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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 117 to 141 of 153. Go back in thread:
Posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 1:16:56
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify, posted by Lazarus on September 29, 2003, at 17:25:26
> I'm not sure exactly how much I'm taking. Cutting up the small pills into fourths or smaller is very difficult. I don't know how much I'm actually ingesting. This is all very distressing. My mood today is very unstable; this rapid cycling is tiring. Lastly, I'm driving those around me nuts!!!!!!
i thought you were taking 2.5mg before??
are you taking 1/4 of a 15 mg or 10 mg tablet?
> You're taking 3.75 mg, n'est-ce pas? Are you experiencing any panic at that dosage? Help!nope... but i've had a few weeks to get used to it
i also take benzos, so i might not be able to tell
Posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 1:18:59
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify, posted by Sebastian on September 29, 2003, at 18:28:12
> Are the 30 mg pills at least .5 cm or bigger in diamiter? Are they hard to cut? I bet its best to fully cut the pills when you take them out. Seems once they hit much air they get soggy. When they come out of the blisters they cut very precisely.
>
>
dunno the biggest zyprexa pills i had were 5 mg
Posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 1:20:10
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! AbilifySebastian, posted by Lazarus on September 29, 2003, at 21:42:56
> Seb, I cut the Abilify pills when I snap them out of the blister pak. However, the pills are still very small (both the 10 mg tablets and the 15 mg tablets). The 10 mg's are easier to cut into fourths because they are oblong. The 15's are round and much more difficult to cut evenly. My doc gave me both 10 and 15 mg blister paks so I have to learn to cut both types of pills.
>
> My experience today on the Abilify was very, very bad and I'm going to skip a dosing tomorrow. I really like the Zyprexa, but feel that I've become dependent on it for both sleep and mood stabilization.
>
> Lazarus
>oh... did you stop taking your zyprexa today? is that what caused the mood instability?
>
Posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2003, at 11:43:34
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! AbilifySebastian, posted by Lazarus on September 29, 2003, at 21:42:56
Sounds like you may be experiencing the change from zyprexa to abilify. I noticed some pritty horible effects a month after starting to take abilify even though I had stoped. I think it could be the abilify.
Posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2003, at 11:46:07
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify, posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 1:18:59
30 mg Abilify pills!
Posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2003, at 11:50:26
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! AbilifySebastian, posted by Lazarus on September 29, 2003, at 21:42:56
I imagine the 15 mg pills are hard to cut into 1/6? How do you do it, like a pizza pie?
Posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 12:54:51
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2003, at 11:46:07
> 30 mg Abilify pills!
actually i have 8 sample packs of 15 mg pills
Posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 15:56:36
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! AbilifySebastian » Lazarus, posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2003, at 11:50:26
hmmm... i couldn't fall asleep until around 6 am today... then woke up around noon..... for someone who is used to getting 14 hours of sleep a day........ i don't kjnow what to do with myself for these extra 8 hours
Posted by Lazarus on September 30, 2003, at 18:43:53
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! AbilifySebastian » Lazarus, posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2003, at 11:50:26
> I imagine the 15 mg pills are hard to cut into 1/6? How do you do it, like a pizza pie?
Cutting the 15 mg Abilify pills into sixths is impossible; the best I've been able to do is cut them into fourths (1/2 then 1/2 again), resulting in a 3.75 mg pill. Cutting a 10 mg Abilify pill into fourths yields a 2.5 mg pill. That is why I sometimes take 2.5 mg and at other times 3.75.
Often I don't feel any effect from the 2.5 mg dose; I need to take 3.75 mg in order to "feel it". I would like to take 5 mg but I have akathesia at that dosage.
I have the same problem with Zyprexa. I would like to take 5 mg but was prescribed only 2.5 mg daily. Now my doc has told me to reduce my dose to 1.25 mg (1/2 of a 2.5). As a result I'm not sleeping well...too many vivid dreams, etc. It's not so much withdrawal, rather I am probably returning to the state I was in before beginning Zyprexa treatment. I like the way Zyprexa blunts your emotions.
I hope you are doing well on your dosage of Zyprexa (5 mg daily?).
Lazarus
Posted by Lazarus on September 30, 2003, at 18:53:56
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify, posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 1:16:56
> You're taking 3.75 mg, n'est-ce pas? Are you experiencing any panic at that dosage? Help!
>
> nope... but i've had a few weeks to get used to it
>
> i also take benzos, so i might not be able to tellCyber,
I'm not on any benzos. Sometimes my psychiatrist will give me 10 mg Librium capsules but I am all out of them. I just have to put up with the anxiety as it happens. I have some Equagesic tablets (Equanil plus aspirin) but I reserve them for really bad headaches only.
Lazarus
Posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 1:28:08
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Sebastian, posted by Lazarus on September 30, 2003, at 18:43:53
>into fourths yields a 2.5 mg pill. That is why I sometimes take 2.5 mg and at other times 3.75.
.. so that must be why you are experiencing this transient effects...
> Often I don't feel any effect from the 2.5 mg dose; I need to take 3.75 mg in order to "feel it". I would like to take 5 mg but I have akathesia at that dosage.what is it that you intend to "feel"? because it takes about 15 or 18 days to reach peak plasma level, plus some extra time for your brain to adapt, so i don't think you can expect to feel an effect right away
but you feel akathisia the first time you take an increased dose? hmmmm..... any idea how long it takes to get used to it?
Posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 1:29:28
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Cybercafe, posted by Lazarus on September 30, 2003, at 18:53:56
> I'm not on any benzos. Sometimes my psychiatrist will give me 10 mg Librium capsules but I am all out of them. I just have to put up with the anxiety as it happens. I have some Equagesic tablets (Equanil plus aspirin) but I reserve them for really bad headaches only.
yeah, i am used to taking benzos twice a day.. my life would be very restricted without them
Posted by lesliekay on October 1, 2003, at 6:28:03
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Cybercafe, posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 1:29:28
I have been reading your conversation with interest. I am on abilify...curious though how you two get clinical efficacy from those small doses. I think it is a wonder drug and I have akathesia. It took me months of trial and error to treat it but now it is perfect.
abilify 15
klonopin 1
cogentin 1
all day this works . no anxiety no movement its perfect. I take other meds but this is the main thing....Try it if you need to, it is great
leslie
Posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 9:04:57
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Cybercafe » cybercafe, posted by lesliekay on October 1, 2003, at 6:28:03
> I have been reading your conversation with interest. I am on abilify...curious though how you two get clinical efficacy from those small doses. I think it is a wonder drug and I have akathesia. It took me months of trial and error to treat it but now it is perfect.
well i managed to get efficacy from a small dose of zyprexa, only 2.5 mg .... and it seems like 3 or 4 mg of abilify would be an equivalent dose
> abilify 15
> klonopin 1
> cogentin 1
> all day this works . no anxiety no movement its perfect. I take other meds but this is the main thing....Try it if you need to, it is great
> lesliei am interested in the cogentin, but i know my dad had bad side effects when he took it......
ummm.. question, have you taken other APs, and what doses did you need? (i'm trying to compare abilify dosing to others)
great to hear from you!
Posted by Sebastian on October 1, 2003, at 11:33:12
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! AbilifySebastian, posted by cybercafe on September 30, 2003, at 15:56:36
Your supposed to fill it with a job!
Posted by Sebastian on October 1, 2003, at 11:38:44
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Sebastian, posted by Lazarus on September 30, 2003, at 18:43:53
Sounds like you want to take less abilify and more zyprexa? Are you supposed to switch? Is it for more energy? If so, why not try a different aprotch. Like 2.5 - 5 mg zyprexa with a stimulant, like wellbutrin or some thing?
Posted by Sebastian on October 1, 2003, at 11:44:41
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Sebastian, posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 1:28:08
Or you could cut abilify: 10 mg pills into 1/4. Then the 15 mg pills into 1/4, and cut a small edge off of it and take with the 1/4 of a 10 mg?
Posted by Sebastian on October 1, 2003, at 18:08:09
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify » lesliekay, posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 9:04:57
I just went up to 80 mg Celexa!
Supposed to help my social anxiety?
Sebastian
Posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 22:08:11
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Celexa, posted by Sebastian on October 1, 2003, at 18:08:09
> I just went up to 80 mg Celexa!
>
> Supposed to help my social anxiety?
>
> Sebastianyeah i'd say celexa helps with social anxiety.... let us know how it goes :)
Posted by Lazarus on October 2, 2003, at 16:57:57
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Sebastian, posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 1:28:08
> but you feel akathisia the first time you take an increased dose? hmmmm..... any idea how long it takes to get used to it?
If an AP causes akathisia I always experience it immediately; not later like some people. For example, I experienced akathisia on 0.25 mg of Risperdal and 20 mg Geodon and these are low doses.I don't know if the akathisia on Abilify goes away at the 5 mg level, as I never continue to take it long enough to find out.
In addition to a horrific anxiety disorder I have a phobia of medications. I don't trust them. Sometimes I look at them and see poison pills. How do I know that they are not damaging me? Taking the pills makes me feel like a slave to others.
Lazarus
Posted by Lazarus on October 2, 2003, at 17:13:10
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify Sebastian » Lazarus, posted by Sebastian on October 1, 2003, at 11:38:44
> Sounds like you want to take less abilify and more zyprexa? Are you supposed to switch? Is it for more energy? If so, why not try a different aprotch. Like 2.5 - 5 mg zyprexa with a stimulant, like wellbutrin or some thing?
The impression I get from my doc is that he would like to see me transition to Abilify from Zyprexa. He has not given me an explanation as to why.
I took Wellbutrin daily for many years. In the last eight months I have stoppped taking it as I realized that it was making me manic, very manic and thus exacerbating the rapid-cycling.
Instead of the Wellbutrin I am now taking 9 mg Strattera (1/2 of an 18 mg capsule). In certain ways it is better than Wellbutrin in that it helps one to focus as well as providing antidepressant action. Too much of it though and I feel overly stimulated and can't sleep.
Personally, I think it's too many pills and I feel like a hopeless mess today.
Lazarus
Posted by lesliekay on October 3, 2003, at 2:49:49
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify » lesliekay, posted by cybercafe on October 1, 2003, at 9:04:57
> > I have been reading your conversation with interest. I am on abilify...curious though how you two get clinical efficacy from those small doses. I think it is a wonder drug and I have akathesia. It took me months of trial and error to treat it but now it is perfect.
>
> well i managed to get efficacy from a small dose of zyprexa, only 2.5 mg .... and it seems like 3 or 4 mg of abilify would be an equivalent dose
>
> > abilify 15
> > klonopin 1
> > cogentin 1
> > all day this works . no anxiety no movement its perfect. I take other meds but this is the main thing....Try it if you need to, it is great
> > leslie
>
> i am interested in the cogentin, but i know my dad had bad side effects when he took it......
>
> ummm.. question, have you taken other APs, and what doses did you need? (i'm trying to compare abilify dosing to others)
>
> great to hear from you!I have taken others,nothing really worked well
Zyprexa 20
risperdal 4
I used to take cogentin 2 twice a day and I had a rough time..I have realized that I only need 1 once a day leslie
Posted by cybercafe on October 3, 2003, at 3:24:31
In reply to Re: Sebastian ! Abilify » cybercafe, posted by lesliekay on October 3, 2003, at 2:49:49
> > > abilify 15
> > > klonopin 1
> > > cogentin 1
> > > all day this works . no anxiety no movement its perfect. I take other meds but this is the main thing....Try it if you need to, it is great
> > > leslie
> >
> > i am interested in the cogentin, but i know my dad had bad side effects when he took it......
> >
> > ummm.. question, have you taken other APs, and what doses did you need? (i'm trying to compare abilify dosing to others)
> >
> > great to hear from you!
>
> I have taken others,nothing really worked well
> Zyprexa 20
> risperdal 4
> I used to take cogentin 2 twice a day and I had a rough time..I have realized that I only need 1 once a day leslie
>okay that makes sense. i probably need less abilify because i needed less of the other APs (like only 2.5mg zyprexa).
be well
Posted by cybercafe on October 3, 2003, at 3:26:42
In reply to Re: Abilify Cybercafe, posted by Lazarus on October 2, 2003, at 16:57:57
> I don't know if the akathisia on Abilify goes away at the 5 mg level, as I never continue to take it long enough to find out.
i guess you could always try to tough it out with a benzo or cogentin if you wanted to go that route
> In addition to a horrific anxiety disorder I have a phobia of medications. I don't trust them. Sometimes I look at them and see poison pills. How do I know that they are not damaging me? Taking the pills makes me feel like a slave to others.yeah well i dont' like taking pills either BUT what is the alternative? i wouldn't even consider trying to hold down a semi normal life without medication.... not for a while
tried that once, for the longest time, didn't work out for me
Posted by Lazarus on October 3, 2003, at 14:51:36
In reply to Re: Abilify Cybercafe, posted by cybercafe on October 3, 2003, at 3:26:42
> > I don't know if the akathisia on Abilify goes away at the 5 mg level, as I never continue to take it long enough to find out.> i guess you could always try to tough it out with a benzo or cogentin if you wanted to go that route
I don't have any benzos. That's just as well because I'm a recovering alcoholic and I've been told to avoid them. However, I have this rapid cycling which is separate from the alcoholism. Bipolar Disorder really complicates my life; I wish I didn't have it. When under stress I just want to be "zonked out" or high or manic or something. Anything but reality.
Thanks for the advice and your comments.
Lazarus
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