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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chocoholic on November 14, 2011, at 14:58:10
Has anyone tried taking Geodon and Abilify at the same time? My doctor would like me to try this combination.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 14, 2011, at 17:24:32
In reply to Combining Abilify and Geodon, posted by Chocoholic on November 14, 2011, at 14:58:10
> Has anyone tried taking Geodon and Abilify at the same time? My doctor would like me to try this combination.
That is unusual. Why does your doctor want you to take this combination?
Posted by Chocoholic on November 14, 2011, at 18:29:03
In reply to Re: Combining Abilify and Geodon, posted by ed_uk2010 on November 14, 2011, at 17:24:32
> > Has anyone tried taking Geodon and Abilify at the same time? My doctor would like me to try this combination.
>
> That is unusual. Why does your doctor want you to take this combination?
>
We believe I had a rare dental reaction to the Mirapex I am also taking that required dental surgery on 7 teeth. I had a very positive antidepressant response to it, but have to discontinue it. I have had a partial response to a very high dose of Geodon and in the past had a partial response to Abilify of which I had to limit the dose due to side effects. So his thought is a low dose of Abilify might add the positive dopaminergic response I had to the Mirapex.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 15, 2011, at 7:35:53
In reply to Re: Combining Abilify and Geodon, posted by Chocoholic on November 14, 2011, at 18:29:03
>Abilify and Geodon
When you combine two drugs which act on some of the same receptors (but in different ways), I don't think you can ever know what the outcome will be.
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 15, 2011, at 10:42:44
In reply to Re: Combining Abilify and Geodon, posted by ed_uk2010 on November 15, 2011, at 7:35:53
That seems like an extraordinarily expensive combination with no guarantee of success. Combining two+ antipsychotics increases side effects but hasn't been shown to improve results, except in a few small studies dealing with severe, treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Abilify+Clozapine, for instance, is better than clozapine alone for some (but definitely not all) treatment-resistant patients.
Given that Abilify occupies such a high % of D2 receptors at any dose (at 15-30, I think its something ridiculous, like over 95%), I don't know what exactly the point is in using another neuroleptic. I think it works with clozapine because clozapine has such a low affinity for d2 receptors. Anyway, I just think your doc could come up with something much, much better. And cheaper.
Posted by Phidippus on November 15, 2011, at 20:37:22
In reply to Combining Abilify and Geodon, posted by Chocoholic on November 14, 2011, at 14:58:10
Whoa. Abilify and Geodon both have very complex modes of action, not all complimentary. Why the need for two AAPs?
Eric
Posted by Chocoholic on November 16, 2011, at 2:10:01
In reply to Re: Combining Abilify and Geodon, posted by ed_uk2010 on November 14, 2011, at 17:24:32
> > Has anyone tried taking Geodon and Abilify at the same time? My doctor would like me to try this combination.
>
> That is unusual. Why does your doctor want you to take this combination?I think it is because Abilify acts as an agonist for dopamine (or antagonist if you have too much). The Geodon has components of an SNRI.. I have had positive but not complete responses to each drug individually. So possibly a low dose of each could work synergistically.
I am also taking lamotrigine, T4, Provigil, Concerta, Cymbalta and Diazepam. Things have been very complicated for me for many years, but each med has added to my quality of my life. It's just that titrating my meds is like dealing with a moving target.
>
Posted by Zyprexa on November 16, 2011, at 6:37:00
In reply to Re: Combining Abilify and Geodon » ed_uk2010, posted by Chocoholic on November 16, 2011, at 2:10:01
I take 2 APs, Zyprexa and perphenazine with realy good results. Better than just one or the other. Side effects don't seem a problem. Might actualy be less in combo.
I agree though, Abilify and Geodon could be expensive. Depends on insurance I guess. I think its worth a try. I took both abilify and geodon at separete times with bad results.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 16, 2011, at 7:24:23
In reply to Re: Combining Abilify and Geodon » ed_uk2010, posted by Chocoholic on November 16, 2011, at 2:10:01
>The Geodon has components of an SNRI.
I guess so, but you are already on Cymbalta. I think there's a risk with these extremely complicated combinations that you end up with no idea what each medication is actually doing.
I know Abilify is a partial agonist at D2 receptors, but I'm not sure how much intrinsic activity it actually has. Certainly, it is not at all like pramipexole.
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 16, 2011, at 7:30:13
In reply to Re: Combining Abilify and Geodon » Chocoholic, posted by ed_uk2010 on November 16, 2011, at 7:24:23
As someone who takes Abilify at 15 and has taken it at lower doses, I can tell you: Abilify's partial dopamine agonism isn't that big a deal. I mean, it makes the neuroleptic more tolerable--less EPS overall, and for me it was the only neuroleptic I could take w/o dysphoria, akathisia, or twitches (although 30 set off tremor)--but that's about it. Abilify doesn't even have the big effect on negative symptoms you'd expect from such a supposedly "activating" neuroleptic.
This is the end of the thread.
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