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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emme on October 8, 2006, at 12:29:46
Hi All,
I thought I'd pop in to give a positive report. Just because. :) The Lamictal and Abilify are still holding my psyche together fairly well. I also take a little bit of focalin and some xanax and a little atenolol prn. It's not perfect, but the side effects are at a minimum and it's a livable arrangement. Folks, keep the hope.
emme
Posted by SLS on October 8, 2006, at 15:26:33
In reply to Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good, posted by Emme on October 8, 2006, at 12:29:46
> Hi All,
>
> I thought I'd pop in to give a positive report. Just because. :) The Lamictal and Abilify are still holding my psyche together fairly well. I also take a little bit of focalin and some xanax and a little atenolol prn. It's not perfect, but the side effects are at a minimum and it's a livable arrangement. Folks, keep the hope.
That's good news.I'll be keeping you in my prayers.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on October 8, 2006, at 19:33:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good, posted by SLS on October 8, 2006, at 15:26:33
Thanks good to hear of someone doing well. Love Phillipa
Posted by Emme on October 9, 2006, at 9:17:46
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good, posted by SLS on October 8, 2006, at 15:26:33
Thanks Jan and Scott. I hope you both get some relief from your depression.
emme
Posted by JahL on October 9, 2006, at 20:34:05
In reply to Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good, posted by Emme on October 8, 2006, at 12:29:46
> Hi All,
>
> I thought I'd pop in to give a positive report. Just because. :) The Lamictal and Abilify are still holding my psyche together fairly well.Good to hear it.
I also had a positive reaction to this combo. Unfortunately I had to drop the Abilify due to intolerable side-effects.
I discovered something to counter the most troublesome SE, but strangely Abilify didn't do much upon reinstitution. Weird.
Anyway, good luck,
Jah.
Posted by Emme on October 10, 2006, at 7:15:18
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good, posted by JahL on October 9, 2006, at 20:34:05
hI Jah,
> I also had a positive reaction to this combo. Unfortunately I had to drop the Abilify due to intolerable side-effects.
That is too bad. Which side effects were intolerable?
> I discovered something to counter the most troublesome SE, but strangely Abilify didn't do much upon reinstitution. Weird.That really is too bad. How long were you off of it before trying it again? I found that Abilify has actually worked better the second time around, which has been a pleasant surprise. I have not had that with any other drug. The first time it pooped out after a relatively short time. But it was at least a year or so between trials. I don't know if that makes a difference.
> Anyway, good luck,Thanks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this continues to work. Good luck to you.
emme
Posted by JahL on October 10, 2006, at 7:46:25
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good » JahL, posted by Emme on October 10, 2006, at 7:15:18
Hi there Emme.
> That is too bad. Which side effects were intolerable?Firstly, and not unexpectedly, the dreaded akathesia. I'm an agitated depressive anyway, so it wasn't too pleasant.
Secondly - and I'm sorry to have to bring this up - chronic constipation. It sounds trivial I know, but it's not when you haven't been for a month solid, so to speak.
> That really is too bad. How long were you off of it before trying it again?First time I enjoyed a really robust, if incomplete response after just 3 days on 15mg. It took a month after cessation to find a suitable laxative (again, sorry!) but second time around the response was far more muted and only lasted a couple of weeks. Third time around (3 months later) - nada.
Of course I still think about what might have been were I able to combat the side-effects from day one.
> I found that Abilify has actually worked better the second time around, which has been a pleasant surprise. I have not had that with any other drug.
That is odd - it's not what you'd expect - but I'm pleased for you!
> The first time it pooped out after a relatively short time. But it was at least a year or so between trials.
Hmmm. I'm working with opioids at the moment - with some success. I need something stronger like Vicodin though (not available here in the UK), so maybe after all this time Abilify might be worth revisiting if I fail in my opioid quest. It's one option I suppose...
> Thanks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this continues to work. Good luck to you.Thanks. Fingers crossed this side of the Pond too,
J.
Posted by ed_uk on October 10, 2006, at 14:40:08
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good » Emme, posted by JahL on October 10, 2006, at 7:46:25
Hi J,
So which laxative/s did the trick?
Ed
Posted by Reggie BoStar on October 12, 2006, at 18:31:10
In reply to Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good, posted by Emme on October 8, 2006, at 12:29:46
Hi Emme,
What sorts of side effects (if any) are you getting from the Abilify? I can't seem to tolerate it at all. After only two days, I can hardly stay awake for more than a few hours per day and I feel like I'm dragging around a set of weights.Reggie BoStar
Posted by Emme on October 12, 2006, at 20:42:47
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Abilify = pretty good » Emme, posted by Reggie BoStar on October 12, 2006, at 18:31:10
Hi Reggie,
The most prominent side effect I had was insomnia. I would wake up several times per night. I had to use a low dose of seroquel for a while. The insomnia resolved itself after several weeks and now I actually sleep better than I have in the last few years.
I get some constipation, but not terrible. I seem a little chilly on it - it seems to affect my thermoregulation.
Recently I was suspecting that it was making me tired - I still have fatigue issues. I dropped it for several days. Not only was I not less tired, but I was very depressed. Needless to say I hopped right back on it.
Many people find it activating, but I know that fatigue is also a possibility. What dose are you taking? Some people (like myself) can get away with 2.5 mg or 2.5 mg every other day. You may do best to start super low and increase carefully.
Good luck,
emme> Hi Emme,
> What sorts of side effects (if any) are you getting from the Abilify? I can't seem to tolerate it at all. After only two days, I can hardly stay awake for more than a few hours per day and I feel like I'm dragging around a set of weights.
>
> Reggie BoStar
This is the end of the thread.
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