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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jed_9 on January 11, 2003, at 20:00:37
Hey Abilify users, will you fill out my questionaire so I can decide if I want to
take this med or not? Thank you for your help.
-Jed1. age?
2. sex?
3. diagnosis
4. how long have you been on Abilify?
5. What dosage (mgs) are you on now?
6. What other meds are you taking?
7. Why did you start taking Abilify - relapse, just wanted a new med, or first
time psychotic episode?8. did you have positive symptoms (hallucinations, hearing voices, or delusions)
before starting Abilify?9. was Abilify successful getting rid of your positive symptoms? How long did it
take for it to work?10. was it good at stopping negative symptoms?
11. did you gain or lose any weight?
12. did your appetite increase or decrease?
13. did you get akathisia (motor restlessness)? if so, did you take another med for it?
14. did you get insomnia or change your sleep pattern? did you have to start taking a sleeping aid med?
15. did it effect your sexual function in any way?
16. did you get more energy or less or the same?
17. did it make you nervous or anxious?
18. any other side effects?
19. How do you rate it's effectiveness as compared to Geodon or Zyprexa?
Thank you again for your help!
Posted by sebastian on January 12, 2003, at 19:11:49
In reply to Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by Jed_9 on January 11, 2003, at 20:00:37
I don't take Abilify any more but I will be happy to answer your questions. I took it for 2 weeks.
1. 26
2. M
3. PTSD, Anxiety, possible Bi-Polar
4. 2 weeks on but discontinued about 2.5 weeks ago
5. was on 15mgs
6. Celexa and Zyprexa, Celexa the whole time and a little bit of Zyprexa in the first stages of tring to make the switch.
7. Wanted a AP equivelent to Zyprexa without the weight gain.
8. No
9. Yes, no positive symptoms
10. Yes and No, fear of leaving the house, much increasing anxiety, fear of driving, but in a way I might have felt or wanted to feel better and more social even thought I wasn't.
11. Lost 5 lbs in first few days then it stayed the same.
12. Appettite much more decreased.
13. Yes
14. Major insomnia, up later every day towards the end I was up till 12pm next day, but I always got a full 7-8 hours sleep no more no less, didn't feel rested though.
15. No, everything worked no less desiger but ejaculation was very weird feeling at first I thought pee would come out, but it didn't I soon learned.
16. More energy.
17. Very anxious and more so towards the end, infact I am just now getting over the anxiety from then. I stopped Abilify and went back to my regular dose of Zyprexa.
18. Especialy the first night I took Abilify I almost felt as though I was on acid, different perception of colors appering to radiate happened increasing for first few hours after dose. This effect was deminishing as days went on.
19. I have never taken geodon and don't plan to now after my horable experence with Abilify. Zyprexa is the best. I have taken Risperdal and noticed similarities between it and Abilify.
Posted by Jed_9 on January 15, 2003, at 14:47:31
In reply to Re: Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by sebastian on January 12, 2003, at 19:11:49
Thank you sebastian for your input.
Is there anyone else with an Abilify experience?
Thanks,
Jed
Posted by KayeBaby on June 16, 2007, at 23:17:07
In reply to Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by Jed_9 on January 11, 2003, at 20:00:37
I have just started abilify and would really be interested in the answers to this survey that Jed created about Abilify.
I shortened it a bit.
If anyone wants to chime in.....
Kaye
> Hey Abilify users, will you fill out my questionaire so I can decide if I want to
> take this med or not? Thank you for your help.
> -Jed
>
> 1. age?
>
> 2. sex?
>
> 3. diagnosis
>
> 4. how long have you been on Abilify?
>
> 5. What dosage (mgs) are you on now?
>
> 6. What other meds are you taking?
>
> 7. Why did you start taking Abilify?
>
> 9. How long did it take for it to work?
>
> 10. was it good at stopping negative symptoms? apathy, depression, lethergy?
>
> 11. did you gain or lose any weight?
>
> 12. did your appetite increase or decrease?
>
> 13. did you get akathisia (motor restlessness)? if so, did you take another med for it?
>
> 14. did you get insomnia or change your sleep pattern? did you have to start taking a sleeping aid med?
>
> 15. did it effect your sexual function in any way?
>
> 16. did you get more energy or less or the same?
>
> 17. Any side other benefits/side effects?>
> Thank you again for your help!
Posted by Quilter on June 17, 2007, at 22:24:05
In reply to *Resurrected post* Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by KayeBaby on June 16, 2007, at 23:17:07
> I have just started abilify and would really be interested in the answers to this survey that Jed created about Abilify.
>
> I shortened it a bit.
>
> If anyone wants to chime in.....
>
> Kaye
>
>
> > Hey Abilify users, will you fill out my questionaire so I can decide if I want to
> > take this med or not? Thank you for your help.
> > -Jed> > 1. age?
50's
> > 2. sex?female
> > 3. diagnosisdepression with bi-polar features
> > 4. how long have you been on Abilify?
I took it for more than a year
> > 5. What dosage (mgs) are you on now?I'm off it now, I took between 2.5 and 10 mgs
> > 6. What other meds are you taking?Cytomel, Celexa, Depakote, Neurontin, Concerta
> > 7. Why did you start taking Abilify?Suicidal ideation
> > 9. How long did it take for it to work?a few days
> > 10. was it good at stopping negative symptoms? apathy, depression, lethergy?
yes
> > 11. did you gain or lose any weight?I gained some
> > 12. did your appetite increase or decrease?neither
> > 13. did you get akathisia (motor restlessness)? if so, did you take another med for it?
yes and no others were added
> > 14. did you get insomnia or change your sleep pattern? did you have to start taking a sleeping aid med?
at first it felt more stimulating, then began making me sleepier during the day, managed by changing dosing time
> > 15. did it effect your sexual function in any way?
no
> > 16. did you get more energy or less or the same?seemed to better focused and more able to get things done
> > 17. Any side other benefits/side effects?I had to stop taking it due to worsening tremor and weight gain. also noticed swollen ankles. no problems with withdrawal after a slow taper. In general a helpful med.
> > Thank you again for your help!
Posted by Quintal on June 18, 2007, at 12:18:45
In reply to *Resurrected post* Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by KayeBaby on June 16, 2007, at 23:17:07
> > 1. age?
23 (At the time).
> > 2. sex?Male.
> > 3. diagnosisSocial Anxiety/Bipolar II.
> > 4. how long have you been on Abilify?
I took it for 3 days.
> > 5. What dosage (mgs) are you on now?
I took 5mg.
> > 6. What other meds are you taking?
Was taking 4mg Klonopin.
> > 7. Why did you start taking Abilify?
To see what it did.
> > 9. How long did it take for it to work?
Immediately.
> > 10. was it good at stopping negative symptoms? apathy, depression, lethergy?No, Abilify made me very depressed and suicidal. I became so tired I couldn't go in to work. Might have improved if I'd kept taking it, I don't know.
> > 11. did you gain or lose any weight?
Didn't take it long enough to find out.
> > 12. did your appetite increase or decrease?
Neither.
> > 13. did you get akathisia (motor restlessness)? if so, did you take another med for it?Yes, the akakthisia was so bad I hardly slept for the whole three days I took it. I don't think it's safe to add meds long-term just to disguise akathisia.
> > 14. did you get insomnia or change your sleep pattern? did you have to start taking a sleeping aid med?
Yes, see above.
> > 15. did it effect your sexual function in any way?
I felt so awful I never thought about attempting sex.
> > 16. did you get more energy or less or the same?
I was extremely restless and agitated yet also lethargic. I felt so tred, just wanted to rest and sleep but the drug wouldn't let me, so I became more and more exhausted.
> > 17. Any side other benefits/side effects?
Heartburn, confusion.
> > Thank you again for your help!
>
>
Posted by KayeBaby on June 19, 2007, at 1:09:37
In reply to Re: *Resurrected post* Abilify Taker's Survey » KayeBaby, posted by Quilter on June 17, 2007, at 22:24:05
Hi Quilter,
Did you gradually raise the dosage to get a better effect from the abilify?At what point did you get the restlessness? I guess it passed on it's own?
Did you just gain a little weight over time?
How long did you take it before it started making you sleepy? What time did you take it to get rid of the sleepiness?
Would you consider taking it again?
Hope you don't mind all the questions. Your answers are very helpful to me.
Thanks so much!
Kaye
Posted by Quilter on June 19, 2007, at 23:35:29
In reply to Re: *Resurrected post* Abilify Taker's Survey » Quilter, posted by KayeBaby on June 19, 2007, at 1:09:37
> Hi Quilter,
> Did you gradually raise the dosage to get a better effect from the abilify?Started at 10, dropped it to see if side effects got better. I seemed to do best at 5 mgs.
> At what point did you get the restlessness? I guess it passed on it's own?
It started two or three days after I started taking it.
I am still feeling the need to move my legs almost continuously. It does seem to be getting better though, and I can't be sure its not just a nervous habit- its worse when I'm anxious or keyed up.
> Did you just gain a little weight over time?I gained quite a bit, but that started with a trial of Zyprexa. Abilify is not infamous for weight gain, Zyprexa is. I think that it changed my metabolism and the Abilify is not the real cause.
> How long did you take it before it started making you sleepy? What time did you take it to get rid of the sleepiness?2 or 3 months I think, then I began to take it at bedtime.
> Would you consider taking it again?
Yes, If I really needed it.
> Hope you don't mind all the questions. Your answers are very helpful to me.
> Thanks so much!
> Kaye
Posted by KayeBaby on June 20, 2007, at 17:27:04
In reply to Re: *Resurrected post* Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by Quilter on June 19, 2007, at 23:35:29
So, you are having restless legs from the Abilify even though you are no longer taking it?
How long since you have been off the medicine?
Thanks!
Kaye
Posted by Quilter on June 20, 2007, at 21:18:21
In reply to Re: *Resurrected post* Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by KayeBaby on June 20, 2007, at 17:27:04
> So, you are having restless legs from the Abilify even though you are no longer taking it?
>
> How long since you have been off the medicine?
>
> Thanks!
> KayeI've been off it for more than a month, but as I said it seems to be improving. The neurologist I consulted said it would take at least that long to see what would happen when I went off. I did the leg bouncing even before I started the Abilify, but it became compulsive (nearly uncontrollable) while I was taking it.
Quilter
Posted by temoigneur on June 21, 2007, at 2:16:29
In reply to Abilify Taker's Survey, posted by Jed_9 on January 11, 2003, at 20:00:37
1. age? 28
2. sex? M
3. diagnosis OCD/MDD/w psychotic features
4. how long have you been on Abilify? 4 months
5. What dosage (mgs) are you on now? 22.5mg
6. What other meds are you taking? clonazepam
wellbutrin
prozac
dexedrine
7. Why did you start taking Abilify - relapse, just wanted a new med, or first
time psychotic episode? All other antipsychotics, turned me into a zombie8. did you have positive symptoms (hallucinations, hearing voices, or delusions)
before starting Abilify? Delusions9. was Abilify successful getting rid of your positive symptoms? How long did it
take for it to work? Yes, 2 weeks10. was it good at stopping negative symptoms?
Yes, mood good, apathy decreased, able to tolerate stimulants, previously intolerable
11. did you gain or lose any weight?
lost about 10 pds
12. did your appetite increase or decrease?
the same
13. did you get akathisia (motor restlessness)? if so, did you take another med for it?
no
14. did you get insomnia or change your sleep pattern? did you have to start taking a sleeping aid med?
no
15. did it effect your sexual function in any way?
no
16. did you get more energy or less or the same?
decreased energy, daytime somnolence... will try provigil
17. did it make you nervous or anxious?
calmed me down
18. any other side effects?
no
19. How do you rate it's effectiveness as compared to Geodon or Zyprexa?
A God send compared to those for me, I'd give it a 9
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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