Posted by SLS on October 14, 2005, at 10:40:56
In reply to Questions about Abilify-SLS, Anyone, posted by theo on October 13, 2005, at 23:05:05
> My pdoc is frustrated because I'm not responding to Cymbalta and prescribed Abilify for me today.
I agree with much of what Med_Empowered has to say. I take Abilify 10mg. It helps only slightly with energy and motivation. However, it really does keep the worst of my depression at bay and helps prevent me from becoming suicidal. Zyprexa sort of does the same thing for me, but I find Abilify to be a much cleaner drug as far as cognition and sedation are concerned. You will very likely experience some startup side effects. These might include anxiety and restlessness which appear like an akathisia-like syndrome. It does resolve with most people within a few weeks. For me, it was moderate and lasted about a week. If necessary, you could take a small amount of a benzo during this period.
I guess no one can guarantee you what the pay off will be. You would just have to try it. I have seen atypical neuroleptics act potently as antidepressants in some people, many of whom are probably bipolar or suffer from psychotic depression. That is not to say that you need to have psychotic features for these drugs to work as antidepressants. I don't think there is enough data to indicate a strong association. If it is going to help, you will probably see results within the first one or two weeks at 5.0mg.
I don't know what I would do in your situation. I guess it depends on what other treatments remain untried. Abilify is probably less apt to cause involuntary movements as EPS than the other neuroleptics. It doesn't seem to penetrate the striatum. It is the initial akathisia, anxiety, nausea, and insomnia that causes people to discontinue this drug prematurely. Doctors don't seem to prepare patients well for the experience of startup side effects.
Good luck on making a decision. I don't see that you have much to lose by giving Abilify a short trial.
Try not to read too much into you perceive as your doctor's reaction to your reporting a treatment failure. Any frustration you see on his face is probably directed at the drugs and the illness, not at you personally.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:566686
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051010/msgs/566800.html