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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by cybercafe on September 5, 2003, at 2:15:13
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lesliekay on September 3, 2003, at 4:10:03
> I have rapid cycling bp disorder and I take Abilify for it and it is wonderful...I also have akathesia. This is exactly what I take and it is perfect now, no tremors, no anxiety, nothing...
what dose /how long was it before you started getting akathisia?
> 1.I wake up in the morning and take 1mg of Cogentin and 1mg of Klonopin
hmm... mind if i ask how much cogentin you take and what are hte side effects like?
> 2.Later I take all my meds which are 15mg of Abilify, 100mg of topamax, 10mg of Lexapro
> 3.then if I drink too much coffee or if I have some breakthrough agitation which is rare, I take 2mg of Ativan
> This works perfectly for me and I am not tired or wired or anything...and I can sleep.cool.. how much sleep do you manage to get on the abilify?
Posted by lesliekay on September 5, 2003, at 2:55:17
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » lesliekay, posted by cybercafe on September 5, 2003, at 2:15:13
I got akathesia pretty much right away. I only take one mg of Cogentin a day, period. If I take more I get really blurry vision and eye pain...a total inability to focus. It took me 6 wks to sleep through the night again on Abilify. It was frustrating as hell, but worth it. The results I get from Abilify are worth anything I have to do for it. I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
Posted by colinear on September 7, 2003, at 18:02:27
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lesliekay on September 5, 2003, at 2:55:17
>I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
same here. the agitation is horrific though. i have heard of some people taking seroquel at night (like 50mg) in order to stop the extreme restlessness. I wonder if straterra would work for the lack of concentration one gets when they are on abilify...
Posted by colinear on September 7, 2003, at 18:03:49
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » colinear, posted by cybercafe on September 3, 2003, at 0:49:58
>
> > > you found that abilify worked for bp? ... mind if i ask.. what dose you are taking? that is great news
> >
> > I started taking 10mg once a day and the effects were immediate. I felt great for the first time in a very very long time. BUT... the agitation kicked in and I felt like I was going to explode or implode or just go berzerk. So, I got some Ativan to help me through, but it only helps so much, so I took it upon myself to titrate my Abilify dose down to 5mg, which was somewhat better. After a few days though, I titrated down to 2.5mg per day and with an Ativan here and there the agitation is much more manageable. All I can say, especially to those folks that are suffering from bp... try Abilify! It works. You will feel alive again. The rapid cycling stops. It is glorious.
>
> oh .. you are only taking 2.5 mg a day? wow that isn't very much
>
> glad it works for you :)i am now up to 15mg per day of abilify. it works great on depression!!!! i just wish i could get rid of this berzerker agitation and restlessness!!!
Posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 18:54:50
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by colinear on September 7, 2003, at 18:02:27
> >I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
>
> same here. the agitation is horrific though. i have heard of some people taking seroquel at night (like 50mg) in order to stop the extreme restlessness. I wonder if straterra would work for the lack of concentration one gets when they are on abilify...
lack of concentration? hmmm.. i thought abilify was supposed to be good for concentration and motivation
Posted by colinear on September 8, 2003, at 20:01:43
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 18:54:50
> > >I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
> >
> > same here. the agitation is horrific though. i have heard of some people taking seroquel at night (like 50mg) in order to stop the extreme restlessness. I wonder if straterra would work for the lack of concentration one gets when they are on abilify...
>
>
> lack of concentration? hmmm.. i thought abilify was supposed to be good for concentration and motivationabilify has been awesome in treating my depression and it works great for motivation, too. the akathisia is really really bad, though. i go to my pdoc this thurs and i hope she can give me something to reduce it.
Posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 22:23:01
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by colinear on September 8, 2003, at 20:01:43
> > > >I am a completely refractory case..I have been sick for 18 yrs..and this is the first drug that I have responded to.
> > >
> > > same here. the agitation is horrific though. i have heard of some people taking seroquel at night (like 50mg) in order to stop the extreme restlessness. I wonder if straterra would work for the lack of concentration one gets when they are on abilify...
> >
> >
> > lack of concentration? hmmm.. i thought abilify was supposed to be good for concentration and motivation
>
> abilify has been awesome in treating my depression and it works great for motivation, too. the akathisia is really really bad, though. i go to my pdoc this thurs and i hope she can give me something to reduce it.
ok i am starting abilify tomorrow! at what dose do you start to feel relief from depression and at what dose does the akathisia start in?
Posted by lesliekay on September 9, 2003, at 5:28:38
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 22:23:01
I hope I'm not too late! I started on 15mg..the akathesia started then...you may not get it at all...let's be optimists! Just try Cogentin, all I need is 1mg a day and I am fine now. I absolutely love this drug. I wouldn't change it for anything.. good luck leslie
Posted by Sebastian on September 9, 2003, at 19:28:52
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by cybercafe on September 8, 2003, at 22:23:01
3.75mg was actual somewhat nice(coming from a guy who didn't like the stuff). 7.5mg getting to be a bit much but still tolerable and somewhat nice. 15mg definant akathisia, would not recomend. Never tried a higher dose!
3.75mg was energising, but not sleep depriving, any time in the day up to supper.
Sebastian
Posted by cybercafe on September 10, 2003, at 0:50:41
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 9, 2003, at 19:28:52
> 3.75mg was actual somewhat nice(coming from a guy who didn't like the stuff). 7.5mg getting to be a bit much but still tolerable and somewhat nice. 15mg definant akathisia, would not recomend. Never tried a higher dose!
>
> 3.75mg was energising, but not sleep depriving, any time in the day up to supper.wow... so you actually feel the good effects of abilify right after taking it (rather tahn having to wait 4 weeks or something)?
Posted by cybercafe on September 10, 2003, at 0:52:00
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by lesliekay on September 9, 2003, at 5:28:38
> I hope I'm not too late! I started on 15mg..the akathesia started then...you may not get it at all...let's be optimists! Just try Cogentin, all I need is 1mg a day and I am fine now. I absolutely love this drug. I wouldn't change it for anything.. good luck leslie
might i ask... what side effects do you get from cogentin? .... i always thought anticholinergics were no fun
Posted by Sebastian on September 10, 2003, at 11:56:17
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by cybercafe on September 10, 2003, at 0:50:41
Fast acting, abilify. You should feel it in hours.
Seb
Posted by cybercafe on September 11, 2003, at 1:53:55
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 10, 2003, at 11:56:17
> Fast acting, abilify. You should feel it in hours.
hey dude, abilify made me feel a little tired and a little nauseous today on 4 mg ..... if i continue to take this dose will the side effects go away or iwll they get worse as the amount of drug builds up in my body?
Posted by katiemom on September 11, 2003, at 10:08:03
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation » lesliekay, posted by cybercafe on September 5, 2003, at 2:15:13
When I started Abilify I had terrible agitation, but I took Artane and it went away. The side affect of Artane was dry mouth which drove me crazy, so I stopped it and I noticed that the agitation from the Abilify went away. I'm on 20mg and it has REALLY helped my Psychosis and paranioa. I can concentrate well at my job and not missing days like I was before. I love this drug. I'm also taking 200mg of Topomax, 100mg of Zoloft and 2mg of Klonopin.
Colleen
Posted by Sebastian on September 11, 2003, at 12:13:29
In reply to side effects get worse or better ? , posted by cybercafe on September 11, 2003, at 1:53:55
When I took Abilify, I didn't notice the tiredness go away, I would sleep less but still feel tired. Maybe the sleep medicine the previous post suggested would be good? I'm not shore about the nausous, may have gotten better.
Seb
Posted by cybercafe on September 12, 2003, at 1:31:07
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by katiemom on September 11, 2003, at 10:08:03
thank you for replying :)
> When I started Abilify I had terrible agitation, but I took Artane and it went away. The side
do you mind if i ask what dose you started with?
>affect of Artane was dry mouth which drove me crazy, so I stopped it and I noticed that the agitation from the Abilify went away. I'm on 20mg
cool! how long had you been on abilify before the agitation went away?
>and it has REALLY helped my Psychosis and paranioa. I can concentrate well at my job and not missing days like I was before. I love this drug. I'm also taking 200mg of Topomax, 100mg of Zoloft and 2mg of Klonopin.
did you take other antipsychotics before, how does abilify compare?
i am also very very curious as to the antidepressant effects of abilify! i assume you were taking zoloft before abilify, did you find that adding abilify made you feel better still?
last question... how is it for libido?
Posted by cybercafe on September 12, 2003, at 1:38:19
In reply to Re: side effects get worse or better ? » cybercafe, posted by Sebastian on September 11, 2003, at 12:13:29
> When I took Abilify, I didn't notice the tiredness go away, I would sleep less but still feel tired. Maybe the sleep medicine the previous post suggested would be good? I'm not shore about the nausous, may have gotten better.
hmmmm.. were you decreasing your zyprexa at the time? maybe some of the nausea and insomnia was from zyprexa withdrawal?
Posted by Sebastian on September 12, 2003, at 22:06:24
In reply to Re: side effects get worse or better ?, posted by cybercafe on September 12, 2003, at 1:38:19
Very likely!. I went 2 weeks with no zyprexa, all the side-effects (sleeplesness, nausia?) got worse. I could eat though? Did nothing for anxiety; progressivly getting worse.
Seb
~~~It wasn't getting better~~~
Posted by jtevers on November 19, 2003, at 16:53:15
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by DrMom on May 5, 2003, at 11:34:26
i had been hospitalized in 2000 and have been taking neurontin ( a mood stabilizer ) and seroquel since.
i , too , have gained a tremendous amount of weight on this therapy (60 lbs.) in two increments of 30 each of two winters.
now, the weight gain does not respond to exercise or diet and i am considering switching my neuontin for gabatril / tiagabine and my seroquel for abilify ... both of which have less propensity to cause weight gain.
i have experimented with abilify once before and realize i must take either amantidine or propanolol for the agitation / akathisia, but wondered whether anyone had experience:
1) with either of the two ( propanolol or amantidine )? i am hoping to take the more benign of the two.
2) with weight change ( gain or, hopefully, loss )upon switching to or initiating abilify therapy.
3) insomnia with abilify, and how it was treated.
thank you soooooo much for your ear ( or eyes ).
Posted by colinear on December 10, 2003, at 15:31:11
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by jtevers on November 19, 2003, at 16:53:15
> i had been hospitalized in 2000 and have been taking neurontin ( a mood stabilizer ) and seroquel since.
>
> i , too , have gained a tremendous amount of weight on this therapy (60 lbs.) in two increments of 30 each of two winters.
>
> now, the weight gain does not respond to exercise or diet and i am considering switching my neuontin for gabatril / tiagabine and my seroquel for abilify ... both of which have less propensity to cause weight gain.
>
> i have experimented with abilify once before and realize i must take either amantidine or propanolol for the agitation / akathisia, but wondered whether anyone had experience:
>
> 1) with either of the two ( propanolol or amantidine )? i am hoping to take the more benign of the two.
>
> 2) with weight change ( gain or, hopefully, loss )upon switching to or initiating abilify therapy.
>
> 3) insomnia with abilify, and how it was treated.
>
> thank you soooooo much for your ear ( or eyes ).I was on abilify for about 3 weeks. Initially I was very hopeful because of the immense energy boost, but soon the boost became full blown akathisia (sp?) and my life quickly became a nightmare. My doctor tried prescribing propanolol to counteract the agitation but the propanolol only increased my depression (which is a side effect of propanolol). I lost almost 20 lbs. in 3 weeks while taking abilify, but i would have gladly gained an extra 20 lbs. instead of taking abilify. hope this helps!
Posted by jtevers on December 10, 2003, at 15:48:04
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by colinear on December 10, 2003, at 15:31:11
colinear, et. al.
perhaps if you were otherwise happy with abilify you might try amantadine (sp?) as treatment for akithisia, i have heard it works really well ... but, because it is a dopamine agonist, it MAY exacerbate psychosis ... be careful.
what was the quality of your sleep while on abilify, you see... while on seroquel i sleep nearly 10 hours and on ziprasidone i don't get a wink ...I am trying to find a treatment (perhaps abilify) that will allow me to both lose weight and NORMALIZE my sleep ... any experience?
Posted by colinear on December 11, 2003, at 13:01:25
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by jtevers on December 10, 2003, at 15:48:04
> colinear, et. al.
>
> perhaps if you were otherwise happy with abilify you might try amantadine (sp?) as treatment for akithisia, i have heard it works really well ... but, because it is a dopamine agonist, it MAY exacerbate psychosis ... be careful.
> what was the quality of your sleep while on abilify, you see... while on seroquel i sleep nearly 10 hours and on ziprasidone i don't get a wink ...
>
> I am trying to find a treatment (perhaps abilify) that will allow me to both lose weight and NORMALIZE my sleep ... any experience?sleep was horrible. matter of fact i hardly slept at all.
Posted by cybercafe on December 11, 2003, at 19:05:17
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by colinear on December 11, 2003, at 13:01:25
> > colinear, et. al.
> >
> > perhaps if you were otherwise happy with abilify you might try amantadine (sp?) as treatment for akithisia, i have heard it works really well ... but, because it is a dopamine agonist, it MAY exacerbate psychosis ... be careful.
> > what was the quality of your sleep while on abilify, you see... while on seroquel i sleep nearly 10 hours and on ziprasidone i don't get a wink ...
> >
> > I am trying to find a treatment (perhaps abilify) that will allow me to both lose weight and NORMALIZE my sleep ... any experience?
>
> sleep was horrible. matter of fact i hardly slept at all.how about starting slow, combining abilify with a sedating AP in the beginning ?
Posted by jtevers on December 12, 2003, at 14:19:03
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, posted by cybercafe on December 11, 2003, at 19:05:17
> > > I am trying to find a treatment (perhaps abilify) that will allow me to both lose weight and NORMALIZE my sleep ... any experience?
> >>
> how about starting slow, combining abilify with a sedating AP in the beginning ?
>cybercafe, thanx for your response.
i have once before titrated slowly onto abilify without having been warned or prepared for the agitation/akithisia ... at the time i had been on seroquel, indeed a very sedating antipsychotic, and was still taking a small dose of it at night to sleep and arrest the agitation.
without transitioning entirely (onto a full dose of abilify only), i decided to make an abrupt reversal....
this time i am prepared to try abilify again (i am desperate to lose some weight and normalize my sleep), but am ready for the akithisia ... and wonder whether i should also be prepared to fight insomnia? and whether the agent i choose to quell the akithisia (either amantadine or propanolol) may also help me sleep? ... what am i in for?
Posted by cybercafe on December 13, 2003, at 5:19:28
In reply to Re: Abilify agitation, weight and sleep?, posted by jtevers on December 12, 2003, at 14:19:03
> > > > I am trying to find a treatment (perhaps abilify) that will allow me to both lose weight and NORMALIZE my sleep ... any experience?
> > >
>
> >
> > how about starting slow, combining abilify with a sedating AP in the beginning ?
> >
>
> cybercafe, thanx for your response.
>
> i have once before titrated slowly onto abilify without having been warned or prepared for the agitation/akithisia ... at the time i had been on seroquel, indeed a very sedating antipsychotic, and was still taking a small dose of it at night to sleep and arrest the agitation.
>
> without transitioning entirely (onto a full dose of abilify only), i decided to make an abrupt reversal....
>
> this time i am prepared to try abilify again (i am desperate to lose some weight and normalize my sleep), but am ready for the akithisia ... and wonder whether i should also be prepared to fight insomnia? and whether the agent i choose to quell the akithisia (either amantadine or propanolol) may also help me sleep? ... what am i in for?
>
>
now those questions i have not the experience to answer... i went right off 2.5 mg zyprexa and on to 3.75 mg abilify (i actually used a loading dose)i can tell you that abilify insomnia at 3.75 mg was not bad... maybe 7 hours of sleep for me ? (i sleep a lot usually though) ....
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