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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 Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 0:02:59
I was on 30mgs Abilify and 20mgs Celexa, and I felt dulled out. I stopped taking my meds a couple days ago, and I feel better.
Here's what I'm thinking: take 30mgs Abiliy 2x weekly. Continue (or resume) the celexa at 20mgs.
What do you guys think?
Posted by Zyprexa on January 30, 2011, at 5:23:21
In reply to My solution to med problems..., posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 0:02:59
I think that 30mg abilify daily is a lot/too much. And I only went as high as 15mg with it and had problems. My doctor wanted me to go up to 30mg, but I flat out refused. Celexa was a lot easyer to tolerate. I did well on 60mg for a number of years.
I think if you go off the abilify you will have problems, assuming its working for you. But it sounds obvious that 30mg is too much for you.
Posted by Zyprexa on January 30, 2011, at 5:54:54
In reply to My solution to med problems..., posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 0:02:59
Anouther thing. When I feel I don't need my AP, I skip a dose or take a reduced dose for a day, and realize I need it, then go back to the full dose. I wish I realized it this time and called my pdoc to tell them I was reducing the dose. I reduced the dose and within 8 hours I realized I needed the full dose and called the pdoc to tell them this. I felt realy stupid after that and got my doc worried about me. Stupid me..
I guess what I'm saying is to cut back on the dose for a couple days and decide if you need it. But, be very in tune with your mental state and posibly have some one help monitor you.
Posted by phillipa on January 30, 2011, at 11:31:42
In reply to Re: My solution to med problems..., posted by Zyprexa on January 30, 2011, at 5:54:54
I feel that's pretty good advise from Zyprexa. As he was on the same combo. Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 30, 2011, at 13:58:02
In reply to My solution to med problems..., posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 0:02:59
> I was on 30mgs Abilify and 20mgs Celexa, and I felt dulled out. I stopped taking my meds a couple days ago, and I feel better.
>
> Here's what I'm thinking: take 30mgs Abiliy 2x weekly. Continue (or resume) the celexa at 20mgs.
>
> What do you guys think?I think it's a bad idea. Why would you want to take Abilify using an unproven regimen of twice a week. Why not take it daily (as recommended) at a lower dose?
It's not uncommon for people to feel better a couple of days after stopping psych meds, especially if their doses were too high. Unfortunately, this initial improvement may be followed by a relapse.
Citalopram is a recent addition to your medication, but I still wouldn't recommend abrupt discontinuation. Go back on 20mg, then reduce to 10mg for a while, then 5mg before stopping.
Abilify is your main medication, but 30mg is more of an 'acute' dose than a maintenance dose. I suggest restarting at 20mg, then gradually reducing to 15mg then (if appropriate) 10mg over a period of several weeks or months.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 16:10:31
In reply to Re: My solution to med problems..., posted by ed_uk2010 on January 30, 2011, at 13:58:02
hey. I was thinking 30mgs 2x weekly b/c Abilify has such a crazy long half life that I think some of the problem, in addition to the dose being too high, is that its accumulating in my system. The dullness ad apathy kind of crept up on me.
I guess a lower daily dose would be the way to go. I only have 30mgs tablets, so I can take: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 tablet. I'm thinking about re-starting @ 15mgs/day, which used to be the Abilify starting and maintenance dose (at least, that's the dose the company used to give out in sample packs).
I do need to re-start the celexa before I start having withdrawal problems. I'll do that soon.
Thanks again for your input.
Posted by emmanuel98 on January 30, 2011, at 19:10:28
In reply to thanks, ed, posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 16:10:31
I never took more than 10mg of abilify and it worked just fine at that dose. Even if it has a long half-life, regular dosing keeps plasma levels stable, rather than bouncing up and down.
I started and stopped abilify many times (it made me gain weight) and never noticed any kind of discontinuation syndrome. If it's not working for you, you can probably just stop taking it.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 31, 2011, at 15:50:23
In reply to thanks, ed, posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 16:10:31
Hi Med,
> hey. I was thinking 30mgs 2x weekly b/c Abilify has such a crazy long half life that I think some of the problem, in addition to the dose being too high, is that its accumulating in my system.
Accumulation isn't really an issue, it's the dose that (might be) a problem. It would be better to take 10mg per day than 30mg twice a week - it would give more stable blood levels.
>I only have 30mgs tablets, so I can take: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 tablet. I'm thinking about re-starting @ 15mgs/day, which used to be the Abilify starting and maintenance dose.
I suggest taking 3/4 of a tablet for a few weeks then 1/2 a tablet for a few weeks. If you feel OK, you could then consider getting some 10mg tablets.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 31, 2011, at 16:21:08
In reply to Re: thanks, ed, posted by ed_uk2010 on January 31, 2011, at 15:50:23
OK, my pill cutter is MIA and I'm too lazy to go get one today, so I'm not going to cut my dose until tomorrow.
Here's what I'm thinking: 2 weeks 3/4 (30mgs) tab
Then 1/2 tab till its time to re-order. Then, order the 20mgs tablets and take 1/2 tablet daily unless I start having problems, in which case I can take an additional 1/2-1 tablet. I'll continue taking the 20mgs celexa for now, because I don't think it'd be wise to change both meds at the same time.Thoughts?
Posted by Hombre on January 31, 2011, at 22:18:47
In reply to my new dosing plan, posted by Christ_empowered on January 31, 2011, at 16:21:08
Do you exercise regularly? Like break a sweat a breathe hard? Because that'll go a long way towards clearing the fog and developing some drive. Why mess with your meds and cause potential instability and other unknown reactions from fluctuating levels of meds in your system? Exercise is a natural way to regulate neurotransmitters and hormones. Along with a good diet, it will have more influence on your mood and energy levels in the long run then tweaking your meds in unproven ways.
It's a real dangerous idea that meds can be added, subtracted, combined, and eliminated at will with no consequences, both short and long term.
Posted by morgan miller on January 31, 2011, at 22:43:28
In reply to Re: my new dosing plan, posted by Hombre on January 31, 2011, at 22:18:47
I say ween down to 15 mg Abilify and stay at 20 mg Celexa, stay there for a few weeks and see what happens. Then, if you still are having some of the same side effects, maybe try going down to 10 mg of Celexa.
After 3 or 4 months with Celexa and you are having the same issues, maybe consider switching to Zoloft.
Posted by morgan miller on January 31, 2011, at 22:52:38
In reply to Re: my new dosing plan, posted by Hombre on January 31, 2011, at 22:18:47
I agree with Hombre. If you feel you have just enough energy and stability, make yourself start exercising 5 days a week. It only takes 20 minutes of moderate to intense exercise, the kind that get your heart beating fast and hard and makes you break out in a sweat, like Hombre said. Then do a thorough meditative full body stretch. It helps you try to focus on your breathing and control it in a way that you are taking air in through your mouth partially but mostly through your nose so to direct the air straight into your brain. Do this during both cardiovascular exercise and stretching. Maybe focus more on breathing through your nose during your stretch.
If your family will help you with it and you are comfortable with it, you might want to join a gym. Look for the more fun kind that has plenty of different machines to use, a pool, and other amenities like a steam room.
Whatever you do with your medications during the next few months, good luck!
Morgan
Posted by Hombre on January 31, 2011, at 23:45:20
In reply to Re: my new dosing plan, posted by morgan miller on January 31, 2011, at 22:52:38
By the way, I'm sort of playing devil's advocate, although I stand behind what I say. Don't take me too seriously if you felt offended, that wasn't my intention.
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 1, 2011, at 2:05:14
In reply to Re: my new dosing plan, posted by Hombre on January 31, 2011, at 22:18:47
...is something I've been needing to (re)start for a while now, and I think there's not better time than the present.
I wasn't at all offended by any of your posts, Hombre--you make some valid points. My narrow focus on meds prevented me from seeing other ways to improve my well-being and overall quality of life.
That said, I gotta do something about the meds. I can't ignore the fact that I'm taking the FDA-approve max for an antipsychotic AND I feel a bit dulled out. I think I'll make some minor medication adjustments, start my pilates DVD, and try to focus more on living and less on the chemicals that keep me (more or less) stable.
Thanks.
Posted by roscopeeco on February 2, 2011, at 4:57:43
In reply to My solution to med problems..., posted by Christ_empowered on January 30, 2011, at 0:02:59
I think you should stay off all meds.
This is the end of the thread.
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