![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by awatts on April 13, 2004, at 14:25:03
Abilify, an atypical antipsychotic, is being used also to treat depression. As I read around the Web, I often see it prescribed at less than the usual psychosis starting dose when used for depression. (10-30mg is used for psychosis)
My doctor started me on 5mg of Abilify today to augment the 225mg of Effexor XR I'm taking.
What experiences have any of you folks had with Abilify for depression? dosages? side effects? favorable results? alone, or with other drugs?
Posted by cybercafe on April 13, 2004, at 15:44:46
In reply to Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by awatts on April 13, 2004, at 14:25:03
> Abilify, an atypical antipsychotic, is being used also to treat depression. As I read around the Web, I often see it prescribed at less than the usual psychosis starting dose when used for depression. (10-30mg is used for psychosis)
>
> My doctor started me on 5mg of Abilify today to augment the 225mg of Effexor XR I'm taking.
>
> What experiences have any of you folks had with Abilify for depression? dosages? side effects? favorable results? alone, or with other drugs?
>not sure it helped with mood as much as motivation... EXCELLENT for motivation at 3.75 mg in my experience ..... (hard to tolerate at first though).... just wanted to keep doing things, be productive ....
added parnate for depression itself ...
YMMV .... and good luck bro
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on April 13, 2004, at 18:17:12
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by cybercafe on April 13, 2004, at 15:44:46
IMHO, this is not the best monotherapy. It does wonders for atypical depession if with other meds.
I just stopped it due to akathesia and anxiety probs, but hopefully my pdoc has something that will mellow it out.
It's so great for motivation. I already miss that.
Posted by cybercafe on April 14, 2004, at 5:34:07
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by socialdeviantjeff on April 13, 2004, at 18:17:12
> IMHO, this is not the best monotherapy. It does wonders for atypical depession if with other meds.
>
> I just stopped it due to akathesia and anxiety probs, but hopefully my pdoc has something that will mellow it out.
>
> It's so great for motivation. I already miss that.maybe your dose was too high?
for akathisia you can try propanolol, anticholinergics, benzos, etc etc etc..... but i would start at a much lower dose ...
Posted by HappyGirl on April 14, 2004, at 13:08:05
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by socialdeviantjeff on April 13, 2004, at 18:17:12
Hi sdj:
You may try 'Geodon,' if you have a problem on 'Abilify' that sounds like one of most 'stimulant' psycho. meds., then besides your problem stated above, Abilify seems NOT suitable to your condition.
As long as you have NO problem in regard to the 'Heart,' you may be able to take this med. conjuction with other med. Zyprexa(recalling your other thread). Geodon came around 2001 and its effectiveness is between Zyprexa and Abilify, ... meaning 'not much sedating, NOT gain weight and NOT stimulating.'
Just my suggestion.
H.G.
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on April 14, 2004, at 19:59:00
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?/sdj, posted by HappyGirl on April 14, 2004, at 13:08:05
Thanks for the suggestions. My income is low so I was cutting 10 mg samples to 5 mg. I really have a hard time with meds et al. I'll talk to my pdoc about augmenting or going on Geodon. Is it more on the sedating side or stimulating? I am REALLY prone to sedation.
Posted by Lazarus on April 14, 2004, at 19:59:22
In reply to Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by awatts on April 13, 2004, at 14:25:03
Abilify is an extremely potent drug. Be careful with this one. It is generally prescribed only for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Lazarus
Posted by HappyGirl on April 14, 2004, at 22:07:28
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg)/Cybercafe/Happygirl, posted by socialdeviantjeff on April 14, 2004, at 19:59:00
Hi sdj:
One more thing about which I forgot to mention in my previous post due to 'in a hurry,' .... if you want to stay on 'Abilify,' and then try to take 'COGENTIN' that might be for 'Parkinson's disease,' but some saying it works 'GREAT,' ... not only chase away SE from taking Abilify also good for 'Anxiety.'
Another for 'sedating effect,' ... unfortunately, this, SE of Zyprexa takes quite awhile, ... maybe almost a month or so. But, if it does not go away, try to take Zyprexa in the evening after supper or one hour later. If this does not yet help, and then you may ask 'Geodon.' However, in order to take Geodon, you must be confident in 'heart' system, ... even sometime 'EKG' before prescribe this med., Geodon, ... just for precaution, ... that I heard. Geodon has 'some' stimulating effect, ... but never like Abilify.
Also, I TOTALLY AGREE with expensiveness of those AP meds., ... did you ask your pdoc. for 'Free' med. program that means drug/pharmatecal co. sends 'free med.' about 3-6 months' supply at a time. I was once on this program due to 'mass/mega' psycho. med. regimen. You need to talk to your pdoc. face to face and convince how desperately you need those meds. in order to get by/function daily life. Don't need to be 'pity,' ... but have to be assertive, yet need a good communication/rapport with your pdoc. On 'Search Engine,' type 'Free Med.' ... you can find Free med.'s sites and also access to 'How to apply 'Free Med.'that needs your pdoc.'s signature.
This is all I know regarding psycho. meds.
If there is any other question, please post it back.
H.G.
Posted by grock$ on December 20, 2008, at 12:18:02
In reply to Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by awatts on April 13, 2004, at 14:25:03
Posted by grock$ on December 20, 2008, at 12:19:24
In reply to Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by awatts on April 13, 2004, at 14:25:03
Posted by SLS on December 29, 2008, at 7:24:11
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression? (nm), posted by grock$ on December 20, 2008, at 12:19:24
I have been pretty lucky when choosing my doctors. The doctor who put me on Abilify started me at 20mg. He told me that I might as well get through the side effects and allow them to pass. He said that the low dosages would not be any kinder to me with respect to side effects. He was right about 20mg being an ideal dosage to initiate therapy with. The only side effect I experienced was some restlessness.
It takes quite a few days for a dosage of Abilify to reach equilibrium. If nothing else, 20mg makes a good loading dose. Abilify has a half-life of 72 hours.
Is it necessary to break through an individual's therapeutic window for the side effects to dissipate? I keep hoping that people will react better to the higher starting dosages like I have. However, it is possible that my need for 20mg is a characteristic of my idiosyncratic bipolar diathesis. My observations in a population of 150 mentally ill patients is that 10-30 is the dosage range used for both affective and schizoid disorders. Only one person did I see develop true akathisia. I didn't see any of the type of incidents at the program that are reported here commonly as negative reactions to 2-5mg of Abilify.
Again, it is my hope that many more people could be helped by Abilify if it were taken at higher dosages. 10mg is too low for me to glean an antidepressant effect. 20mg seems to be just right. 30mg would probably be unnecessary, but I never experimented with it. I haven't had the need. I feel pretty wonderful.
- Scott
Posted by Sigismund on January 3, 2009, at 2:06:44
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by SLS on December 29, 2008, at 7:24:11
>I feel pretty wonderful.
Scott, I was just wondering......
You were once on Parnate and nortriptylline (alone, but perhaps not?) and you gave up the Parnate because it wasn't helping.
So the difference between then and now for you is the addition of Lamictal and Abilify?
Posted by SLS on January 3, 2009, at 5:28:44
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression? » SLS, posted by Sigismund on January 3, 2009, at 2:06:44
> >I feel pretty wonderful.
>
> Scott, I was just wondering......
>
> You were once on Parnate and nortriptylline (alone, but perhaps not?) and you gave up the Parnate because it wasn't helping.
>
> So the difference between then and now for you is the addition of Lamictal and Abilify?Most definitely. I tried to discontinue each of these two drugs separately and demonstrated my need for both of them in my treatment regime. Both of these drugs exert pro-dopaminergic properties. Abilify is especially important as it is really a dopamine system stabilizer (DSS). Two new drugs in the pipeline, asenapine and bifeprenox, work the same way - D2 dopamine receptor partial agonism.
I have decided to ask my doctor to switch me over to desipramine. I am 50 pounds overweight and my triglycerides are very high. I blame nortriptyline for this. Hey, if desipramine doesn't work, I guess I'll have to be satisfied with being strong and fat.
My first long-term remission occurred in 1987 using a combination of Parnate and desipramine. I actually lost weight. Then, I was strong an cut.
- Scott
Posted by bekka7473 on July 5, 2011, at 8:13:27
In reply to Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by awatts on April 13, 2004, at 14:25:03
I started taking low dose of abilify 2 mgs 1 a day .I have been taking Prozac for over 15 years .It stopped working.So my doctor started me on Abilify fo depression .I feel like a new person .My Zest for life has come back .I stopped my Prozac before taking Abilify .If theres one thing now i make certian everyday, is to take it .It is unbeleivable how it has helped me .I have ADHD and i also take Adderal .10 mg twice a day .It does not interfere with my other medications. I can not express enough how much Abilify has helped rather Stopped me depression .
Posted by Lamdage on July 12, 2011, at 20:25:21
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by bekka7473 on July 5, 2011, at 8:13:27
> I started taking low dose of abilify 2 mgs 1 a day .I have been taking Prozac for over 15 years .It stopped working.So my doctor started me on Abilify fo depression .I feel like a new person .My Zest for life has come back .I stopped my Prozac before taking Abilify .If theres one thing now i make certian everyday, is to take it .It is unbeleivable how it has helped me .I have ADHD and i also take Adderal .10 mg twice a day .It does not interfere with my other medications. I can not express enough how much Abilify has helped rather Stopped me depression .
I got this stuff in my cupboard.. never took it. how long did it take to start doing what its doing?
Posted by andreachem on July 18, 2011, at 16:26:32
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by Lamdage on July 12, 2011, at 20:25:21
I tried Abilify on 2 mg/die and it works wonderfully for depression and brain fog. But i had to discontinue due to extreme akathisia, anxiety and insomnia. How could I do to pass the first period to avoid stopping this med? how long it takes to adjust in the body? Will I continue to feel restless over starting period?
Posted by porkpiehat on November 2, 2012, at 16:06:18
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression?, posted by SLS on December 29, 2008, at 7:24:11
Scott:
What was the primary need for the abilify...as an AD, a mood stabilizer (anti-manic I assume), or for more psychotic symptoms?
what did you find were the initial SE's? had you ever tried seroquel?
Posted by SLS on November 2, 2012, at 18:46:17
In reply to Re: Abilify - Low Dose (5mg) for Depression? » SLS, posted by porkpiehat on November 2, 2012, at 16:06:18
> Scott:
>
> What was the primary need for the abilify...as an AD, a mood stabilizer (anti-manic I assume), or for more psychotic symptoms?
>
> what did you find were the initial SE's? had you ever tried seroquel?
Hi.For me, Abilify acts as an augmentor of antidepressants. I am guessing that among other things, it helps to stabilize dopamine activity. I can't be sure as to what anti-manic properties it has for me. Sometimes, Nardil or Parnate in combination with TCA precipitates mania. I haven't had this occur since I began Abilify treatment 10 years ago.
I tried Seroquel. I did not react well to it. It made me feel irritable and somewhat dysphoric.
My main complaint with Abilify is that it produces weight gain and elevated triglycerides.
What is your objective with treatment?
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.