abilify has controlled the ups...but now i'm left with the downs... - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

cyclomaniac · 10-31-2007, 08:23 PM

hello, everyone! i've been gone for a while, but i'm back to ask a medication question.

i've been on abilify for at least a couple of months now. first i was just on 1mg a day, then increased to 2mg, then self-increased to 4mg when i was depressed or mixed and then my doc increased me to 5mg. i've been on 5mg for the past two and a half weeks.

so, what i've noticed is this...my ups are definitely more controlled. i'm still getting the urges that everything is urgent and must be done now, but racing thoughts and angry outbursts are gone. i feel so much more calm. however, i feel like i've still got all my depression (well, some of it's gone. the depression that would follow my angry outbursts is gone since i'm not having angry outbursts). it's distressing. when i tried an antidepressant (the first thing the pdoc put me on) i got manic, and that was just wellbutrin. last time i saw the pdoc i told her about how i feel like the meds have not helped with depression, and she mentioned taking an antidepressant, but then i reminded her of my experience and she said we wouldn't do that then

i've got another appointment coming up this monday, so i'll talk to the pdoc again about it, but in the past three weeks since i last saw her i think i've noticed that my depression has gotten worse. like, for the past two weeks my whole body has ached and i've been so tired that i eat hardly anything at lunch and take a nap at work instead; then sometimes i'll perk up in the afternoon, but my body still aches. i even went to the regular doctor for bloodwork because i thought maybe i had some weird joint or muscle issues! today is the first day in two and a half weeks i haven't ached or felt completely exhausted all day. i missed two days of work from the problem!! maybe my body has just been adjusting to the dose increase, and it's finally kicking in? no idea!

so...i'm just wondering what experiences you all have had on abilify. also, is anyone else taking abilify and an antidepressant? how has it worked out for you? for the record my dx is cyclothymic, so i've only got a mild bipolar and i still reacted badly to the antidepressant.

tsohl · 10-31-2007, 09:28 PM

I may have abilify mixed up with another atypical antipsychotic, but I think one of the lesser known side effects is flu-like symptoms. You might look on their website to see what it says under side effects.

Rather than trying to take an antidepressant, I would suggest you ask your pdoc about adding a second mood stabilizer -- one that helps the depressive side in particular...like lamictal. I know some pdocs only prescribe one mood stabilizer at a time, but some believe in trying them in combination rather than adding an anti-anxiety med, or an antidepressant, etc. The theory is that they each works slightly differently , on slightly different areas of the brain. My son takes three mood stabilizers and has been stable and free of episodes for over 2 1/2 years...so this theory works for him.

I believe the amount of abilify that you are in is fairly small. You should definitely talk to your pdoc and tell her exactly how you are feeling. Sounds like your meds definitely need tweaking for you to feel better.

xx Tsohl

naturemomma816 · 10-31-2007, 09:48 PM

I am bipolar 1 and have had little success with any med. With that said, I tried abilify about a yr. or 2 ago. I didn't do well. Like you I had very bad muscle pain and fatigue. I also suffered from dizziness and my blood pressure dropped to 68/50. It was really bad for me - and I was only taking the .5 dosage. I was never able to build up to anything higher. I know that feeling physically bad can certainly add to depression. I would definately talk to the pdoc, maybe you can go back to a lower dosage for a while and try to up it again later. I saw my pdoc today and we decided to try that w/ my meds. I am taking Invega 3mg. and zonegran 100mg. to start. I have always had bad reactions to meds, but the Invega has brought a noticable difference to my life and one I found I cannot live without. So I am willing to try it once again. This is the first med I have been excited about taking. That says a lot.

I hope you start to feel better soon.
Naturemomma

Dee-nah · 11-01-2007, 05:49 AM

Antideppresants put me in a maniac state as well the only one that worked for me was Trazodone, it's a sedative/anti dep that you take at night... I had no mania with that and the only side effect I had was dry mouth. I did have to stop taking it only because it didn't mesh well with my Geodon, I couldn't function in the mornings with that combination..

Hope that helps!

gortian · 11-04-2007, 07:01 PM

I've tried abilify, but it didn't help me at all. I've been diagnosed with
Bipolar I. I've been taking Lamictal for about a year and a half and it
has worked better than any other medication. It helps the manic as well
the depressive phase of my disorder.

Peace & Blessings,
Frank.......