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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sky Brite Line on May 19, 2008, at 23:29:00
My proably worst nightmares, is one being forced to be on antipsychotic my whole life. I hate antipsychtotics, they give me no life, no personality, and actually for some reason cause sedation and anger because i cant think. This may be a reaction to the medication why? because it litteraly blocks out thoughts.
I dont understand, why a doctor would put me on antipsychotics. I DO NOT like them, they make me sit and stare, and 2nd i get angry on it. They defenitly do block out behavior, aggression, i was on 10mg of ablifify........i drove like i didnt know how to drive (its like it made me numb) i stared.....no life, no nothing. This is only 10mg, i went back down to 5mg because of the intense blocking of thoughts, and emotions that may of needed to come out at that time, which abilify difrectly stops anything that you can act out, you just sit and stare.
I personally hate this, i would rather be on something that is more suitable for anxiety like something called an "anti-anxiety" medication. Not "anti-psychotic" this term is used so big these days with marketing (they actually call them mood stablizers) even market them on TV!!
Thank god, i went through a day, and went through the whole day waiting for it where off. It was horrible. I hate this medcation.
Is there any other mood stabilizer that would work that is not an antipsychotic?
Posted by Phillipa on May 19, 2008, at 23:48:56
In reply to Worst Nightmare, posted by Sky Brite Line on May 19, 2008, at 23:29:00
How bout lamictal, trileptal, tegretol, depakote all are mood stabilizers. Love Phillipa
Posted by Racer on May 20, 2008, at 1:13:54
In reply to Worst Nightmare, posted by Sky Brite Line on May 19, 2008, at 23:29:00
First, let me point out that your writing style was much improved when you first started Abilify. It could be that it does more for you than you are willing to admit...
>
> Is there any other mood stabilizer that would work that is not an antipsychotic?
>
>Yes. There are many other mood stabilizers. Lithium is the gold standard. Valproic acid. Depakote. Lamictal hasn't shown itself to be the best mood stabilizer, but it is helpful to some. Some evidence existed for verapamil, but I think the results weren't replicable. Tegretol. Geodon. And there are other anti-psychotics out there which might work better for you than Abilify is working.
The anger you mention might be part of the agitation Abilify can cause in some people. Or it might be part of a mixed state, in which case perhaps Depakote might be a better choice.
And a couple of random notes:
1. How about giving the medication a fair try, and talking to your doctor about your complaints when you see him again? If you say, "I don't like it" after taking it for three days, he's not going to take it nearly as seriously as if you took it for a few weeks and then offered those complaints.
2. How about talking to your doctor about what sorts of side effects you can and cannot tolerate? It could be that you're not being very clear in your communication with him.
3. How about talking to your doctor about his treatment plan? Ask about what sorts of medications he sees as most potentially helpful, and why.
Are you noticing a pattern here? How about talking to your doctor...
Good luck.
Posted by Quintal on May 20, 2008, at 4:53:38
In reply to Worst Nightmare, posted by Sky Brite Line on May 19, 2008, at 23:29:00
I have exactly the same problem with antispychotics and that's why I don't like to take them. I have a fairly severe bipolar disorder, so I do need some form of treatment though. I think genuine mood stabilizers should be the treatment of choice for long-term treatment of bipolar, with antipsychotic used only to treat acute psychotic episodes (by definition a manic depressive can't be chronically psychotic anyway, otherwise they'd be Schizophrenic). As you say, antispychotics just block out thoughts and emotions, they're not true mood stabilizers in my opinion.
Lamictal would be the best option if you are prone to depression. Lithium and valproate are the main other options, but they're both highly toxic compared to Lamictal. My doctor wouldn't even go near carbamazepine, and topiramate might be as bad as antipsychotics in terms of cognitive side effects.
Q
Posted by SLS on May 20, 2008, at 5:45:46
In reply to Re: Worst Nightmare, posted by Quintal on May 20, 2008, at 4:53:38
In my experience, I have seen Zyprexa act as an effective mood stabilizer. It has, of course, antipsychotic properties. But it also has ant-manic properties and anti-depressant properties. I think Depakote and lithium make good first choices, though.
- Scott
Posted by emme on May 20, 2008, at 6:03:46
In reply to Worst Nightmare, posted by Sky Brite Line on May 19, 2008, at 23:29:00
Have you gone even lower? 2.5 mg? 2.5 mg every other day? Some do well on very tiny doses of Abilify (me included). I wouldn't ditch it until you've spent several days on a very low dose. Good luck.
emme
Posted by IAMtheWalrus on May 20, 2008, at 8:35:47
In reply to Re: Worst Nightmare » Sky Brite Line, posted by emme on May 20, 2008, at 6:03:46
I'm surprised they haven't tried Lithium. I take lithium and Geodon 60mgs. and i feel great-but, i also use a lot of coping skills to help me as well...challenging negative thoughts, exercise, nutrition, prayer, and i have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that helps me the most. Maybe talk to your pdoc about trying a different med like Lithium, Depakote, Zyprexa, or Geodon. Maybe it's just the abilify that's not a good med for you...i don't know?
Wally
Posted by Sky Brite Line on May 20, 2008, at 22:44:56
In reply to Worst Nightmare, posted by Sky Brite Line on May 19, 2008, at 23:29:00
i'm still numb tonight, i hate being on this medication. I cant even say danm! see look _____!
I, hate the way this makes me feel, im all sedated and zoned out with no personality. YUK!
Tripletal, maybe, Tegerol, with an add of Seconal would be fine.
Now let me finish sitting and staring!
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