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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by MalcolmS on May 1, 2006, at 16:14:26
Hi: I posted a message a few weeks ago about Nardil and now I start on a new (to me) med called abilify to supplement the Nardil.
In my previous post on Nardil "euphoria", I noted with some great disappoinment that the euphoria I initially experienced had now ended. But I'm still continuing with the Nardil, b/c both my doc and I think that it continues to help, even though its effects are no longer as dramatic an improvement as I initially encountered.
So today, he's prescribed a new med which I hadn't heard about called "Abilify" (sounds like a wierd name for a med).
Does anyone have any personal experience with Abilify? but more specifically, expererience with the Nardil and Abilify combined. I'm still on 75 mgs of the Nardil and am going to start with 5 mg of the Abilify.
How useful was it, side effects, etc. Basically, as much as anyone is willing to share with me.
Thanks in advance-
Malcolm S
Posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2006, at 20:40:59
In reply to Abilify?, posted by MalcolmS on May 1, 2006, at 16:14:26
Sorry I've never taken either med. I know that nardil is an MAOI with diet restrictions tyramine and less activating than parnate. And abily is an activating antipsychotic fairly new. Hope this helps a tiny bit. Bet the experts chime in Love Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2006, at 23:01:17
In reply to Abilify?, posted by MalcolmS on May 1, 2006, at 16:14:26
abilify is one of the newer "atypicals"--it acts at both dopamine and serotonin receptors. Unlike other antipsychotics (new and old) that tend only to dampen dopamine, abilify can block it and also act as a partial agonist, raising the level of dopamine in your system. This makes it less sedating, less harmful to cognitive skills, and it seems to cause EPS less often than other available drugs. On the downside...there seems to be a pretty common experience of start-up anxiety...its similar to akathisia (inner-restlesness) but seems to go away in some people, and so may not be exactly the same as the akathisia experienced with other drugs...no one really knows. Abilify tends to be weight-neutral and doesn't seem to have a major impact on blood sugar levels or diabetes risk or cholesterol levels.
With MAOIs, it has always been a common practice to co-prescribe an antipsychotic to counteract the stimulation from the MAOI. Traditionally, the old-school drugs (phenothiazines, like Stelazine, Perphenazine, and Thorazine) were used; now that the atypicals are out, shrinks are using those. Abilify may also act as an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety agent in its own right, which could possibly help boost whatever action you're getting out of the MAOI.
You should know that although the EPS and TD risk with Abilify **seems** to be lower than with older drugs, such as Haldol, the risk is **not** zero and no one is entirely sure exactly what the risk is in general, much less how likely any one patient is to develop EPS or Tardive Dyskinesia (a permanent movement disorder cause by antipsychotics). You should discuss EPS and TD with your doctor, and if you choose to take Abilify your doctor should examine you for signs of TD at **EACH** and **EVERY** visit.
TD is more likely to develop in people with mood-disorders (depression, bipolar, etc.) than it is with people who have psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. TD can develop with after long-term (several years exposure) or after 6months or less of exposure to an antipsychotic drug. Once the drug is withdrawn, some people will have fewer TD symptoms or become symptom-free within 5 years, while others will continue to have TD for the rest of their lives. THere is no known treatment or cure for TD. Some cases of TD are crippling and may cause permanent disability. TD is also associated with a loss of cognitive skills.
Good luck!
Posted by bimini on May 2, 2006, at 10:19:44
In reply to Abilify?, posted by MalcolmS on May 1, 2006, at 16:14:26
Not much of an experience, one whole month of Abilify for schizoaffective symptoms- got stabbing headaches that buckled my knees and took my breath away.
bimini
This is the end of the thread.
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