Abilify plus an antidepressant for mood disorders

abilify is an excellent drug for bi polar disorder. It is vastly superior to zyprexa and many other medications including Lithium. I have been taking abilify for 1.5 yrs. and recommend it highly to others.

i went on abilify for 4 months and it was great- there were side effect (anxiety,agitation and blurred vision) but the psycotic symptoms went away making me able to concentrate alot
better.

the side effect I experienced was blurred vision. Nevertheless abilify works well in keeping me stable.

James wrote:

the side effect I experienced was blurred vision. Nevertheless abilify works well in keeping me stable.

I am trying to decide whether to puy my daughter on abilify. Her doctor has prescribed it but I am afraid of the side effects. She is only 18 and is taking Adhd medication and prozac and trazadone. It seems like overkill. How old are you and do the side effects go away after awhile?

Both my children did well on lithium, a natural salt and a proven antidote for bipolar, for many years. In the last two years of his life, my son was put on Zyprexa, which killed him. Abilify is a milder atypical antipsychotic but I wouldn't touch any of them with a ten foot pole. Where is the proof? Public citizen says not to take a drug until it has been around for seven years. Abilify is new: Who knows what side effect is lurking around the corner. As far as Kathy's remark, I would get a second opinion. That sounds like a drug cocktail in which you don't know whaat the combo will do.

Abilify is a fifth generation neuroleptic and the only one in its class currently. It is not superior to any other neuroleptic. It works well for Bipolar diorder types. The biggest complaint is early akathisia for many people which can be unrecognized and thought of as agitation or increased mania, going untreated.

I was in a double blind study for abilify about 5yrs ago I found out since then that it seems to be o.k. but in my opinion it's too early in long term effects studies for it to be considered safe for children.Some people nowadays are quick to have their kids diagnosed or are quick to think they're predisposed to have something biologically inherited from their parents.Try to cut back on meds and get creative on passing on social tools or coping skills so to speak.My parents thought meds were the answer and I spent my adolescence doing the thorozine shuffle leaving me to contemplate why I had to take pills and my peers didn't.Kids talk at school you know.Don't pass off your lack of parenting skills by just saying your kid(s) is manic or has learning disabilities or is bi-polar.For pete's sake their brains haven't even matured yet.Kids will be kids.Don't put them on drugs because they don't think the way you want them to.

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!

WORD!HA. HA.

What are antidepressants? I g2be put on them.

How old r u ? And don't get me wrong some anti-depressants are good like the tried and true prozac and zoloft to name a couple.Anti-depressant are drugs that replenish certain chemicals in the brain that control our mood such as serotonin and dopamine.Or they stimulate certain parts of our brain in hopes that it kicks in and produce these chemicals naturally.I suggest if you 17 or older if you have to go on them start at a low dose and wait three weeks and if that doesn't work gradually increase them.Starting on a low dose introduces whatever your choosing to take to your body slowly and may help you decipher any unwanted or undesireable side effects before you go ahead with the next higher dose if needed.

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!

After suffering 10 years with major depressive disorder, the last two years with rapid cycling.
My third week on Abilify has been great. I will keep you posted. I am a self employed researcher, I had lost the the abilityt to work these last two years, and was in the process of appliying for disability.
It is a bit premature, but so far so good. The only noticible side effect has been constipation.
For me, quality of life, the ability to work and maintain social function has been regaineed.

Rhodieridge wrote:

After suffering 10 years with major depressive disorder, the last two years with rapid cycling.
My third week on Abilify has been great. I will keep you posted. I am a self employed researcher, I had lost the the abilityt to work these last two years, and was in the process of appliying for disability.
It is a bit premature, but so far so good. The only noticible side effect has been constipation.
For me, quality of life, the ability to work and maintain social function has been regaineed.

It's not that the brain is disfunctional, but rather, society is. That is the problem, your/our brain is trying to understand and survive in a society that is crazy. This will probably be discovered by the science community later, but I know in my mind, this to be true. We call our society progression, but it's really insanity. We were not designed to live in a high stress world, and thus, our brain reacts, this is what is really happening. I have been on all these medications, and I guess they work just fine, it's been 15 years now, so I do not remember what it's like not to be on medication.

Jim

I was diagnosed almost 6 years ago with Bi-polar mood disorder, and i've been in and out of the hospital because I was yet to be stabilized. I was on lithium, zyprexa, every anti-depressant but Wellbutrin(which I am taking now with the clozaril)lamictal, seroquel. And a few months ago I expressed my frustrations that it's been so long and I'm still getting manic and depressed. My psychiatrist put me on this drug, it has changed my life for the better. I'm stable now, and doing better than ever. I recommend this drug to anybody that's bi-polar and no other meds are working for them.

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!

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.

after zyprexa I took abilify

In my opinion it is just as bad as zyprexa

the weight gain was incredible and there are also problems with Abilify causing diabetes and the cost is astronomical

I have mood swings and uncontrolled rage/violent outbursts. I'm not bi polar unless I was misdiagnosed ( cuz I think I am)

I only take Lexapro now and for the most part the mood swings and violent outbursts are under control

for me abilify is not worth the risk, but that is your call

good luck to you and I hope you feel well soon

I agree Abilify is a really neat mood stabilizer. If anyone is interested I know where to get 10mg Abilify for $5 a pill. Email me at stable@wowerks.net to find out more.

just today i picked up abilify which my doctor described this week. not being familiar with it, i checked the internet + i am amazed i found this forum. i am bipolar and so far i was never able to share/exchange. i am on lamictal + wellbutrin and it seems i am leaning towards the depressive side lately. when my moodswings become obvious, i feel shamed about being dependant on medication. i get angry at myself. i was pretty desperate the past couple of days and couldnt wait to get abilify (out of stock) and now since i got it this afternoon i feel great or so it seems and i see no need to take it.
is anyone out there having similar conflicts about taking medication???

Rhodieridge wrote:

After suffering 10 years with major depressive disorder, the last two years with rapid cycling.
My third week on Abilify has been great. I will keep you posted. I am a self employed researcher, I had lost the the abilityt to work these last two years, and was in the process of appliying for disability.
It is a bit premature, but so far so good. The only noticible side effect has been constipation.
For me, quality of life, the ability to work and maintain social function has been regaineed.

today i picked up abilify 5mg to add to my lamictal+wellbutrin. i am bipolar
and recently i am leaning into the depressive side, which i never recognise myself... only when it gets really really awful and all my explanations about
life dont make any sense anymore. this time my daughter caught it earlier:
mom this is not you... you are depressed! i have never been in as bad shape as you... how are you doing meanwhile? are you still taken abilify?
when i get depressed i am getting angry at myself about depending on medication and ashamed. thanks for sharing your experience