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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 9:56:35
I just can't take the depression that Geodon brings me. I tried both 20mg and 40mg and I just felt awful.
Last night I took 50mg of Seroquel, slept great. My doc wrote the script for 50mg - 100mg a night.
I'm thinking of going back and trying a tiny, tiny dose of Abilify during the day to help with depression and motivation.
I've heard some people try doses as low as 1mg every other day or even every 3rd day (since it stays in your body up to 3 days).
Maybe with a tiny dose of Abilfy and upping my Seroquel will help with my slight daytime depression and lack of motivation?
Any experience here?
Posted by Phillipa on July 31, 2009, at 10:43:51
In reply to Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 9:56:35
Didn't know abilfy had antidepressant properties and lasted three days sounds a lot like prozac. Phillipa
Posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 10:49:15
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?... » SheilaC, posted by Phillipa on July 31, 2009, at 10:43:51
> Didn't know abilfy had antidepressant properties and lasted three days sounds a lot like prozac. Phillipa
I'm pretty sure thats what I've heard about the hal life of Abilify. Also, I think it hits a tiny bit of serotonin and dopamine.
I think prozac hits too much serotonin in me.
Posted by Zyprexa on July 31, 2009, at 13:34:40
In reply to Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 9:56:35
I think you should take 25mg seroquel in morning and 50mg at night. Try it for a day? Abilify didn't motivate me, it just kept me on the couch. Maybe a realy small dose of abilify would help, but I don't have much confidence in it.
Posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 15:46:33
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by Zyprexa on July 31, 2009, at 13:34:40
Would the 25mg of Seroquel during the day be activating? Give me some energy/lift slight depression?
I've never taken Seroquel during the day because I figured it would make me sleepy.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 31, 2009, at 17:14:33
In reply to Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 9:56:35
Hi Shelia,
I found that a small dose of abilify (2mg) was good--as soon as it went higher, it was awful (side-effects, stupefying). It was Scott who commented once that the small dose might be beneficial. So maybe 1mg would work for you. You can always stop and start w/o worrying about withdrawals--at least I stopped 10mg cold turkey w/ pdoc's permission.
good luck,
fb
Posted by emme on August 1, 2009, at 7:19:35
In reply to Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 9:56:35
> I just can't take the depression that Geodon brings me. I tried both 20mg and 40mg and I just felt awful.
>
> Last night I took 50mg of Seroquel, slept great. My doc wrote the script for 50mg - 100mg a night.
>
> I'm thinking of going back and trying a tiny, tiny dose of Abilify during the day to help with depression and motivation.
>
> I've heard some people try doses as low as 1mg every other day or even every 3rd day (since it stays in your body up to 3 days).
>
> Maybe with a tiny dose of Abilfy and upping my Seroquel will help with my slight daytime depression and lack of motivation?
>
> Any experience here?
>I take 2.5 mg of Abilify every other day. It helps with depression, motivation, and anxiety (without being sedating).
emme
Posted by Zyprexa on August 1, 2009, at 14:34:08
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 15:46:33
I was suggesting the small seroquel because you said that was the medication that works. I take perphenazine all during the day and it keeps me going, perphenazine is sedating too. Who knows maybe the abilify would work for you, but it sounded like you already have tried it.
Posted by SheilaC on August 2, 2009, at 6:33:52
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?... » SheilaC, posted by Zyprexa on August 1, 2009, at 14:34:08
> I was suggesting the small seroquel because you said that was the medication that works. I take perphenazine all during the day and it keeps me going, perphenazine is sedating too. Who knows maybe the abilify would work for you, but it sounded like you already have tried it.
Zyprexa, I think you may be right. I am going to try a small dose during the day and see if my crankiness goes away. I'm also going to ask my doc why they never mentioned it to me. I bet the wearing off of my nighttime dose could be what makes me bitchy during the day.Thank you for the suggestion.
Posted by Zyprexa on August 2, 2009, at 19:22:40
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on August 2, 2009, at 6:33:52
No problem, and I hope it works! Many people take a larger dose of seroquel at bed time and a smallar dose in the day. The half life of seroquel is 6 hours. If the morning dose works and it wears off later in the afternoon you could also take anouther 25mg dose around 4pm.
Posted by 57Mongoose on August 3, 2009, at 22:29:07
In reply to Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on July 31, 2009, at 9:56:35
>
I just can't take the depression that Geodon brings me. I tried both 20mg and 40mg and I just felt awful.
>
> Last night I took 50mg of Seroquel, slept great. My doc wrote the script for 50mg - 100mg a night.
>
> I'm thinking of going back and trying a tiny, tiny dose of Abilify during the day to help with depression and motivation.
>
> I've heard some people try doses as low as 1mg every other day or even every 3rd day (since it stays in your body up to 3 days).
>
> Maybe with a tiny dose of Abilfy and upping my Seroquel will help with my slight daytime depression and lack of motivation?
>
> Any experience here?
>
I was on many anti-depressants for 18 years with varying degrees of success. From 1990-93 Prozac really broke me out of a depression I have been in since at least age 12; I am now 52.
After 1993 the Prozac had little if any effect. The depression that started then was directly related to a sudden and unexpected divorce.
About 5 years ago I had a "Nervous breakdown." I know that's not a medical term but everyone knows (generally) what that means: Loss of interest in everything, spending all day in bed, contemplating suicide, etc).
Three weeks ago my new psychiatrist did something NEW and WOW has it worked! I was already on Pristiq @ 150 mgs/day with the previous doctor with moderate-only effect on the depression. The new doctor slowly lowered me to 50/mgs per day AND HAS NOW ADDED Abilify @ 2mgs/day.
Within 10 days I was doing things that I can never remember doing, like getting up at 6:30 AM on my own; doing dishes & other work-around-the-house, thinking (positive) thoughts, and NO MORE CONSTANT FATIGUE!
I realize that both the 50mgs/day pristiq and 2mgs/day are very low - and that is okay with me.
The new doctor calls this "augmenting the anti-depressant (pristiq) with Abilify. I have no idea if "augmentation" is a medical term, but the previous doc never had me on more than one type of med at a time for depression.
I really hope that helps someone - because I've been dealing with depression/anxiety/fatigue for over 40 years now - and maybe finally have a solution?!Terry
Posted by floatingbridge on August 3, 2009, at 22:45:49
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?... » SheilaC, posted by 57Mongoose on August 3, 2009, at 22:29:07
Wow! Thank you for posting your success!
fb
Posted by 57Mongoose on August 4, 2009, at 0:15:49
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?... » 57Mongoose, posted by floatingbridge on August 3, 2009, at 22:45:49
Thank-you for the kind words.
I know how FRUSTRATING finding the right doctor and/or combination of meds is - but keep trying because you never know when the next try will be the winner!
A funny story regarding the Abilify: The first look at that tiny little pill and I said to myself "You gotta be kidding. What can this little thing do"! Guess that proves we shouldn't "judge a book by its cover."
Getting back to your situation: If a small dose helped your fatigue but caused other problems, why not cut it in half? I am on 2mgs, but maybe 1mg would work for me. They sell "pill cutters" in drug stores - just be sure you run that by your doctor and he approves. I am new to Abilify and don't know if that can be done.
Also, I did have some side-effects the first 5-7 days of taking it. It was a dizziness that felt like mild intoxication, but after 7-10 days the dizziness is no longer an issue.
Keep plugging at the doc to try knew things and I wish you the best!
Terry
Posted by SheilaC on August 4, 2009, at 7:04:59
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?... » SheilaC, posted by 57Mongoose on August 3, 2009, at 22:29:07
> >
> I just can't take the depression that Geodon brings me. I tried both 20mg and 40mg and I just felt awful.
> >
> > Last night I took 50mg of Seroquel, slept great. My doc wrote the script for 50mg - 100mg a night.
> >
> > I'm thinking of going back and trying a tiny, tiny dose of Abilify during the day to help with depression and motivation.
> >
> > I've heard some people try doses as low as 1mg every other day or even every 3rd day (since it stays in your body up to 3 days).
> >
> > Maybe with a tiny dose of Abilfy and upping my Seroquel will help with my slight daytime depression and lack of motivation?
> >
> > Any experience here?
> >
> I was on many anti-depressants for 18 years with varying degrees of success. From 1990-93 Prozac really broke me out of a depression I have been in since at least age 12; I am now 52.
> After 1993 the Prozac had little if any effect. The depression that started then was directly related to a sudden and unexpected divorce.
> About 5 years ago I had a "Nervous breakdown." I know that's not a medical term but everyone knows (generally) what that means: Loss of interest in everything, spending all day in bed, contemplating suicide, etc).
> Three weeks ago my new psychiatrist did something NEW and WOW has it worked! I was already on Pristiq @ 150 mgs/day with the previous doctor with moderate-only effect on the depression. The new doctor slowly lowered me to 50/mgs per day AND HAS NOW ADDED Abilify @ 2mgs/day.
> Within 10 days I was doing things that I can never remember doing, like getting up at 6:30 AM on my own; doing dishes & other work-around-the-house, thinking (positive) thoughts, and NO MORE CONSTANT FATIGUE!
> I realize that both the 50mgs/day pristiq and 2mgs/day are very low - and that is okay with me.
> The new doctor calls this "augmenting the anti-depressant (pristiq) with Abilify. I have no idea if "augmentation" is a medical term, but the previous doc never had me on more than one type of med at a time for depression.
> I really hope that helps someone - because I've been dealing with depression/anxiety/fatigue for over 40 years now - and maybe finally have a solution?!
>
> Terry
>
>Terry - I am now trying 50mg of Pristiq during the day and keeping my Seroquel at night. I think this could be a good combo (with Seroquel helping me sleep and also augmenting the Pristiq). Do you have any side effects from Pristiq?
Posted by 57Mongoose on August 4, 2009, at 8:28:02
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?..., posted by SheilaC on August 4, 2009, at 7:04:59
First, let me say this is the first time I've used a "post" or "blog" or whatever it is called. So, if I make some "rookie mistakes" please understand.
Regarding the Pristiq and side-effects: I haven't noticed any side effects on it, even when I was on 150mgs/day. I am now only on 50mgs/day.
My doctor was going to remove me completely from it in the belief that Wellbutrin would do what the Pristiq wasn't doing - which is to get me "functional." By that I mean, not depressed, not fatigued, etc. Well, the Wellbutrin wasn't doing anything either even at 450mgs/day. So he decided to leave me on the Pristiq @ 50mgs and add 2mgs/day of Abilify.
I did notice side effects with the Abilify because I seemed dizzy, sort of like a person does when they have several drinks all at once. I didn't like that feeling but was so desperate to stay on something that finally worked (to emininate both the depression and fatigue) that I didn't tell my doctor. I hoped it (the dizziness) would go away - and fortunately for me it did.
By the way: I don't drink (much). My alcohol consumption is about two beers a month because it tastes so good with a Friday Fish Fry. I stay away from hard liquor.
So I haven't had any side effects from the Pristiq. If the combination of Pristiq and Seroquel have worked for you (except for the side effects), could it just be you haven't been on it long enough to adjust? It took me about 5-7 days to stop feeling "dizzy" from the Abilify.
Come to think of it, maybe it wasn't (just) Abilify I was having side-effects from? Maybe it was the combo of Pristiq and Abilify, or, maybe it was the Abilify. I'll probably never know but that's okay with me.
Can I ask what side effects you are experiencing with the Pristiq and/or combination of Pristiq and Seroquel?
Terry
Posted by floatingbridge on August 4, 2009, at 11:34:45
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?... » SheilaC, posted by 57Mongoose on August 4, 2009, at 8:28:02
Hi Terry
Welcome and thanks for posting! Sometimes less is more. Yes, the med thing is frustrating. I'm not sure I'm liking my 100 of pristiq. 450 of wellbutrin was a bust, and so was the 10 abilify. However, 2 mg was good. Maybe 1 would have been even better. It is a potent little pill!
Best!
fb
Posted by floatingbridge on August 4, 2009, at 15:29:53
In reply to Re: Dump Geodon / Tiny Abilify?... » SheilaC, posted by 57Mongoose on August 4, 2009, at 8:28:02
> First, let me say this is the first time I've used a "post" or "blog" or whatever it is called. So, if I make some "rookie mistakes" please understand.
>
> Regarding the Pristiq and side-effects: I haven't noticed any side effects on it, even when I was on 150mgs/day. I am now only on 50mgs/day.
>
> My doctor was going to remove me completely from it in the belief that Wellbutrin would do what the Pristiq wasn't doing - which is to get me "functional." By that I mean, not depressed, not fatigued, etc. Well, the Wellbutrin wasn't doing anything either even at 450mgs/day. So he decided to leave me on the Pristiq @ 50mgs and add 2mgs/day of Abilify.
>
> I did notice side effects with the Abilify because I seemed dizzy, sort of like a person does when they have several drinks all at once. I didn't like that feeling but was so desperate to stay on something that finally worked (to emininate both the depression and fatigue) that I didn't tell my doctor. I hoped it (the dizziness) would go away - and fortunately for me it did.
>
> By the way: I don't drink (much). My alcohol consumption is about two beers a month because it tastes so good with a Friday Fish Fry. I stay away from hard liquor.
>
> So I haven't had any side effects from the Pristiq. If the combination of Pristiq and Seroquel have worked for you (except for the side effects), could it just be you haven't been on it long enough to adjust? It took me about 5-7 days to stop feeling "dizzy" from the Abilify.
>
> Come to think of it, maybe it wasn't (just) Abilify I was having side-effects from? Maybe it was the combo of Pristiq and Abilify, or, maybe it was the Abilify. I'll probably never know but that's okay with me.
>
> Can I ask what side effects you are experiencing with the Pristiq and/or combination of Pristiq and Seroquel?
>
> TerryTerry, may I ask how it was tapering back down to 50 of pristiq?
thanks,
fb
Posted by 57mongoose on August 5, 2009, at 11:56:47
In reply to question for 57Mongoose » 57Mongoose, posted by floatingbridge on August 4, 2009, at 15:29:53
There was no problem lowering my Pristiq from 150/day to 50. I noticed no side effects - and my depression did not get worse.
There is something about taking Pristiq(50mgs) AND Abilify(2mgs) that has really worked great. It hasn't been since 1990-93 that I found something that worked extremely well. It was Prozac back then, but it doesn't do anything for me now.
I just hope the Pristiq/Abilify combo work forever!
Have you had any side effects while reducing your Pristiq??Terry
Posted by floatingbridge on August 5, 2009, at 12:24:12
In reply to Re: question for 57Mongoose, posted by 57mongoose on August 5, 2009, at 11:56:47
Hi Terry,
I haven't decreased yet. Just started the 100 last week--I'm feeling maybe over-drugged. We'll see. In case I back down on my dose, I wanted to know what to expect.
That's great that you have meds working for you!
fb
Posted by 57mongoose on August 5, 2009, at 19:03:35
In reply to Re: question for 57Mongoose » 57mongoose, posted by floatingbridge on August 5, 2009, at 12:24:12
Hopefully that "over-drugged" feeling will pass. Good luck with the adjustment!
Terry
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