Abilify plus an antidepressant for mood disorders

omalexi wrote:

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What problem was your husband being treated for? I take Wellbutrin for depression. Taking it has helped more than any of the other anti-depressants I've taken but I still spend a majority of my days just waiting for the day I can die and be out of here. Now my doctor is recommending the addition of Abilify. Since I've only seen it used for schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder, I wonder if it will be a help at all for me. I do have mood swings, but it usually ranges from normal to depressed/suicidal. I don't get any manic episodes and am not psychotic.

Robert wrote:

I've suffered from treatment resistant depression for about 4 years. I have tried and have been on every conceivable drug and have even had electro convulsive therapy. Major depression, paranoia,(What people are saying about me etc) I have an outstanding new psychiatrist. After a few months he took me off one of my meds (Geodon) and put me on 10 mgs of Abilify. Within days I felt a noticeable difference and for the first time in 4 years I actually am enjoying life and people. I may go up to 15 mg of abilify as I can feel the depression creeping around in my background. The drug is expensive even with health insurance $ 130 a month. But for me a small price to pay for finally feeling happy again. I'll be happy to talk with anyone about my experience and help you in any way I can. I have been a tough depression case I will tell you that.

Sunshine wrote:

My husband is on a combination of Abilify and Wellbutrin, and the positive changes in him are absolutely phenomenal! I wish we'd have gotten that done sooner!

worried mom wrote:

My daughter is eight years old.Since she was about two I have delt with mood swings, agitation, crying, and an occastional super happy day. I have tried everything, went to classes, spent more time with her, have been stern but fair etc. In kindergaten I learned my daughter had dyslexia, and that contributed to her emotional highs and lows since dyslexia affects the ability to follow more then one direction at a time, hearing sounds properly and the ability to learn how to read. It was exstreamy hard on me, and her father was never around to help, so at all fell me. I wouldn;t trade being her mother but god I needed to rest. I became agitated and worn out. Then my husband and I got divorced two years ago. This compounded my daughters problems ten fold. She was never happy, complained all the time, we even where seeing a counselor twice a week for a while. I tried evrything not to turn to any medication, but she developed stomache troubles that where getting worse, she was prescribed a medication to lessen the acid in her stomache so she wouldn't get ulcers from all the anxiety, but her mood was so sad. I was watching my baby, my eight year old daughter slip into what I saw as an unrecoverable depression. I was loosing her. Her therapist saw it too, and sent us to a psycatrist. after a long exstensive evaluation, and the fact that my grand mother, mother and older sister all suffered from bi-polar and my sister with violent psycotic episodes the doctor suggested Abilify in a small dose. I hesitated because I worried about side effects. But I heard my eight year old admit she wished she were dead, and I couldn't take the chance of that ever happening. I reluctently took the prescription for my daughter, thinking the benefits out weighed the side effects.
My daughter was started out on 2.5mg for two weeks, then moved up to 5mg. It has been almost a month in a half. She is a whole new child. She is doing well in school, the teachers have said she has had a phonomoinal turn around and is less agitated and more focused. She seems to relate to the other students better, and now can take several directions at a time. At home she is better with her sister and expresses herself in a more suitable way. We now can talk. She now feel more confidant and seems general happier.
After reading all the side effects and other things I am scared. But I also see this has been the only thing ever to make a difference, and is said to have the least amount of side effects.
Does anyone else have a take on this?

Nicky wrote:

Question.. My husband has been on Abilify 20MG 2x a day and just recently was but on Wellbutrin XL 150mG. He is a zombie. He falls asleep while you are talking and seems like he is just lifeless. Has anyone else see this with these 2 meds? He is only 34 years old and is just exsiting and not living if that makes any sense. Its like he is stoned or something and I know he is only taking what is prescribed. Please anyone else ever seen this.

len wrote:

None of the atypical antipsychotics including seroquel has been tested on children and we don't know what the effects are on a small brain still trying to grow and develop. These are dangerous drugs! Foster care children across the nation are being used as illegal drug trial guinea pigs. They can't escape this torture and their parents can't help them!

TJG wrote:

I have a 12 year old son that has asthma and bad allergies and since 2006 he has had a very bad anger problem. I took him to his family doctor and talked to them about my concerns and they thought it would be good for my son to see a counciler. He saw her for a year and was very good when he was home after seeing her but then the next day he would be so violent to his little sisters. I didn't want him to be on meds other than what he has to take for his asthma. I feel I have tried everything. He is now 12 and is very active he weighs 120 and is as tall as me. when he gets mad it is very scary1 I started taking him to a psycatrist and he tried him on Resperdal but that made my son more angry and violent so now he wants me to try abilify and I'm very scared because of the side affects and also because he takes abuterol and singulair for his asthma and I worry it might interfere with his asthma meds. I don't know if I should just give up on even trying him on this med or see what it does. I just don't want him to grow up and be violent.