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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 roslynn on April 13, 2008, at 17:44:51
Hi all,
I am new here but I've been reading about and appreciating everyone's experiences as we all go through our med trials.
Just curious if anyone else has tried to augment their med cocktail with Abilify 5mg for depression?
My pdoc just tried this with me..worked well right away for two days or so then nothing, however I was still cycling off lithium during those two days. I'm wondering if the two meds deal with different symptoms and I may need them both?
My pdoc and I thought the lithium wasn't working so we subsituted Abilify but now that the lithum's out of my system I seriously crashed!
Also, anyone else had a med that seemed to work right away then nothing???
Any insights? thank you so much, roslynn
Posted by med_empowered on April 13, 2008, at 18:18:13
In reply to any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressants?, posted by roslynn on April 13, 2008, at 17:44:51
hey. Abilify either got approved or is undergoing FDA approval as an add-on for people on antidepressants with residual symptoms.
Anyway, Abilify is a weird med...you might get a respose going lower (possibly more activatig? Some people respond @ 2.5mgs or so) or by going higher, possibly up to the antipsychotic-level (10mgs+). The FDA approved dosage for schizophrenia goes from 10-30mgs.
Sometimes people get "poop out," and sometimes its (unfortunately) rapid. I would think going off of lithium could cause either a crash or a switch into (hypo)mania...lithium's bizarre, too, b/c some people find that if they go off of lithium after stabilizing on it, it doesn't work the same when they re-introduce it.
You might want to try it for a couple weeks. Or, like I said, change the dose...since Abilify seems pretty safe in terms of tardive dyskinesia and what not, you can experiment w/o having to worry too much. According to my own shrink, higher doses are more "soothing" (read: tranquilizing), so if your prob is more of an agitated and/or bipolar-ish depression, going up might be a good idea...personally, I found 1/2 of 15mgs tab (the old starting dose) to be great for agitation AND depression; I didn't feel like I was "really" on an antipsychotic till I hit 30mgs.
Have you tried any of the other atypicals? Abilify is arguably the "cleanest," but pretty much all of them are used as add-ons for depression. Geodon might be a good idea; its actually kind of like Tofranil, only also a dopamine-blocker. If your doc wanted to go old-school, Moban is sometimes used...loxapine is also atypical-ish, and amoxapine (Asendin) is a bizzaro antipsychotic/antidepressant hybrid that sometimes helps people with psychotic and/or treatment-resistant depression. Some docs consider it to be an atypical antipsychotic.
Have you tried BuSpar? Its an anti-anxiety drug thats kind-of-sorta antipsychotic-ish, and it can help non-resposive depressives w/ a low risk of your usual antipsychotic side effects. Dosages vary wildly, from 15mgs/day to 60mgs/day, and I think some docs go above that.
Have you tried Vistaril (or Atarax...) ? They're different forms of hydroxyzine, both of which can relieve tension...they can also boost antidepressants and long-term use is pretty much safe. You can also use hydroxyzine as a sleeping pill.
Benzos can also boost antidepressats. Xanax has mild AD properties, and I think Serax does, too...for some patients, Klonopin can also boost AD action.I wandered way off topic here, but I hope this all helps...Abilify is cool and all, but if it fails you, there are still plenty of drugs that can help (some of which are waaaaaay cheaper and don't carry any antipsychotic risks.).
Good luck, and please keep everybody here posted on how you're doing.
Posted by Phillipa on April 13, 2008, at 19:14:15
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressants?, posted by med_empowered on April 13, 2008, at 18:18:13
Hi med glad to see you. Missed you but sorry you had to go back on meds. Love Phillipa
Posted by roslynn on April 13, 2008, at 19:57:42
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressants?, posted by med_empowered on April 13, 2008, at 18:18:13
> hey. Abilify either got approved or is undergoing FDA approval as an add-on for people on antidepressants with residual symptoms.
> Anyway, Abilify is a weird med...you might get a respose going lower (possibly more activatig? Some people respond @ 2.5mgs or so) or by going higher, possibly up to the antipsychotic-level (10mgs+). The FDA approved dosage for schizophrenia goes from 10-30mgs.
> Sometimes people get "poop out," and sometimes its (unfortunately) rapid. I would think going off of lithium could cause either a crash or a switch into (hypo)mania...lithium's bizarre, too, b/c some people find that if they go off of lithium after stabilizing on it, it doesn't work the same when they re-introduce it.
> You might want to try it for a couple weeks. Or, like I said, change the dose...since Abilify seems pretty safe in terms of tardive dyskinesia and what not, you can experiment w/o having to worry too much. According to my own shrink, higher doses are more "soothing" (read: tranquilizing), so if your prob is more of an agitated and/or bipolar-ish depression, going up might be a good idea...personally, I found 1/2 of 15mgs tab (the old starting dose) to be great for agitation AND depression; I didn't feel like I was "really" on an antipsychotic till I hit 30mgs.
> Have you tried any of the other atypicals? Abilify is arguably the "cleanest," but pretty much all of them are used as add-ons for depression. Geodon might be a good idea; its actually kind of like Tofranil, only also a dopamine-blocker. If your doc wanted to go old-school, Moban is sometimes used...loxapine is also atypical-ish, and amoxapine (Asendin) is a bizzaro antipsychotic/antidepressant hybrid that sometimes helps people with psychotic and/or treatment-resistant depression. Some docs consider it to be an atypical antipsychotic.
> Have you tried BuSpar? Its an anti-anxiety drug thats kind-of-sorta antipsychotic-ish, and it can help non-resposive depressives w/ a low risk of your usual antipsychotic side effects. Dosages vary wildly, from 15mgs/day to 60mgs/day, and I think some docs go above that.
> Have you tried Vistaril (or Atarax...) ? They're different forms of hydroxyzine, both of which can relieve tension...they can also boost antidepressants and long-term use is pretty much safe. You can also use hydroxyzine as a sleeping pill.
> Benzos can also boost antidepressats. Xanax has mild AD properties, and I think Serax does, too...for some patients, Klonopin can also boost AD action.
>
> I wandered way off topic here, but I hope this all helps...Abilify is cool and all, but if it fails you, there are still plenty of drugs that can help (some of which are waaaaaay cheaper and don't carry any antipsychotic risks.).
>
> Good luck, and please keep everybody here posted on how you're doing.
Hi Med,
Thank you so much for your informative post. I'm worried about going above 5mg for Abilify because I've heard about the terrible akithesia (sp?) it can cause, but maybe that is at really high doses? I tend toward "agitated" depression and I don't want to do anything to make it worse.My other meds: I am on Seroquel 25mg for sleep, lithobid 300mg, prozac 40mg, desipramine 30 mg, ativan up to 2mg per day as needed. total of 6 meds.
I have't tried half the things you've mentioned but my pdoc has not mentioned them either--the next step according to him for me would be the MAOIs.
Thank you for your help and information!...roslynn
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on April 13, 2008, at 21:56:01
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressa, posted by roslynn on April 13, 2008, at 19:57:42
I can relate to your post--I've tried tons of meds, many of the ones you are on. I just wanted to post to say that Abilify has been my wonder drug. I did have to take a higher dose (was up to 30 mg at one point). I also do take it w/ Lithium. But it WORKS. I hope it works for you too.
Best,
EE
Posted by roslynn on April 14, 2008, at 20:48:04
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressa, posted by Emily Elizabeth on April 13, 2008, at 21:56:01
> I can relate to your post--I've tried tons of meds, many of the ones you are on. I just wanted to post to say that Abilify has been my wonder drug. I did have to take a higher dose (was up to 30 mg at one point). I also do take it w/ Lithium. But it WORKS. I hope it works for you too.
>
> Best,
> EE
Hi EE,Thanks for your response. If you don't mind me asking, did you experience any restlessness or akathesia (sp?) while getting up to 30mg? Are you on a lower dose now?
I am only at 5mg and already worried about the restlessness as a side effect if I were to increase the dose, since I have agitated depression already.thanks again! roslynn
Posted by Maria3667 on April 16, 2008, at 10:21:58
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressa, posted by roslynn on April 14, 2008, at 20:48:04
Hi Roslynn,
Just have to chime in here: I also have agitated (anxious) depression and Abilify did make me restless at first.
I stayed on the low dose of 5 mgs and the restlessness dissapeared somewhat after 6 weeks.
Another nice side effect: libido came back with a vengance!!
Hope this helps!
Maria (interesting thread, I'll be following this one).
Posted by Roslynn on April 16, 2008, at 17:02:15
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressa » roslynn, posted by Maria3667 on April 16, 2008, at 10:21:58
> Hi Roslynn,
>
> Just have to chime in here: I also have agitated (anxious) depression and Abilify did make me restless at first.
>
> I stayed on the low dose of 5 mgs and the restlessness dissapeared somewhat after 6 weeks.
>
> Another nice side effect: libido came back with a vengance!!
>
> Hope this helps!
> Maria (interesting thread, I'll be following this one).
Hi Maria,Thank you for your response. I actually developed another tremor, as well as my arm jerking like crazy when trying to write, while on the Abilify. I am quite prone to tremors from antipsychotics so that's probably just something with my physiology. I am seeing my pdoc tomorrow and probably will need to switch to something else.
I am so glad it worked for you though!Best,
RoslynnP.S. Is agitated depression the worst or what? I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin sometimes.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on April 16, 2008, at 22:40:02
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressa, posted by roslynn on April 14, 2008, at 20:48:04
I didn't have any probs w/ restlessness etc. I'm on 20mg now, but I'm hoping to go lower b/c I'm doing better and 20 is still high.
best,
EE> > I can relate to your post--I've tried tons of meds, many of the ones you are on. I just wanted to post to say that Abilify has been my wonder drug. I did have to take a higher dose (was up to 30 mg at one point). I also do take it w/ Lithium. But it WORKS. I hope it works for you too.
> >
> > Best,
> > EE
>
>
> Hi EE,
>
> Thanks for your response. If you don't mind me asking, did you experience any restlessness or akathesia (sp?) while getting up to 30mg? Are you on a lower dose now?
> I am only at 5mg and already worried about the restlessness as a side effect if I were to increase the dose, since I have agitated depression already.
>
> thanks again! roslynn
Posted by Roslynn on April 17, 2008, at 17:37:50
In reply to Re: any updates on Abilify to augment antidepressa, posted by Emily Elizabeth on April 16, 2008, at 22:40:02
Hi EE,
I'm so glad this med is working for you and others on this board. I wish you continued success.
Roslynn
> I didn't have any probs w/ restlessness etc. I'm on 20mg now, but I'm hoping to go lower b/c I'm doing better and 20 is still high.
>
> best,
> EE
>
> > > I can relate to your post--I've tried tons of meds, many of the ones you are on. I just wanted to post to say that Abilify has been my wonder drug. I did have to take a higher dose (was up to 30 mg at one point). I also do take it w/ Lithium. But it WORKS. I hope it works for you too.
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > EE
> >
> >
> > Hi EE,
> >
> > Thanks for your response. If you don't mind me asking, did you experience any restlessness or akathesia (sp?) while getting up to 30mg? Are you on a lower dose now?
> > I am only at 5mg and already worried about the restlessness as a side effect if I were to increase the dose, since I have agitated depression already.
> >
> > thanks again! roslynn
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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