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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 23 of 23. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
My triglycerides have been elevated (> 300) for several years. I concluded that it was due to taking Abilify. My recent blood test reported my triglycerides to be over 400. I have decided to stop taking Abilify and hope that I don't relapse. I am finally responding well to treatment.
I am going to taper the Abilify.
I would not want to take Lovaza because fish oil destabilizes me and makes my depression worse.
Crap.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 10:14:29
In reply to Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
Scott it's the bp med that made the difference with you recovering isn't it? Triglycerides are involved with cholesterol arent they? So with triglycerides elevated it's really a blood sugar issue? Would metformin help? I don't want to see you relapse any more than you do.? I don't know which doc did the blood testing? Pdoc or internist? Phillipa
Posted by Beckett on January 6, 2012, at 12:01:31
In reply to Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
Does your doctor have any plans or counsel on handling this transition yet?
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 12:42:54
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » SLS, posted by Beckett on January 6, 2012, at 12:01:31
> Does your doctor have any plans or counsel on handling this transition yet?
My psychiatrist is aware of my triglyceride numbers and said that it would be okay for me to discontinue Abilify. I'll have to make due with 5 mg doses, as this is as small as I will be able to split the tablets. I could go every other day and then every third day.
- Scott
Posted by Roslynn on January 6, 2012, at 12:59:30
In reply to Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
Scott,
I hope the transition goes smoothly for you.
Best wishes,
Roslynn
> My triglycerides have been elevated (> 300) for several years. I concluded that it was due to taking Abilify. My recent blood test reported my triglycerides to be over 400. I have decided to stop taking Abilify and hope that I don't relapse. I am finally responding well to treatment.
>
> I am going to taper the Abilify.
>
> I would not want to take Lovaza because fish oil destabilizes me and makes my depression worse.
>
> Crap.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 13:33:39
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by Roslynn on January 6, 2012, at 12:59:30
> Scott,
>
> I hope the transition goes smoothly for you.
>
> Best wishes,
> Roslynn
You are very kind. Thank you.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 13:40:32
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » SLS, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 10:14:29
> Scott it's the bp med that made the difference with you recovering isn't it?
Yes. Definitely.
I have an appointment to see my GP in about an hour. We'll see what she recommends. My cholesterol was high, too. I imagine it's time for me to start taking a statin drug. I've been on low-dose aspirin for about 9 months.
If it turns out that I need the Abilify, I would be willing to live fewer years, but without depression. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Other than Lovaza, do you know of any other treatments for high triglycerides?
- Scott
Posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 20:44:48
In reply to Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
I'd hate to mess with stability.
Isn't there a medication you can take for the triglycerides? I used to take a drug for that particular component of cholesterol, though I can't recall the name right now.
How is your blood sugar? Triglycerides are somehow related aren't they?
I'm happy my diabetes doctor told me my occasional use of Risperdal was ok. He knows that anxiety drives my blood sugar up worse than Risperdal does. But I think they'll have to pry my prn risperdal from my clenched fists, no matter what it does. Emotional stability is just too important to me.
Maybe you should check with an endocrinologist before doing anything to upset the delicate balance. It might be hard to re-achieve it.
Posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 20:46:51
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » SLS, posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 20:44:48
Looks like the drug is "Antara". I replaced it with fenofibrate for insurance reasons. I'm not sure if they are really interchangeable.
Posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 20:49:13
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 20:46:51
Well darn. It looks like Antara *is* fenofibrate. I wonder why the pharmacy told me they weren't the same drug when they suggested the change? Usually they just suggest that I use generic.
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 21:02:46
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » Phillipa, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 13:40:32
Let me see what can come up with? I don't want to see that happen. But agree. Jan/P
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 21:20:24
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 20:49:13
That was very helpful, Dinah. I didn't know fenofibrate existed. I don't know why my doctor didn't mention it. Maybe I should call her.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 21:21:38
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 20:49:13
> That was very helpful, Dinah. I didn't know fenofibrate existed. I don't know why my doctor didn't mention it. Maybe I should call her.
What are the side effects?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 21:49:35
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » Dinah, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 21:21:38
Time for google!!!! Jan/P
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 21:53:57
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » SLS, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 21:49:35
FYI only Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 21:58:57
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 21:53:57
Last one Phillipa
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol-medications/HB00042
Posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 23:03:44
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » Dinah, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 21:21:38
Well, from a personal standpoint, I'd say I didn't even know I was taking it.
I see from Phillipa's link that it's linked with gallstones. I did have my gallbladder out recently.
Still, if that was the way to keep Risperdal, I'd go with the gallbladder surgery.
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2012, at 23:34:09
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides » SLS, posted by Dinah on January 6, 2012, at 23:03:44
Dinah was just a quick google search. Personally I'd google just the med. Jan/P
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 7, 2012, at 15:34:00
In reply to Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
have you considered a low-dose typical? Like loxapine or something?
Posted by SLS on January 7, 2012, at 18:21:07
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by Christ_empowered on January 7, 2012, at 15:34:00
> have you considered a low-dose typical? Like loxapine or something?
Abilify was serving me more as an antidepressant than an antipsychotic. I'm guessing that its unique property of being a dopamine D2 and D3 partial agonist is what is important for me.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on January 9, 2012, at 7:22:37
In reply to Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
> My triglycerides have been elevated (> 300) for several years. I concluded that it was due to taking Abilify. My recent blood test reported my triglycerides to be over 400. I have decided to stop taking Abilify and hope that I don't relapse. I am finally responding well to treatment.
>
> I am going to taper the Abilify.If I had the choice between a cure for my depression or living fewer years with hypertriglyceridemia, I would choose the latter.
That is a telling statement.
I am down to 5.0 mg of Abilify. I will remain there for a few more days. So far, I am not experiencing any degradation of my condition.
I hope I lose weight once I have discontinued the Abilify. It should be easier to do so. It is possible that nortriptyline is responsible for some of the 50 pounds of weight I gained. I suspect the Abilify to be the real culprit, though.
- Scott
Posted by Beckett on January 10, 2012, at 0:01:38
In reply to Re: Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 9, 2012, at 7:22:37
>
> I am down to 5.0 mg of Abilify. I will remain there for a few more days. So far, I am not experiencing any degradation of my condition.
>
>
> - ScottKeep us posted. Good luck.
Posted by Solstice on January 14, 2012, at 11:07:50
In reply to Abilify - Discontiuing due to high triglycerides, posted by SLS on January 6, 2012, at 6:28:11
>
> I would not want to take Lovaza because fish oil destabilizes me and makes my depression worse.
>Scott - please tell me how the fish oil destabilizes you and negatively affects your depression. I've heard and read so much about how the Omega 3's are essential for brain function, and reportedly can help depression. What - or how - does it seem to affect your brain negatively? I ask, because I've been thinking about whether I should add it to my, and my daughter's regimen.
Solstice
This is the end of the thread.
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