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Re: Any anxiety before/after Abilify? » banga

Posted by cache-monkey on April 11, 2005, at 12:10:44

In reply to Re: Any anxiety before/after Abilify?, posted by banga on April 10, 2005, at 15:33:31

Hey,

Thanks for the input. My anxious/mixed state symptoms are actually quite a bit like what you describe. When it's bad I can also sleep for ever, even though I have problems getting to sleep initially. It's interesting to hear that Abilify is actually benefiting you in terms of anxiety and rumination. Many people have the opposite experience.

As far as tweaking your meds: I agree that unless you're getting some funky side effects, why change things if they're working pretty well for now? I'd actually hazard a guess that maybe you're so used to meds/combos that don't work that you're essentially programmed to always be thinking about what to change next. It's hard, but try to enjoy your stability.

Hopefully I'll get there too someday soon...

Best,
cache-monkey

> > So... a few questions for you: were anxiety and/or sleep problems a strong symptom of yours without good meds? Did Abilify cause any (extra) difficulties in those areas. Finally, what dosages have you had success with?
> >
>
> Hi there!
> I have intense generalized anxiety. Highly anxious about nothing, or small things such as people being angry with me,or having done something wrong which proves I am a terrible person, or big things, for that matter...I would ruminate constantly, so much so that I would constantly be off in my own world.
>
> My most consistent symptom was waking up with the feeling of fear and doom, for no reason, and it was torure getting out of bed. I would have trouble socializing, fearful of who knows what exactly.
>
> Sometimes when combined with depression, I could not get out of bed at all and would try and sleep the day away. Even trying to coax myself to just get up, not deal with anything--just go for a cup of coffee--I could not do it.
>
> I would have trouble falling asleep, however overall I did not have insomnia--once I fell asleep I would sleep till--well, it used to be Id sleep forver. Now I actually willingly get up at 7.
>
> The Abilify calms, though not stops, the rumination and general feelng of anxiousness. I am considering going up on dose, although earlier it would agitate me when I tried taking more. I highly suspect that it also help the depression immensely...
>
> It is a very activating medication, so it is not too difficult for me to imagine that someone with many physical symptoms with anxiety would do as well. My depression is so lethargy-oriented that the Abilify helps me have energy to do things.
>
> I currently take only 2.5 mg--but I am on two ther medications that act to increase blood levels of Abilify--so I could hazard a guess that the actual amount is closer to 5mg or so, maybe even more.
>
> At one point I was not sure whether the Abilify was helping--when I first started it, because I had also started up other medications that lessen anxiety (Luvox). Yet when I stopped the Ablilify, I experienced three days of agonizing, paralyzing anxiety. When I restarted, it abated.
>
> I am currently on the following:
> Abilify 2.5mg
> Luvox 50mg
> desipramine 75mg
> Adderall 40mg
> Lamictal 200mg
>
> I keep getting tempterd to alter things--drop the Lamictal (but then my cousing had a manic episode, then I thought well maybe a mood stablilizer is good), or something else (is the Luvox doing anything?)...but then I think of that overused saying 'if it aint broke dont fix it...' I wish I had a bit clearer mind, I wish my anxiety were even less, but I am more stable than I have been for five years, I should not play around. As I said, I might just try increasing the Abilify, to see if it helps with that remaining anxiety, but that is all I dare to change....
>
> So that is the picture in detail.
> Good luck, if any other questions come up please ask.
>
>


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