Posted by SLS on June 2, 2018, at 10:46:32
In reply to Re: going off of Abilify » SLS, posted by Noa on May 31, 2018, at 17:19:48
Hi, Noa.
> Sorry to hear you've been having a hard time with it. And thank you for sharing because it gives me pause for trying to going off the Abilify without some sort of back up.Abilify has a half-life of three days or longer. How that figures into rebound depression or anxiety is not clear to me. I don't know the best method for discontinuing Abilify, but for me, the worst time for withdrawal depression was between 2 and 3 weeks after taking the last dose. A friend of mine had a similar experience. Her doctor prescribed hydroxyzine for the rebound anxiety. She was taking only 2 mg/day of Abilfy and had tried on three occasions to discontinue it without success. Using hydroxyzine provided a bridge of sorts to get her through withdrawal. She is now free of Abilify, although her depression has returned to some degree.
> Is there a reason you were not wanting to take the Safris? (I know nothing about Safris)
I discontinued Saphris briefly to see whether or not it was responsible for making me feel less depressed. I thought, perhaps, that Saphris acted only as a bridge to prevent withdrawal from Abilify. After a few days, I relapsed into a severe depression with some anxiety. It seemed pretty clear to me that I was significantly better on Saphris than off it. That's why I restarted it.
I don't know what effect Saphris will have on my body weight I gained 50 pounds over the years while taking Abilify. A good friend of mine had gained weight with Abilify in a way similar to me. She couldn't lose a single pound. Once she crossed-over to Saphris, the pounds melted off; this despite the description of significant weight gain contained in the package label. I experienced some water retention in the beginning of Saphris treatment. My doctor decided to watch what would happen rather than prescribe a diuretic so soon. I lost the water weight and it has not come back.
> Hope you continue to feel better.
Thanks.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1098842
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180521/msgs/1099007.html