![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sedona on October 29, 2004, at 22:12:44
So, I have only been taking Abilify (5 mg) for five days, and so far I have experienced lack of energy and lack of motivation(apathy). Anybody else have this experience? I am thinking of stopping already because I have mid-terms this week, but I can't seem to get off the couch to do my schoolwork.
Thanks
Posted by Sad Panda on October 30, 2004, at 5:44:35
In reply to Abilify questions, posted by sedona on October 29, 2004, at 22:12:44
> So, I have only been taking Abilify (5 mg) for five days, and so far I have experienced lack of energy and lack of motivation(apathy). Anybody else have this experience? I am thinking of stopping already because I have mid-terms this week, but I can't seem to get off the couch to do my schoolwork.
>
> Thanks
>
>Hi there,
Can I ask what purpose are you taking Abilify for?
Cheers,
Paul.
Posted by sedona on October 30, 2004, at 15:40:05
In reply to Re: Abilify questions, posted by Sad Panda on October 30, 2004, at 5:44:35
Well I haven't been officially diagnosed as being bipolar, but my doctor and I agree that I am somewhere in that spectrum, maybe cyclothymic.
I tend to have a couple of weeks, sometime a month, of feeling pretty good(but I don't think it is hypomanic), then I have depression sometimes mild sometimes severe.> > So, I have only been taking Abilify (5 mg) for five days, and so far I have experienced lack of energy and lack of motivation(apathy). Anybody else have this experience? I am thinking of stopping already because I have mid-terms this week, but I can't seem to get off the couch to do my schoolwork.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
>
> Hi there,
>
> Can I ask what purpose are you taking Abilify for?
>
> Cheers,
> Paul.
>
>
Posted by scribble'ntweak on October 31, 2004, at 10:38:21
In reply to Re: Abilify questions » Sad Panda, posted by sedona on October 30, 2004, at 15:40:05
Have you tried an antidepressant? Abilify does have antidepressant qualities from my experience, but from my point of view, antidepressants are safer than antipsychotics, and I wouldn't take an antipsychotic unless I were suffering delusional thinking, hallucinations, or paranoia...symptoms that might be part of bipolar or schizophrenia. But, if you are going to continue with the Abilify, I can tell you from my own experience with the drug that the sleepiness goes away after a few days, and seems also to be less at a higher dose than 5mg. It really is a great drug for stopping symptoms of schizophrenia, but if I was suffering from depression, I would definately take an antidepressant first, before I tried something like Abilify. You should read the side effect profie of abilify.
Posted by sedona on October 31, 2004, at 16:49:00
In reply to Re: Abilify questions, posted by scribble'ntweak on October 31, 2004, at 10:38:21
Thank you for your response. I actually do take an antidepressant, Cymbalta. My doctor and I recently came to the conclusion that I am probably cyclothymic, so I really want something for mood stabilization. That has been really hard, since I have already gained nearly 20 pounds from the AD's I have taken in the past and don't want any more weight gainand which most mood stabilizers are notorious for, and so far everything I have tried has made me feel more depressed. For mood stabilization I have tried Lamictal (seemed to work at first then stopped), Seroquel (groggy and apathetic), Topamax (groggy, very flat, and suicidal), Zyprexa (great but gained 12 pounds in 13 days), and now Abilify which has also left me very tired and with absolutely no motivation to do anyhting but lie on my couch all day. I am failing my classes in college and don't even seem to care because I know that without stabilization I will never be able to complete anything.
Posted by redscarlet on October 31, 2004, at 21:57:05
In reply to Re: Abilify questions-feeling hopeless » scribble'ntweak, posted by sedona on October 31, 2004, at 16:49:00
You may want to look into Zonegran. It's used as a mood stabilizer. I've been on it for almost a year now & it works for me pretty well. I'm bipolar, just to let you know. Zonegran is like topamax but without the bad side effects. It doesn't cause weight gain, it could in fact cause weight loose in some people.
Posted by scribble'ntweak on November 1, 2004, at 10:19:26
In reply to Re: Abilify questions-feeling hopeless -- Sedona, posted by redscarlet on October 31, 2004, at 21:57:05
sedona- I wonder why the abilify is making you so tired? It may go away after a week or less. What anti depressant are you taking? I know Prozac potentiates Abilify and you have to take less abilify because the Prozac slows the excretion of abilify from your body. I would hang in there and see if you can wait the tiredness out. Abilify is a great med, with no or little weight gain from my experience and what I have heard from others. The tiredness goes away. Also, my advice is to not worry about school. Your health is far more important, and you can always do school later when you are feeling better. Try to take it easy and prioritize...You are the most important thing in your life.
Posted by Sad Panda on November 2, 2004, at 7:45:59
In reply to Re: Abilify questions » Sad Panda, posted by sedona on October 30, 2004, at 15:40:05
> Well I haven't been officially diagnosed as being bipolar, but my doctor and I agree that I am somewhere in that spectrum, maybe cyclothymic.
> I tend to have a couple of weeks, sometime a month, of feeling pretty good(but I don't think it is hypomanic), then I have depression sometimes mild sometimes severe.
>
>Your symptoms sound more unipolar than bipolar to me. My personal opinion is if you don't have hallucinations and/or delusions, you should avoid antipsychotic meds for as long as possible. If you have BP, you should try all the anti-epilleptic drugs and lithium first. If you are unsure, you should try as many antidepressants as possible because they are fare more benign than the other drugs. If you find that antidepressants tend to give you hypomania or agitation then a bipolar diagnosis becomes more likely.
Cheers,
Paul.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.