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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MrBrice on March 20, 2008, at 6:55:41
Hi guys,
i've been on this board about 1.5 years ago, while i was still young and restless. Now i'm in a psychiatric clinic, beeing treated properly i hope. (it's called Kortenberg and it's in Belgium)
The docters put me on 3 mg's risperdal at first, i guess to really exclude the over-dopamine in my brain. Now i'm at the point that i don't find pleasure in nothing no more, nothing of activities is of interest to me, i'm completely flattened out.
Now the docter is going to lower the dosage of risperdal from 2 to 1 mg, and add abilify, with the intend of switching to abilify completely in a while.
I wanted to know, is this a known treatment? It sounds logical: work out the dopamine at first, and then start to stabilize it with the stabilizer.
Anyone ever made the same switch? Anyone with same experiences?
thanks a bunch,
Brice
Posted by dbc on March 20, 2008, at 13:29:10
In reply to first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abilify?, posted by MrBrice on March 20, 2008, at 6:55:41
Anhedonia (feeling like nothings enjoyable) is a common side effect of the stronger antipsychotics. Abilify is kind of a newer antipsychotic and not really normal compared to the others. It kind of gives some people more energy and acts as an anti-depressant.
As you know finding the best medication for a patient takes a while and that seems to be what they're doing.
Posted by nfc on March 21, 2008, at 7:14:39
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by dbc on March 20, 2008, at 13:29:10
MrBrice
I've gone through that exactly. been dx w/ skits
first put on 3mg risp like u, 2 weeks later, felt depressed n didn't enjoy anything, felt worthless and wanting to die. a month later was put on an AD zoloft but didn't help much. stupid pdoc's just kept me on the risp. they thought that was best for me despite my depression and anhedonia. they just kept raising the AD dose thinking it would kick in. I tell u now get off the risp and go w/ abilify. i only went on abilify a year and a half after using risp. what a horrible time i tell you. whats your dx anyway? risp is good for short term since its a very strong AP. although for some even at a high dose it doesn't bring on depressive symptoms. so everyone's different but many will share the same symptoms. If you're feeling down now w/ the risp go off of it and go w/ abilify. But even some have reported some ill side effects from abilify. just change over and get used to it. the side effects do subside but also depends on ur dosage level. I'm on 5mg abilify which is kinda low so i don't feel much side effects. feel free to ask any ?'snfc
Posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2008, at 12:18:12
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by nfc on March 21, 2008, at 7:14:39
Not Mr Brice but how does an antipsychotic act as an antidepressant? Thought they were for anxiety if a doc was benzophobic or for psychosis? Phillipa
Posted by dbc on March 21, 2008, at 15:06:58
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2008, at 12:18:12
> Not Mr Brice but how does an antipsychotic act as an antidepressant? Thought they were for anxiety if a doc was benzophobic or for psychosis? Phillipa
Some of the newer ones display mood brightening properties such as seroquel and abilify. Why this is no one is quite sure why.
Posted by yxibow on March 21, 2008, at 15:07:39
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2008, at 12:18:12
> Not Mr Brice but how does an antipsychotic act as an antidepressant? Thought they were for anxiety if a doc was benzophobic or for psychosis? Phillipa
Nothing to do with benzophobic or it shouldn't be... anyhow switching subjects...
Antipsychotics in schizophrenia address positive (delusions, manifestations of psychosis, catatonic outbursts) and negative symptoms (blunted affect, anhedonia, lack of motivation) as well as a few other side symptoms.
Its true that medication side effects can mimic some of the behaviours of schizophrenia so sometimes its hard to tell. But nobody is attempting to drain one's body of dopamine -- something is putting it out on a fairly constant state. Its to lower it to a level that the patient is able to be more lucid, communicative, and feeling better.If Risperdal isn't doing what you want and is a bit potent for you, and you have some voluntary rights, than ask for something less potent like Geodon. But sometimes one unfortunately doesn't get that choice.. I hope you do /
-- tidings
Posted by MrBrice on March 23, 2008, at 10:49:51
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on March 21, 2008, at 15:07:39
> >
> If Risperdal isn't doing what you want and is a bit potent for you, and you have some voluntary rights, than ask for something less potent like Geodon. But sometimes one unfortunately doesn't get that choice.. I hope you do /
>
> -- tidingsHi tidings,
I guess i can make some suggestions to the docter, but i think i'm going to rely on her experience for now. If however i'm heading for another time as the one i've just gone trough, maybe my trust will fade. I'm in the clinic voluntarely, so i guess i can change docters pretty easily.
nfc: I can very much relate to what you've told me about your experience with risperdal, me too i didn't feel like living anymore. How long after you're dosage is reduced and finally cut off will the anhedonia stay? I've just three days ago gone to 1 mg's of risperdal, but i still feel like sh**. I guess it takes a couple of weeks? I really hope the abilify will work, i really can use some good times now.
Cheers guys!
Posted by nfc on March 23, 2008, at 13:11:08
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by MrBrice on March 23, 2008, at 10:49:51
MrBrice,
I kinda forgot but I tapered over a month from 3mg to 0 but by the time I was at 1mg risp i was on 5mg abilify then by 0mg risp i was suppose to be at 10mg abilify but i lied to the pdoc and just took 5mg cuz i didn't wanna b overmedicated. yes i'm bad. but was ok. took about a month off of risp to notice quite a difference but it depends. everyone is different i think it was about 2-3 months for me to feel quite good but after that about 3 months later i asked the pdoc if i could quit my AD, she sed yes and i feel even better. although b4 that i was on only 2.5mg for about 4 months cuz the previous pdoc lowered me to that dose and i was still feeling sad so he raised me but i didn't listen and one night was going nutso - thought i was gonna have to go back to the hospital so i doubled the dose of abilify to 5mg and was good the next mornin. doing good so far. i'm just on 5mg abilify right now and its been a month off of the AD lexapro.
take care man, may you get well quick but in reality it takes time and everyone is different so it'll vary w/ each person. feel free to ask any ?'s
nfc
Posted by MrBrice on March 24, 2008, at 6:43:58
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil » MrBrice, posted by nfc on March 23, 2008, at 13:11:08
> MrBrice,
>
> I kinda forgot but I tapered over a month from 3mg to 0 but by the time I was at 1mg risp i was on 5mg abilify then by 0mg risp i was suppose to be at 10mg abilify but i lied to the pdoc and just took 5mg cuz i didn't wanna b overmedicated. yes i'm bad. but was ok. took about a month off of risp to notice quite a difference but it depends. everyone is different i think it was about 2-3 months for me to feel quite good but after that about 3 months later i asked the pdoc if i could quit my AD, she sed yes and i feel even better. although b4 that i was on only 2.5mg for about 4 months cuz the previous pdoc lowered me to that dose and i was still feeling sad so he raised me but i didn't listen and one night was going nutso - thought i was gonna have to go back to the hospital so i doubled the dose of abilify to 5mg and was good the next mornin. doing good so far. i'm just on 5mg abilify right now and its been a month off of the AD lexapro.
>
> take care man, may you get well quick but in reality it takes time and everyone is different so it'll vary w/ each person. feel free to ask any ?'s
>
> nfc
>
hi nfc,thanks for your funny and helpfull response. It's nice to know that you're doing well on abilify, knowing that you did bad on risperdal as i did. It's been 4 days since the dosage lowered and i feel just a tad better, good news i guess. I'm very restless tough, but i guess that'll go away.
may you do good as well and see ya!
Posted by Zyprexa on March 24, 2008, at 14:14:44
In reply to first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abilify?, posted by MrBrice on March 20, 2008, at 6:55:41
I think the abilify is to get rid of the no pleasure feeling. When I was on risperdal I did nothing, wouldn't leave the couch, practicly did not even move.
Posted by nfc on March 25, 2008, at 5:59:22
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil » nfc, posted by MrBrice on March 24, 2008, at 5:43:58
glad to offer any advice MrBrice. hey that rhymes! anyway if u feel restless, its possible that's coming from the AP. akathasia they call it. i forgot my pdoc was telling me another med for it might be benedryl. chk w/ thy pdoc first though. take care n keep us posted!
nfc
Posted by MrBrice on March 25, 2008, at 12:38:12
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil » MrBrice, posted by nfc on March 25, 2008, at 5:59:22
Hey zyprexa, i don't want to leave this bed i'm sitting on either, but now i'm getting restless from the abilify, so i NEED to :s
i really hate my life for now, but i'm guessing better times are up ahead, so i stick in there.
Thanks for the replys guys.
Posted by Zyprexa on March 25, 2008, at 14:29:18
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by MrBrice on March 25, 2008, at 12:38:12
If its the abilify you want to know about. I had very bad results with it, everyone of the 4 times I tried it. Yes restless at first but later I was so low on energy I could barely get off the couch without getting dizzy, low on sugars, like the abilify was lowering it. I would eat and eat, and still have low sugars. Go figure they say it can raise sugar. The last time I took the abilify for 6 months, the longest period ever. I lost my job and friends. I was so low on energy, not sleeping and unable to function durring the day.
Don't get me wrong I think some people have good results with this one. Not as many though. As say zyprexa or some of the others.
One of abilifys problems is anxiety, and it made me angry.
Posted by MrBrice on March 26, 2008, at 12:48:31
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by Zyprexa on March 25, 2008, at 15:29:18
Maybe nfc can post his experiences with abilify like zyprexa just did? sorry to hear it wastn't working for you Z...
Posted by nfc on March 29, 2008, at 6:31:32
In reply to Re: first risperdal to exclude dopamine, then abil, posted by MrBrice on March 26, 2008, at 12:48:31
i started off slow on abilify while still tapering the risp so i didn't really notice alot of side effects. I was already using risp for a year and a half so whatever side effects were due to the risp already. perhaps if abilify was my first AP med then i would have noticed something. How are u guys doing now?
nfc
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