Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 11:17:39
I added Abilify on top of 80mg Prozac, initially at 2.5 mg with great effect. Worked really well.
However, when going to 5 mg and 10 mg my results seem to be getting worse, not getting better.
My diagnosis is Dysthymia/ADD.
Anyone else have great results with abilify at such a low dosage? And/or a "reversal" at higher dosages (for depression)? I understand how Abilify is a dopamine agonist at lower doses and an antagonist at higher doses; I'm just surprised at HOW low a dose the affect seems to manifest itself.
Thanks for any feedback. :)
Posted by Phillipa on May 14, 2008, at 12:22:54
In reply to Abilify reverse action, posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 11:17:39
I e-mail with a guy who is doing great on 2.5mg of abilify, .5 of requip, vyvanase so it's possible. Phillipa
Posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 13:02:59
In reply to Re: Abilify reverse action » Neverquit, posted by Phillipa on May 14, 2008, at 12:22:54
If you don't mind me asking what is their diagnosis?
Posted by med_empowered on May 14, 2008, at 15:37:33
In reply to Re: Abilify reverse action, posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 13:02:59
2.5mgs/day every other day? Apparently, not only is Abilify high potency (each mg occupies way more % D2 receptors than, say, seroquel), its also got quite the long half life. I seem to recall reading someplace that some shrinks do EOD dosing with low doses for depression and that helps.
Plus, once you hit 10mgs/day, Abilify becomes a full-on antipsychotic, which may not be what you're looking for.
Posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 15:43:39
In reply to have you tried..., posted by med_empowered on May 14, 2008, at 15:37:33
I could tell it is powerful. Onset of action was very fast. The 2mg EOD might be a possibility.
Thanks.
Posted by michael on May 14, 2008, at 18:42:42
In reply to Re: have you tried..., posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 15:43:39
I'd say that that may be a good idea, too.
My experience was that 2.5 mg was very stimulating, but 5 was sedating (very). I'm considering trying it again, and doing so either at 1.25 mg per day (if the 5 mg tabs aren't too small to split into fourths), or I had also considered trying 2.5 mg every other day.
Btw, I too, have dysthymia, and while I don't have ADD, I do have some ADD-like issues as well.
One other thing to keep in mind - I was adding the abilify to wellbutrin, and since they're metabolized the same way in the body, it made small doses more potent than they would have otherwise been. [that may not be relevant to your case, but I thought I ought to mention it just in case - for you as well as other readers]
If you try the very-low dose, or the every other day method, I'd be interested in hearing how that works out for you - if you don't mind posting that info here. Good luck.
Michael
Posted by Phillipa on May 14, 2008, at 20:16:49
In reply to Re: Abilify reverse action, posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 13:02:59
Major depression with they think a tad of low manaia or aggitation. Phillipa
Posted by Neverquit on May 15, 2008, at 7:06:15
In reply to Re: have you tried..., posted by michael on May 14, 2008, at 18:42:42
> I'd say that that may be a good idea, too.
>
> My experience was that 2.5 mg was very stimulating, but 5 was sedating (very). I'm considering trying it again, and doing so either at 1.25 mg per day (if the 5 mg tabs aren't too small to split into fourths), or I had also considered trying 2.5 mg every other day.
>
> Btw, I too, have dysthymia, and while I don't have ADD, I do have some ADD-like issues as well.
>
> One other thing to keep in mind - I was adding the abilify to wellbutrin, and since they're metabolized the same way in the body, it made small doses more potent than they would have otherwise been. [that may not be relevant to your case, but I thought I ought to mention it just in case - for you as well as other readers]
>
> If you try the very-low dose, or the every other day method, I'd be interested in hearing how that works out for you - if you don't mind posting that info here. Good luck.
>
> Michael
The metabolism issue (with Wellbutrin) is also a factor w/ Prozac.I will let you know; am definitely going down to 2 mg again.
Posted by Maria3667 on May 15, 2008, at 12:49:18
In reply to Abilify reverse action, posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 11:17:39
Hi Neverquit,
Well, it seems my experience was the opposite of what you are saying...
I was on 5 mgs/day.
At the first 4 to 5 weeks, it worked great for depression. But then, at week 6, my anxiety shot through the roof... also depression kicked in quite hard.So what would your guess be here?
Too much dopamine (can cause anxiety), or too little (can cause depression)??
Should I have upped or lowered the dose?Thanks,
Maria
> I added Abilify on top of 80mg Prozac, initially at 2.5 mg with great effect. Worked really well.
>
> However, when going to 5 mg and 10 mg my results seem to be getting worse, not getting better.
>
> My diagnosis is Dysthymia/ADD.
>
> Anyone else have great results with abilify at such a low dosage? And/or a "reversal" at higher dosages (for depression)? I understand how Abilify is a dopamine agonist at lower doses and an antagonist at higher doses; I'm just surprised at HOW low a dose the affect seems to manifest itself.
>
> Thanks for any feedback. :)
Posted by Neverquit on May 15, 2008, at 13:07:14
In reply to Re: Abilify reverse action » Neverquit, posted by Maria3667 on May 15, 2008, at 12:49:18
> Hi Neverquit,
>
> Well, it seems my experience was the opposite of what you are saying...
>
> I was on 5 mgs/day.
> At the first 4 to 5 weeks, it worked great for depression. But then, at week 6, my anxiety shot through the roof... also depression kicked in quite hard.
>
> So what would your guess be here?
> Too much dopamine (can cause anxiety), or too little (can cause depression)??
> Should I have upped or lowered the dose?
>
> Thanks,
> Maria
>
>
> > I added Abilify on top of 80mg Prozac, initially at 2.5 mg with great effect. Worked really well.
> >
> > However, when going to 5 mg and 10 mg my results seem to be getting worse, not getting better.
> >
> > My diagnosis is Dysthymia/ADD.
> >
> > Anyone else have great results with abilify at such a low dosage? And/or a "reversal" at higher dosages (for depression)? I understand how Abilify is a dopamine agonist at lower doses and an antagonist at higher doses; I'm just surprised at HOW low a dose the affect seems to manifest itself.
> >
> > Thanks for any feedback. :)
>
>
It seems from what others are saying LESS would be the way to go, likely due to half-life issues. I would think that since we are talking about adding Abilify as an adjunct to other ADs, your depression certainly shouldn't increase (which has been my experience..and it has been rather dramatic). I feel worse than my "base" of simply being on the Prozac. But I am new at this too.
Posted by Zyprexa on May 16, 2008, at 22:44:08
In reply to Abilify reverse action, posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 11:17:39
I've always done better at low doses of abilify. I don't take it anymore though.
Posted by neverquit on May 31, 2008, at 12:17:41
In reply to Abilify reverse action, posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 11:17:39
Update:
Taking 2 mg for a little over a week. Feeling better but not completely so.
Posted by neverquit on June 24, 2008, at 14:26:24
In reply to Abilify reverse action, posted by Neverquit on May 14, 2008, at 11:17:39
Final update re: Abilify. Eventually went down to 1 mg (2 mg split in half) then stopped. Was very disappointed due to initial great effect.
Posted by william puga on June 26, 2008, at 2:03:48
In reply to Re: Abilify reverse action, posted by neverquit on June 24, 2008, at 14:26:24
some people get what's called akithesia with antipsychotics. this means a sense of restlessness and agitation. it sometimes occurs after taking abilify for a while because it is long acting and it takes a longer time for it to reach "steady state" in the body. If this occurs and you need the higher doses, other meds can be used as an antedote, otherwise decreasing it is best.
good luck!
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