![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Girlnterrupted on February 10, 2006, at 9:29:39
God, this is a nightmare. This is my 2nd trial on Abilify. The first time I gave up in just 2 days because of the nausea and the grogginess. I was in school and I was going to ruin my grades.But now that I'm having some time off, I decided to give it a 2nd try to see if maybe the side-effects go away in a few days. But still, the first days are such a nightmare that I don't know if it's worth it.
Yesterday, my 1st day, I was as groggy as one can possibly be. I woke up until 5pm, and had to force myself to get up and go get something to eat, and it was HARD. My eyes looked like if I had cried/not slept for 2 days in a row, and I felt this horrible pressure in my head, like weighted down by 300 pounds. So I called my doctor and he told me to try taking it at night instead, and if that didn't work, to see if I wanted to quit it.
So I did take it at night. It got somewhat better, but the problem is, I could not rest at all. I fell into a very shallow sleep, but kept waking up every hour or so, realizing no matter how long I stayed lying down in bed, I was just NOT resting. I felt just as tired, and even worse as time went by.
It's horrible!! I just cannot get any rest. I've tried lying down in bed 10 times already, and I just have to get up again, because it doesn't give me any relief. Right now while in the computer, I feel this urge to go back to bed, but once I get into it, I realize it's worthless. This is the worst nightmare ever!!!
One more thing, is that I feel this pressure in my jaw, and I keep grinding my molars. My skull is going to blow.
I hate this depression, I hate it hate it hate it hate it. The worst part of it is that there's no cure.
Has anyone been in this predicament with Abilify? Please let me know if anyone's been through this, and whether it gets better, and whether the side effects eventually go away?? Or get worse?! Should I stop it, or keep it up?
Thanx for any information.
Posted by Girlnterrupted on February 10, 2006, at 11:21:17
In reply to Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!!, posted by Girlnterrupted on February 10, 2006, at 9:29:39
Thank you all for the lack of responses. I appreacite it tremendously. I will have to consider other more lethal measures to deal with my problem.
Posted by Maxime on February 10, 2006, at 12:25:46
In reply to Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!!, posted by Girlnterrupted on February 10, 2006, at 9:29:39
What you are experience are common side effects of Abilify. Are you taking it to augment an antidepressant? Maybe you should try something like respiridone. Doesn't seem like Abilify is the med for you.
And I agree. Depression is an awful disease. :-(
Maxime
> God, this is a nightmare. This is my 2nd trial on Abilify. The first time I gave up in just 2 days because of the nausea and the grogginess. I was in school and I was going to ruin my grades.
>
> But now that I'm having some time off, I decided to give it a 2nd try to see if maybe the side-effects go away in a few days. But still, the first days are such a nightmare that I don't know if it's worth it.
>
> Yesterday, my 1st day, I was as groggy as one can possibly be. I woke up until 5pm, and had to force myself to get up and go get something to eat, and it was HARD. My eyes looked like if I had cried/not slept for 2 days in a row, and I felt this horrible pressure in my head, like weighted down by 300 pounds. So I called my doctor and he told me to try taking it at night instead, and if that didn't work, to see if I wanted to quit it.
>
> So I did take it at night. It got somewhat better, but the problem is, I could not rest at all. I fell into a very shallow sleep, but kept waking up every hour or so, realizing no matter how long I stayed lying down in bed, I was just NOT resting. I felt just as tired, and even worse as time went by.
>
> It's horrible!! I just cannot get any rest. I've tried lying down in bed 10 times already, and I just have to get up again, because it doesn't give me any relief. Right now while in the computer, I feel this urge to go back to bed, but once I get into it, I realize it's worthless. This is the worst nightmare ever!!!
>
> One more thing, is that I feel this pressure in my jaw, and I keep grinding my molars. My skull is going to blow.
>
> I hate this depression, I hate it hate it hate it hate it. The worst part of it is that there's no cure.
>
> Has anyone been in this predicament with Abilify? Please let me know if anyone's been through this, and whether it gets better, and whether the side effects eventually go away?? Or get worse?! Should I stop it, or keep it up?
>
> Thanx for any information.
Posted by bipolarspectrum on February 10, 2006, at 12:40:37
In reply to Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!!, posted by Girlnterrupted on February 10, 2006, at 9:29:39
Hello,
I'm gonna sound like a broken record, but i think you have to give the abilify a fair trial... exactly how long that is, im not sure, but more than a few days.. when i was on abilify i could not sleep and i also got akathisia (sp?), a movement disorder... but now i take seroquel and i dont have those problems.. i would like you to remember that there are many atypical antipsychotics and often some work better than others for certain individuals.. so have hope! good luck
bps
Posted by redscarlet on February 10, 2006, at 13:55:32
In reply to Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!!, posted by Girlnterrupted on February 10, 2006, at 9:29:39
How many mg's of Abilify are you taking ?
You many need to start at a very low dose, like 2.5 mg's or even less.
I was at my Pdoc's yesterday and he told me the drug rep for Abilify told him they are coming out with a 2 mg pill.
Seems like a LOT of people can't take large doses of this stuff.
I take 2.5 and it helps me a lot with the depression from my bipolar.
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2006, at 20:16:05
In reply to Re: Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!! » Girlnterrupted, posted by redscarlet on February 10, 2006, at 13:55:32
That's what heard start at 2.5mg and take it in the morning so you will possibly be able to sleep. Fondly Phillipa
Posted by theo on February 10, 2006, at 22:01:11
In reply to Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!!, posted by Girlnterrupted on February 10, 2006, at 9:29:39
How much are you taking? I would try 2.5mg if you aren't already.
Posted by platinumbride on February 11, 2006, at 3:01:40
In reply to Re: Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!! » Girlnterrupted, posted by theo on February 10, 2006, at 22:01:11
I just started Abilify as well and whie I think it is lifting me out of the abyss, taking it at night is giving me terrible insomnia.
But Girl, it may be worth a shot for you at a lower starting dose. My sister has been taking it for years and goes up or down in dosage depending on how well/poorly she is feeling.
I had the teeth/jaw thing too...I think that is the serotonergic action. I got a night guard. You can "make one" from a kit they sell at pharmacies. It aint pretty, but it eases the grinding.
I do wish you well, and hope that if Abilify is not for you that you find a med that is. Not sleeping simp;y sucks!
I think that based on this thread I will start taking it in the am and see if it helps. Probably I will fall asleep at my lousy temp job!!!
Diane
Posted by theo on February 11, 2006, at 12:05:41
In reply to Re: Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!!, posted by platinumbride on February 11, 2006, at 3:01:40
Try taking it in the morning?
Posted by platinumbride on February 11, 2006, at 15:43:33
In reply to Re: Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!! » platinumbride, posted by theo on February 11, 2006, at 12:05:41
yes theo, I will be doing that. I hope we all find our way here, bcause I am thinking that I really like abilify :-)
time will tell....
Best to you,Diane
Posted by Emme on February 11, 2006, at 15:55:48
In reply to Re: Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!! » theo, posted by platinumbride on February 11, 2006, at 15:43:33
It took roughly 3 months for the insomnia to improve. Not 100% gone, but very tolerable. The number of times I woke up in the night gradually decreased. I used xanax and/or low dose seroquel to help with sleep while waiting for the insomnia to improve.
If 2.5 mg still results in too many side effects, try taking 2.5 mg every other day. The half life is long enough that this is quite doable.
Posted by theo on February 11, 2006, at 16:53:13
In reply to Re: Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!!, posted by Emme on February 11, 2006, at 15:55:48
Do you take your Abilify at bedtime?
Posted by Emme on February 11, 2006, at 16:54:50
In reply to Re: Abilify side-effects -- I cannot REST!!! » Emme, posted by theo on February 11, 2006, at 16:53:13
> Do you take your Abilify at bedtime?
In the morning.
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.