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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 8:01:04
is there an AP that does not make you tired?
i'm going to have to go off zyprexa for now. i'm on two other meds that wipe me out and the zyprexa on top of that is just too much.
unfortunately zyprexa is about the only one that works wonders for me.
i know risperdal does not work for me.
i also hope not to gain weight.any suggestions?
b2c.
Posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2008, at 11:38:17
In reply to Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 8:01:04
I've read here and on the net that abilify can be energizing and not cause weight gain? Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 11:38:22
In reply to Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 8:01:04
Posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 11:49:26
In reply to Re: Antipsychotic not make tired? » B2chica, posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2008, at 11:38:17
thanks p. any experience on this AP...i'd like to hear some exp. also.
how much you were on, did it cause worse mania, etc.
b2c.
Posted by dbc on March 28, 2008, at 15:10:42
In reply to Re: Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 11:49:26
D2 antagonists by nature do two things they make you kind of dopey and tired and make you gain weight. Abilify is the only exception to the rule on tiredness but every person is different and the drug might just not be energizing.
I dont know what to tell you because anti-psychotics are extreme medications for serious situations and they have their draw backs.
They're definetly useful for mania even more so than some mood stabilizers that flip some people into cycling moods. But the common treatment for mania is an anti-psychotic and mood stabilizer.
Posted by Maxime on March 28, 2008, at 15:11:27
In reply to Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 8:01:04
Seroquel on a higher dosage (200 mg and above) doesn't make me tired. Many people don't find it sedating at a higher dosage. It's a good mood stabilizer, but it does make me crave carbs.
Maxime
Posted by bleauberry on March 28, 2008, at 18:20:00
In reply to Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 8:01:04
You say zyprexa is the only med that works wonders for you, but that you are on other meds as well. So why not stop those instead of zyprexa? That is, unless they are needed for other unrelated conditions.
Hey, finding something that works wonders is hard. You might consider something to counter the side effects. Modafinil perhaps. All these meds one way or the other mess with hormones, so you might want to try some thyroid T3 even if lab results show it to be "normal". You want optimal, not normal, and only how you feel will tell you what that is. If you are into natural stuff that won't mess with other meds, try tiny amounts of Maca root powder and increase the dosage slowly over a couple weeks up to a range of 1/4 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon per day. It balances all hormones. Common reports are "feeling warmer instead of cold", can loose weight easier, better mood, calmer, hot flashes gone or reduced, fatigue gone, depression improved or gone, anxiety improved or gone, more energy and endurance, brain fog gone, sexual desire and sensation increased.
For meds, maybe Modafinil or Ritalin? I don't know about switching meds. When something is working good, switching is scary and can mess up a good thing you may never find again.
Posted by nfc on March 29, 2008, at 6:51:21
In reply to Re: Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by bleauberry on March 28, 2008, at 18:20:00
Hi B2,
I'm on abilify, works great, on only 5mg daily so its a fairly low dose. didn't really notice side effects since i was on risp for a year and a half prior. - hate that med but controlled psychosis quite well. still dealing w/ some other mental issues but still i recommend abilify. for some it's not too good but if given time for side effects to subside, it might b good in your case.
take care n hope u find the right one,
nfc
Posted by Dinah on March 31, 2008, at 11:14:59
In reply to Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 8:01:04
Risperdal doesn't make me tired. I don't use it long term, though, so I don't know if that changes over time.
I have a real affinity for that class of drugs, it seems. I've almost quit using klonopin except for a small dose at bedtime, because I prefer the deep down calm of Risperdal.
Posted by B2chica on April 2, 2008, at 8:43:57
In reply to Re: Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by bleauberry on March 28, 2008, at 18:20:00
thanks all.
it seems mood stabilizer alone may not work for me as i'm cycling (i kinda stopped taking my zyprexa) i just couldn't handle the sleep issues, was Constantly tired from the lexapro, topomax and zyprexa they all make me tired, i had to cut one and i know the zyprexa i can take on an as needed basis with no problems. plus with it making me want to eat every night at 9:00 didn't help either. i need to take off some of my weight as i feel so unhealthy.
so that's why i'm choosing to drop zyprexa. and maybe try abilify or just drop zyprexa and try without for a while.-seroquel is Way too sedating for me. infact a few years ago when my mania was at its worst it was the ONLY thing that helped my sleep. but now my problem is the opposite.
-also tried risperdal and did nothing for me. i mean really did nothing.and wow bleauberry that Maca root sounds really good. i might give that a try.
and i'm on Ritalin now but i'm only doing twice a day and i start pretty early in the morning so i almost wish i could take TID.
Posted by Jeroen on April 2, 2008, at 14:32:21
In reply to Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by B2chica on March 28, 2008, at 8:01:04
Abilify and Sertindole are non sedating
also Bifeprunox, but that one is under phase 3 or something
Posted by undopaminergic on April 3, 2008, at 17:43:14
In reply to Re: Antipsychotic not make tired? » B2chica, posted by Dinah on March 31, 2008, at 11:14:59
> Risperdal doesn't make me tired. I don't use it long term, though, so I don't know if that changes over time.
>
> I have a real affinity for that class of drugs, it seems. I've almost quit using klonopin except for a small dose at bedtime, because I prefer the deep down calm of Risperdal.
>Some people tolerate risperidone well. Others find it to cause sedation, lethargy and anhedonia. I don't know which experience is more common.
I think sulpiride, amisulpride (Solian) and aripiprazole (Abilify) are the best bets for avoiding sedation and weight gain.
Posted by B2chica on April 4, 2008, at 8:12:22
In reply to Re: Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by undopaminergic on April 3, 2008, at 17:43:14
when you first start taking Abilify, do you notice being tired as a side effect that eventually goes away? or is it good from the start?
Posted by nfc on April 4, 2008, at 8:28:01
In reply to What about...., posted by B2chica on April 4, 2008, at 8:12:22
was good for me from da start. started off small, grew to 5mg and still there. wen i started abilify, i was tapering risp so i'd say side effects were due to da risp mostly.
nfc
Posted by bellagirl on April 5, 2008, at 11:33:05
In reply to Re: Antipsychotic not make tired?, posted by nfc on March 29, 2008, at 6:51:21
> Hi B2,
>
> I'm on abilify, works great, on only 5mg daily so its a fairly low dose. didn't really notice side effects since i was on risp for a year and a half prior. - hate that med but controlled psychosis quite well. still dealing w/ some other mental issues but still i recommend abilify. for some it's not too good but if given time for side effects to subside, it might b good in your case.
>
> take care n hope u find the right one,
>
> nfc
>
NFC:Have tried all kinds of anti-dep and they don't work. I'm not atypical...lowest dosages of everything, even non therapuetic, i have reactions to. I'm not physchotic, but have severe depletion of dopamine in prefrontal cortex of brain per a brain spect scan. Tried Emsam for three months and jaw and head pain to severe. Switched to Abilify and immediately felt energy back and some lessening of pain in head..after two weeks though all symtoms back as well as akistashia...Dr. put me down from 5mgs to 2.5 and I've felt like i've been hit by a train. Yesterday even experienced numbness/pain from chest down right arm...does anyone have any experiences like this? Do you NFC? Probably going to go off and back to natural dopamine (SamE)...can't take the side effects..you're so out of it on this crap or off! Where did my dopamine go???????
Posted by nfc on April 5, 2008, at 16:24:15
In reply to Re: abilify/withdrawals, posted by bellagirl on April 5, 2008, at 11:33:05
hi bellagirl,
sorry to hear of your bad experiences w/ abilify. it sucks when it works a bit then takes a turn for the worse. whats ur dx anyway? if you need dopamine then i don't believe abilify is what u need since it blocks it. what other meds are you on and could you be experiencing some kind of interaction w/ another med or lingering side effects from a previous med also?
take care and keep us posted,
nfc
Posted by undopaminergic on April 6, 2008, at 20:21:15
In reply to Re: abilify/withdrawals, posted by bellagirl on April 5, 2008, at 11:33:05
For dopamine in the prefrontal cortex specifically, noradrenaline reuptake inhbitors may help. Reboxetine and atomoxetine are selective and don't mess with the serotonin (and have minimal impact on dopamine in most other regions of the brain).
For generalised dopamine deficits, try stimulants like methylphenidate, modafinil and amphetamines, at low to high doses. Low doses of sulpiride and amisulpride should also help, either alone or in combination with a stimulant. This regimen may be cautiously augmented with a MAOI - selegiline and rasagiline would be the drugs of choice for this purpose. If that doesn't work out, it's time to experiment with memantine and with lamotrigine and other mood stabilisers.
This is the end of the thread.
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