I've been living (and functioning) with bipolar disorder for 3 years now, and recently my doctor asked me if I would like to switch the medication that I am on (an extended release Lithium) to Abilify. I had never heard of it before, and am was just wondering if anyone knows anything about it, or if anyone is currently being treated with it. plz and thnk u!!!!
2006-11-14 08:39:26 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Ditto the crazymeds link. You should ask around at the sister site http://www.crazyboards.org
2006-11-14 23:57:25 · answer #1 · answered by Random Bloke 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Abilify (aripiprazole). Currently the newest of all the atypicals. Abilify has moderate-to-high affinity for a variety of dopamine, as well as serotonin and histamine receptors, thus is well known to be activating, rather than sedating, especially with the bipolar. However that hasn't stopped Bristol-Myers-Squibb from submitting Abilify to the FDA as a treatment for mania. You'd be better off trying this med in the morning instead of at bedtime like all the other antipsychotics. Best evaluated on a day off, just in case it turns out to be sedating after all, because it does hit serotonin and histamine receptors. In addition to the usual side effects for antipsychotics, Abilify is known for eye twitches and this weird acidic burp that usually goes away.
It hasn't been on the market long enough for the real freaky side effects to make themselves known, but we were intrigued by reports of intestinal perforation and priapism (the erection that never quits, so who needs Viagra?).
Abilify's initial dose is 10-15 mg, taken once a day and you should wait at least two weeks before increasing the dose. Abilify has a maximum dosage of 30 mg a day.
Abilify has a half-life of 75 hours.
2006-11-14 09:49:09 · answer #2 · answered by Altruist 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm taking Abilify.
I recently got help for depression and this is one of the pills that they told me to try. I'm taking Abilify for the things I see and hear.
It seems to work for that but not completely...for me anyway. I still see somethings and hear voices but not as loudly or as strongly.
The side effects that effected me the most (to the point where I had to get another medication to tackle the side effects of this one) were restlessness and Tiredness...at the same time. I've been Abilify for 2 weeks today and I get the feeling like there is something I need to be doing but I can't figure out what that thing is and I'm just too tired to do anything anyway.
2006-11-14 09:43:53 · answer #3 · answered by stargazer673 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Abilify is a very good med for the treatment of BPD. It has fewer side effects than many others. It is categorized as an anti psychotic but that doesn't mean you're psychotic just like taking a mood stabilizer that's really an anticonvulsant doesn't mean you have seizures.
2006-11-15 12:06:05 · answer #4 · answered by bjb 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here's the wikipedia article & crazymeds.org article. They provide some good and thorough information.
wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilify
craymeds.org - http://www.crazymeds.org/abilify.html
Remember that medications all affect people differently.
2006-11-14 08:46:45 · answer #5 · answered by Salim Reilly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter took this drug for a while, wasn't what she needed but no bad side effects.
2006-11-14 08:43:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Go to www.abilify.com They have all the information there that you need.
2006-11-14 08:42:18 · answer #7 · answered by Mary P 2 · 1⤊ 6⤋