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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by meds4life on July 16, 2004, at 19:48:45
I saw a new doctor today and she gave me some strange combo of prescriptions. I am currently taking Effexor xr 150 for depression. My diagnosis is depression with slight hypomanic episodes. I also take Klonopin as needed for anxiety and Ambien as needed for sleep which isn't often. I have gained 25 pounds in the last three months-same thing happened with Paxil except it was 40. When I went off Paxil, I lost the 40 pounds within 4 months. So I am trying to slow the weight gain or stop it (I exercise 5 times a week and eat fine) Some of you take Wellbutrin with AD to help with energy and weight, so I asked to try it. Long story short-she was fine with adding the Wellbutrin, but also wanted to add Abilify to help with energy, weight loss, and to balance out mood?? It seems like that is not really the use for that drug- I didn't realize till I got home that it was an anti-psychotic. Maybe I gave her the wrong impression!! Anyway she wrote a prescription for Abilify, Wellbutrin, Klonopin, and Ambien (Hello!)
and asked if I needed anything else. I don't think so! At the end of our conversation, she asked a question that I had already answered several times, like she wasn't really listening. So, I took the scripts and decided to check it out before I take the Abilify? What do you think?
Posted by Sebastian on July 16, 2004, at 21:21:12
In reply to Abilify for weight loss? (Take a peek- Partly Cld), posted by meds4life on July 16, 2004, at 19:48:45
If you don't need an AP you probably don't want to take the Abilify, I tried it with bad side-effects, yes it is full of energy. The wellbutrin is usualy enough energy. I think if I were you I would only fill the wellbutrin.
Posted by meds4life on July 17, 2004, at 12:26:57
In reply to Re: Abilify for weight loss? (Take a peek- Partly Cld), posted by Sebastian on July 16, 2004, at 21:21:12
I agree with you and think I will hold off on the antipsychotic. Can I ask what your side effects were on Abilify? Thanks!
Posted by partlycloudy on July 17, 2004, at 12:48:22
In reply to Abilify for weight loss? (Take a peek- Partly Cld), posted by meds4life on July 16, 2004, at 19:48:45
Hi there meds4life. I have the same mild case of bipolar2 with very brief and infrequent hypomania. Also anxiety and panic attacks.
I take effexor xr 150mg, wellbutrin xl 300mg (I have lost 10 lbs in the last month and a half). The wb jacks me up pretty bad so I have ambien for sleep (.5mg). I have xanax as needed for panic attacks.
I don't think abilify was ever suggested by my doctor. That is a mood stabilizer. She didn't want me on them if we could help it, because she said "you'll never get off of them", which scared the beje@u@ out of me.
Oh, and I'm on the patch to regulate my cycle.
Posted by meds4life on July 17, 2004, at 13:04:31
In reply to Re: Abilify for weight loss? (Take a peek- Partly Cld) » meds4life, posted by partlycloudy on July 17, 2004, at 12:48:22
It's so wierd how doctors give such mixed messages. I have exactly the same diagnosis as you and this new doctor was insistent about adding a mood stabilizer with the addition of wellbutrin xl. In fact, she would not prescibe it without the other. I get the feeling they are just making up the rules according to there own biases rather than on objective data. Or else, prescribing would be done more uniformally. It is so frustrating, though. BTW- I've taken two doses of WB 150 and feel pretty mellow so far. However, I do have a pretty severe headache. Did you have that side effect?
Posted by partlycloudy on July 17, 2004, at 13:10:45
In reply to Re: Abilify for weight loss? (Take a peek- Partly Cld) » partlycloudy, posted by meds4life on July 17, 2004, at 13:04:31
I had headaches for the first month. I was getting agitated, too. That lasted a lot longer as a side effect. I guess that it's just as there are no definitive diagnoses for bipolar - 1, 2 or whatever flavour you like.. It's interesting that our doctors are completely opposed on the Abilify.
Posted by Sebastian on July 17, 2004, at 17:56:24
In reply to Re: Abilify for weight loss? » Sebastian, posted by meds4life on July 17, 2004, at 12:26:57
Side-efects: Anxiety(realy bad, especialy in higher doses), Bad sleep, no sleep(depending on dose, more so), mental numbness(lack of emotion) or too much, like LSD, restlessness, too much energy.
Needless to say this was one of my least favorite drugs. Many people have similar side-effects. Some have found benifit from small doses.
You are more likely to take this drug if you have problems with over sleeping too much and you are taking a different AP, which realy drains your energy.
I take zyprexa which would be one of those AP's, but it does not have that effect on me. My problem is insomnia. And anxiety, which Abilify is not go for.
This is the end of the thread.
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