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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on May 25, 2016, at 1:10:48
i've read alot of success stories here about abilify for depression, i know it is a dopamine agonist on certain sectors of dopamine synapses, but i have noticed with lamotragine does have some antidepressant effect, and olanzipine with prozac has worked, olanzipine usally lowers nuerotransmitter levels espcially serotonin and dopamine, but i've noticed it's signifcant effect to calm, and bring you back to earth during a manic phase, it work directly......puts out the fire in the mind when your manic......and you would think by doing that it would make you depressed because of it's blocking of serotonin and dopamine, but it does have a small antidepressant effect, but it's sedating, makes you want to sleep during the day, but the depression is lowered. It makes things seem passive, and slowed down
usally i take 20mg zyprexa at night, with 200mg lamotragine, sometimes 300, it depends, but that combination is a reinforcing mood stablization, olanzipine is calming and will put out the fire, lamotragine is more of a stablizer
but what about abilify? anyone have their persona expericies with it on how it makes you depression go away? maybe ill ask to switch, but i've been on zyprexa a long time, if i go off it would have to adjust
anything on abilify on mood?
r
Posted by SLS on May 25, 2016, at 2:54:53
In reply to abilify for depression v.s lamotragine/olanzipine, posted by rjlockhart37 on May 25, 2016, at 1:10:48
I know two difficult-to-treat people who do well with a combination of Abilify + Lamictal.
- Scott
Posted by Christ_empowered on May 25, 2016, at 6:03:09
In reply to Re: abilify for depression v.s lamotragine/olanzipine, posted by SLS on May 25, 2016, at 2:54:53
Abilify helps me. At first, I thought it was the depression not getting worse (risperdal and seroquel made me more depressed...I think that's more common than docs let on...), but now that I think about it...it helps elevate my mood, or at least keeps it from sinking as low.
I take: Abilify, lamictal, wellbutrin, and trileptal. I could do w/o the trileptal, but my doc insists on it. Anyway...this combination has been a real godsend. I have sufficient energy to make it through the day, I'm calmer, my weight gain has stopped (probably the wellbutrin), my sleep is good, and I don't get the paranoia and such that comes with the worst of my depressive episodes.
So...I think it depends. Keep in mind; I take 30mgs/Abilify. Your results on a low(er) dose may be more impressive. 30mgs is an effective anti-psychotic, anti-manic dose, but probably wouldn't help unipolar, non-psychotic depression all that much.
I only take 100mgs/lamictal, because I also take 1200mgs/trileptal. I take 400mgs/wellbutrin.
Abilify alone was --not-- sufficient for my problems, including the depression. Anticonvulsants helped, but left me tired and unable to concentrate. Adding wellbutrin made a huge difference.
I've rambled. Point is...although I think the data is strongest for Abilify as a tolerable antipsychotic, antimanic agent, I think it can help depression, in combination with other things. I would not use it alone.
Posted by porkpiehat on June 2, 2016, at 21:10:04
In reply to Re: abilify for depression v.s lamotragine/olanzipine, posted by Christ_empowered on May 25, 2016, at 6:03:09
I'm curious how taking WB with Abilify works together in terms of dopamine...Don't they oppose each other?
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 3, 2016, at 9:02:44
In reply to Re: abilify for depression v.s lamotragine/olanzipine » Christ_empowered, posted by porkpiehat on June 2, 2016, at 21:10:04
hi. I don't think they oppose each other per se. When I took Adderall with Abilify...that was just strange. Abilify dampened the effect of the Adderall and the combo was strange to experience.
Wellbutrin is mildly stimulating, but its not an amphetamine. It inhibits the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine a little bit, so I guess its sort of like extra-mild Ritalin in that regard. Anyway...the effect has been mild stimulation and (much needed) mood elevation. Better concentration, less hunger, less moodiness overall.
I do think the Abilify probably reduces the stimulation from the wellbutrin, which in my case is probably a good thing. At the same time, the Wellbutrin still works: I'm less sedated from the trileptal+lamictal combination and I'm in a better mood.
I don't know what's actually going on in my brain right now, but...the overall effect has been quite helpful.
Posted by porkpiehat on June 3, 2016, at 12:50:30
In reply to Re: abilify for depression v.s lamotragine/olanzipine, posted by Christ_empowered on June 3, 2016, at 9:02:44
Similarly I can't take just the Wellbutrin it makes me too nervous and angry. Currently if I take with Lamictal that is controlled, but Lamictal doesn't seem to be doing the trick for me lately.
Lately taking JUST lamictal I have no traces of anything manic, but no drive and my primary feelings are depression, plus vigilant/obsessive thinking about the threats around me and my own insecurities, plus suicide.
This morning I took NO LAMICTAL and I never sunk into the damaged, hypervigilant place. I can't stop cold turkey, so I took 50mgs at lunch.
I'm thinking Latuda and wellbutrin might make a good match but I'm not sure how to switch over. I also get numbed out too much on Latuda and somewhat bored and detatched from people but not suicidey.
If it is helpful, here is my my experience with the other drugs in this post:
Abilify could make me a little zombified and weird. I felt less ruled by my insecurities, somewhat less attached to people. Was taking with low dose of celexa and Lamictal 200mg. Very hard to sleep.Lamictal was first added to celexa to calm down the impulsive, drinky/druggy "on fire" feeling I got. It made me ridiculously productive, with an eye on the future and loads of self possession. TOTALLY f*ck*d with my sleep, made it impossible to concentrate, and gave me killer headaches. I added SO many other drugs be able to concentrate and not obsess over my relationships (which is more of a trauma thing I think). Strangely many of these side effects disappeared when I dropped SSRIs.
Coming off the SSRIs and left with just the lamictal, I strangely had more manicky (not officially diagnosed) episodes that invlolved uncontrolled laughter, pressured talking, frequent masturbation and feeling "out of control"
Maybe MORE lamictal would be different but I'm afraid of the cognitive effects and the lack of drive getting worse.
This is the end of the thread.
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