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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Hombre on November 12, 2010, at 2:32:43
Someone passed me a report on Long Acting Risperidone (LAR) injections, and I thought to myself I don't see too many people talking about risperidone/Rispderdal. So, is there anyone out there taking risperidone for bipolar I or II? Does it help with bipolar depression?
I'm also curious about the other AAPs as well. I take Seroquel, and it seems to have both anti-manic and antidepressant effects. The side-effects, such as weight-gain and sedation, are OK. If I take it too late at night, however, it will be harder to wake up and feel alert at the usual hour.
So what's your take on the AAPs? Which ones helped you with mania, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms? Which ones seemed to make you feel worse? Which ones had the best/worst side-effect profile?
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 12, 2010, at 8:14:24
In reply to Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics?, posted by Hombre on November 12, 2010, at 2:32:43
I take 30mgs/day of Abilify. It works great for my bipolar I. I don't have any mania, psychosis, or severe depression; I seem to be able to think more clearly and my anxiety/agitation levels are significantly lower (supplements help reduce these even further).
On the downside, I've gained weight. Every time I stop then re-start Abilify, I gain weight. This time, I had to re-start @ 30mgs instead of my old 15mgs/day dose; I gained 40lbs.
Abilify used to give me a tremor and mild cognitive dulling @ 30mgs/day, but with the supplements on board that's no longer the case. Although Abilify does help with anxiety, its not benzo-level anti-anxiety help; I still need niacinamide and taurine to pick up the slack. The lack of sedation is awesome over the long haul, but kind of sucks if you have to start it in the midst of a crisis.
Overall, I'd give abilify a 8/10, 10/10 when combined with proper supplements.
Posted by Tomatheus on November 12, 2010, at 12:08:32
In reply to Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics?, posted by Hombre on November 12, 2010, at 2:32:43
These are just my responses, but I felt more depressed on Risperdal, more psychotic (increased ideas of reference and thought insertions) on Seroquel, and also more psychotic (this time increased visual hallucinations) on Geodon. I took Zyprexa before my psychosis began when I was basically experiencing only depressive symptoms, and I noticed strong feelings of sedation and cognitive blunting on the medication. I basically felt like a zombie, noticed no relief from my depression, and my hypersomnia was greatly exacerbated.
The atypical antipsychotic that seems to help me the most is Abilify, which I take at 5 mg. I take it primarily for my psychotic symptoms (it helps with my ideas of reference, thought insertions, and hallucinations), but it also reduces the severity of my depressive symptoms (particularly hypersomnia and circadian-rhythm abnormalities). Strangely enough, when my dose has been increased beyond 5 mg, my depressive symptoms (particularly lack of energy, anhedonia, and difficulty concentrating) became intolerable. Other side effects that I've noticed on Abilify include cognitive blunting, increased apathy, tremor, restlessness, and weight gain.
Tomatheus
Posted by Tomatheus on November 12, 2010, at 12:10:28
In reply to Re: Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics?, posted by Christ_empowered on November 12, 2010, at 8:14:24
Christ_empowered,
Which supplements do you think have been the most helpful at counteracting the tremor that you used to experience on Abilify?
Tomatheus
Posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2010, at 12:31:34
In reply to Re: Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics? » Christ_empowered, posted by Tomatheus on November 12, 2010, at 12:10:28
I truly empathize with you. Your writing and knowledge are incredible. I would never feel you had all these problems. Phillipa
Posted by Tomatheus on November 12, 2010, at 13:47:49
In reply to Re: Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics? » Tomatheus, posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2010, at 12:31:34
Thanks, Phillipa. As I mentioned in a post I wrote on the Alternative board a few days ago, I have been doing somewhat better since I started taking an herb called kanna, or sceletium tortuosum. My cognition is noticeably better, and most of my depressive symptoms (the psychomotor retardation, lack of energy, and anhedonia) are somewhat less severe than they were before I started taking the herb. So, with my depression and cognitive problems causing less impairment, I do think that the quality and quantity of my writing have improved. It's refreshing.
Tomatheus
Posted by Deneb on November 12, 2010, at 16:57:00
In reply to Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics?, posted by Hombre on November 12, 2010, at 2:32:43
I take 0.75 mg Risperdal for a combination of anxiety and my borderline tendendancies that only surface when I skip the Risperdal.
As I recently found out, I really NEED the Risperdal everyday. I skipped some days when I was very busy with my job hunt and I became extremely angry, depressed, distressed and suicidal within a few days.
The Risperdal makes me sleepy in the mornings if I take it too late at night, but other than that I don't really have any side effects from it.
I don't have bipolar, but the low dose of Risperdal I take really keeps my borderline personality disorder in check. My pdoc says I don't even meet criteria for borderline personality anymore. I only have borderline personality disorder when I don't take my Risperdal.
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 12, 2010, at 18:15:29
In reply to Re: Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics? » Hombre, posted by Deneb on November 12, 2010, at 16:57:00
I take: 6 grams niacinamide, 6 grams taurine, 3 grams vitamin c, 1 b-100, 1200 IU vitamin E, 300 micograms selenium, 3 caps ginkgo biloba, 3 caps green tea extract, and 1200mgs alpha lipoic acid.
The B-vitamins seemed to be most helpful with the tremor and cognitive dulling from the Abilify, but they all seem to help when combined, so its hard to pinpoint which exactly is doing what. I've read elsewhere that high-dose b-6 can help with EPS, so maybe its the niacinamide+b-100.
Good luck.
Posted by Tomatheus on November 12, 2010, at 18:46:47
In reply to Abilify+supplements (for Tom), posted by Christ_empowered on November 12, 2010, at 18:15:29
Christ_empowered,
Thank you for your response. I'm glad to hear about the success that you've had in combating your Abilify-induced cognitive dulling and tremor with all of the supplements that you mentioned. I will definitely consider adding some of the supplements that you're taking to my regimen in the not-so-distant future, probably starting with the B-100 and perhaps niacinamide. I'd really like to put my tremor to rest without getting blurred vision (which occurred when I took Cogentin), and to experience less cognitive dulling than I'm experiencing now would be a nice added bonus.
Thanks again,
Tomatheus
Posted by Hombre on November 12, 2010, at 18:52:00
In reply to Re: Abilify+supplements (for Tom) » Christ_empowered, posted by Tomatheus on November 12, 2010, at 18:46:47
This is really interesting so far. It seems like responses to AAPs are pretty variable. It's funny that they don't always curb psychosis. OK, not funny, but strange.
I find taking zinc helps a bit to sharpen the mind. I take zinc picolinate 50-100mg a day. It may also have something to do with supporting testosterone production. Who knows for sure.
I also find that exercise is must with the dulling, sedative, and weight-gain side-effects from Seroquel. While anything is good, it seems aerobic exercise that makes me breathe pretty hard has the most activating effect.
Posted by Zyprexa on November 14, 2010, at 22:05:48
In reply to Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics?, posted by Hombre on November 12, 2010, at 2:32:43
Abilify made me worse. Very worse, lost my job over it. Zyprexa is the best one. Taking it for the last 12 years. Geodon did not help. Risperdal did not help either, infact it had me holucinating.
Posted by B2Chica on November 15, 2010, at 11:51:37
In reply to Re: Can we discuss the atypical antipsychotics?, posted by Tomatheus on November 12, 2010, at 12:08:32
you hit it RIGHT ON.
except the risperdal, i never noticed Anything from that one. but the Geodon, i got WAY psychotic with that one, contant visualizations, auditory hallucinations...bad bad for me...i was on zyprexa and actually its always been my 'failsafe' drug. its always worked. but in the beginning i had SO much anxiety and aggression that the sedation wasn't bad. the last couple times i tried it i had to stop due to me being chronically late to work. However, no blunting here (after about 3 weeks or so).
i Just started abilify 2 days ago. just makes me nice and tired. but i need it at night.
i haven't had any suicidal tendancies, and only a couple visualizations. i'm not tearing up over everything. AND between the klonipin and abilify my akathesia has seemed to stop!
Also not so bad of alcohol craving as i had when i was on xanax.
Interesting to know about the increase issue. i'll remember that.
i Definately have cognitive blunting but just started AP, Klonipin and gabapentin, so i think i'm just a zombie tired... but i am MUCH more relaxed with the gaba.thanks
b2c.
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