Posted by KayeBaby on July 21, 2007, at 21:55:54
In reply to Re: Abilify users I need your feedback » KayeBaby, posted by Honore on July 21, 2007, at 16:49:18
> Hi, Kaye.
>
> I haven't posted much about my use of abilify. I started in January at 2.5, along with Emsam, which I now use at 12 mg. Probably 9 would be okay, but I think 12 mg of emsam is better for me.
>I really think I should try the 9mg because I feel a distinct let down in the antidepressive effects that it had at first. It really helped my mood for awhile.
> Why not try 9 mg? I think it's generally a more effective dose. The insomnia isn't so bad (at least for me, as it is on 12 mg)-- and I find that it helps more with social anxiety and depression.
HaHa! I'm the one that slept about 10-12 hrs every night on the 6mg. I'm not afraid of insomnia from it.
>
> On the other hand, 2.5 mg of abilify has amplified the effects with social anxiety greatly-- and definitely gives me more energy and optimism. For me, esp., I find that I don't get lost in negative cycles of upsetness over various fairly unimportant daily events-- things that might be minor problems, quite soluble, but that, often send me into long emotional down-heavals, which I can't seem to control. I know they don't make sense, but the emotions keep going anyway. With abilify, it just doesn't happen.
>I found this to be true for me too on Abilify. Much harder to rattle me.
> Probably that, plus the additional motivation and energy are the two most valuable things-- and the reason why I wouldn't give up the abilify unless I really felt some symptoms were starting up. I've only taken 2.5 mg. For a brief while, I tested taking a little more (probably about 3.5), but it increased my irritability without seeming to have much other noticeable effects.
>Absolutely. How long can you be in a good mood if you are laying around just watching life pass you by??
> My opinion is that 2.5 mg can be a therapeutic dose. I notice that they're making 2 mg tablets now, which they didn't at first. On the other hand, my pdoc says that for serious cases of bipolar or other more severe emotional disorders, they can give as much as 45 or even 60 mg. So they're using both higher and lower doses.
>I went up to 5mg for a short time and it effected my sleep and I don't know that it helped that much more.
> I had initially taken Emsam without abilify, for four months and had had to stop for several months (for unrelated reasons to the Emsam). When I started again, in January, I added the abilify and noticed such a very distinct added benefit, there wasn't any doubt in my mind. My pdoc says the effects tend to be clear pretty soon after you start-- so you can judge within a couple of weeks whether it makes any sense.Same here. I took the EMSAM for a couple of months alone then added Namenda for a few weeks then the Abilify. The Namenda really helped with any anxiety from the abilify I noticed.
I did start to get hypotension on the 5mg Abilify and Emsam.
>
> Since you had a good experience with it, I would encourage you to give it another try-- but also,unless there's some reason, to try 9 mg of the Emsam, too. You could use a little xanax to cope with initial anxiety, and/or ambien and/or sonata or some combination to help with insomnia, if that's been an issue.I would just about welcome a little anxiety at this point. I'm so tired of being BLAH!
>
> Life without motivation or energy is pretty hard to tolerate-- IMO-- so I really identify with the feeling that that's so necessary to address.
>
100% in agreement.
> If you do start abilify again, let me know how you're responding to it.
>I have started it again. Today is day 4 and this evening I was up and around like magic.
> Honore
>
>Honore,
I appreciate your input so much. It does me good to hear from others with similar issues.I will keep you updated on my progress and we can compare notes.
Thanks!
Kaye
poster:KayeBaby
thread:770698
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070719/msgs/771059.html