Why does Abilify have so many side effects?

Question

This is a supposedly "new" medication? Anyone else have problems with Abilify?

Paul

Answer 1

Have a look at www.ninemsn.com.au and type drug finder into the sites search engine , this site will give you the info you need on the drugs side effects and other info. This should answer your question satisfactorily

Answer 2

Abilify belongs to a class of drugs called Atypical Antipsycotics. The old antipsychotics were much worse believe it or not. The side effects on these new Antipsychotics are much better. I know tell that to someone who gained 50 lbs on Zyprexa or had horrible problems from Seroquel because as the doctors call it the sledge hammer it knocked them out so they could not funtion. I feel your pain. The reason medications have side effects is because the perfect medication has yet to be made. This medication would affect just what you wanted it to. Unfortunately the body if full of receptors and those are actived that is why a person gets a side effect along with the intended effect.

My best advice to you would be to talk to your doctor about the problems you are having. All of them. Doctors are used to this tell them everything even if it seems embarasing. Also tell them how you are feeling and what your symptoms are. If you ever have a change between visits make sure to let the nurse or rectptionist know you are having a flair up of your condition or a side effect so they can help you asap. If you are having a very serious problem you will need to go to the ER as always.

Making sure you are in close communication with your doctor is the best way you can deal with these things. Give information and ask questions. Write your questions down and take notes if you need to.

Realize that just because it works for one person does not mean someone else will be fine with it. We are all individuals. As they said in pharmacy school. If a side effect happens to a person the rate is 100% to that person.

I hope this in some way helped and made some sense. I am so sorry you are having trouble and hope that your find something to work for you or something new comes out that is perfect for you. We are in a wonderful age with new wonderful medications right around the corner. Psychiatric Medication is a rapidly growing area and it shows great promise.

If you need reliable information here are 2 sites
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Medications&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=51&ContentID=20825
This one is from the manufacturer so it contains advertizing fyi
http://www.abilify.com/abilify/home/index.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Answer 3

I was prescribed this medication as a "mood stabilizer" to go alongside my anti-depressants. The good news was that it somehow helped me overcome a 15 yr. OCD symptom I had (Compulsive Skin Picking Disorder "CSPD"). The bad news, unfortunately, was that about 4-5 weeks later I'd discovered I had gained a whoppin' 19 pounds (oink! oink!)! You want to talk about major-depression now??? I was already a little overweight to begin with, and at age 44, weight just doesn't fall off the way it used to!! It's been about 2 mos. since I stopped taking Abilify and I still haven't lost the weight even though I've been trying! Other than the weight gain (which my Psychiatrist failed to inform me of), I had no other negative side effects. Keep in mind however, I had only taken the medication for about 2 mos.

Answer 4

my boy takes it for his autism and it seems to help
and he only takes it at night

It says
Call your doctor immediately if you experience uncontrollable movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, arms, or legs; fever; muscle rigidity; sweating; irregular pulse; or fast or irregular heartbeats.

So if you have these things you better get to your doctor

http://www.medicationadvisor.com/side_effects/Abilify.htm

Answer 5

They all have a load of side effects.

Answer 6

Oh my goodness. Took it once and couldn't get out of bed! My head was pounding and I was DIZZY

Answer 7

Because it's bad for you :)