. for Abilify feedback sought:), posted by temoigneur on December 20, 2005, at 22:12:12
When do you take your Abilify, morning or bedtime?
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 20, 2005, at 22:37:35
In reply to Proposal to Dr. for Abilify feedback sought:), posted by temoigneur on December 20, 2005, at 22:12:12
I'm a little unclear about the implications of your letter because I am not familiar with your country's way of doing things. Why can't your psychiatrist prescribe abilify? Can only some docs do it? Or is it not allowed in your country? Sorry, perhaps I haven't been following your story very closely.
Anyway (for what it is worth) I think it might help your case to explain in detail why other options are not acceptable... For example, "I know that we both think that an antipsychotic medication would help, but I found the side effects of Zyprexa to be unbearable...." Or whatever would fit for your situation. Would something like this be possible?
It is funny, pdocs around here (US) are very willing to rx abilify.
Good luck,
EE
Posted by Phillipa on December 21, 2005, at 18:47:23
In reply to Re: Proposal to Dr. for Abilify feedback sought:), posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 20, 2005, at 22:37:35
What country are you from? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by temoigneur on December 21, 2005, at 22:24:31
In reply to Re: Proposal to Dr. for Abilify feedback sought:), posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 20, 2005, at 22:37:35
> Or is it not allowed in your country?
I'm Canadian, and it's not available here, however last summer I was at an appointment with a pdoc who works with investigational/foreign drugs.. I'm hoping he'll help..
>Anyway (for what it is worth) I think it might help your case to explain in detail why other options are not acceptable... For example, "I know that we both think that an antipsychotic medication would help, but I found the side effects of Zyprexa to be unbearable...." Or whatever would fit your your situation. Would something like this be possible?
Thanks for the suggestion.. My thoughts are scrambled these days, and it's really helpful to have objective input.. I've been so out of it on anti psychotics, that I had a hard time writing to my doctor about why the other meds weren't working by myself, but at your suggestion, was able to work with my brother, to put something together for my doctor.
>
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Posted by Emily Elizabeth on December 29, 2005, at 22:50:03
In reply to Re: Proposal to Dr. for Abilify feedback sought:) » Emily Elizabeth, posted by temoigneur on December 21, 2005, at 22:24:31
Glad it was helpful. Keep us posted!
EE
This is the end of the thread.
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