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Bipolar Forums › General & Support › Abilify??????????
02/08/2011 05:14 PM
theTRUEme
theTRUEme
 
Posts: 50
Member
OK!?!? anyone who is on Abilify can you tell me a little about it please. I THOUGHT my pdoc was putting me on Zyprexa 5mg. But my insuranse wont fill it and I cant afford $500 a month for 30 pills sooo she changed it to Abilify 5mg. I know nothing about it. can anyone help?

Post edited by: theTRUEme, at: 02/08/2011 05:15 PM
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02/08/2011 05:21 PM  Top
HelpEr82
HelpEr82
 
Posts: 993
Senior Member
i know its expensive and its a antipsychotic. it would cost around 500 dollars also. it didnt help me that much so i quit and it made me gain weight. most people, it does not cause weight gain tho. so keep that in mind
Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.


Bipolar 1 with psychotic features
and borderline

Stopped taking all meds at current moment

02/08/2011 05:24 PM  Top
tbh8644
Posts: 42
Member
Hey. I just started Abilify a few days ago and to be honest I'm feeling better. It's impossible to say if thats the root cause but I have no major side effects as of yet and I feel leveled. I felt a bit tranquelized at first but that could be from my other meds as well. Today I'm feeling fine.
Geodon 80mg 1x night
Depakote 1000mg 1x night

02/08/2011 05:46 PM  Top
theTRUEme
theTRUEme
 
Posts: 50
Member
I know they cost about the same amount so I dont understand why they wont fill one but will the other. But in a way Im happy. all Ive heard were bad things about Zyprexa. I did not want to take it. Abilify on the other hand Ive heard alot better things.

I know its diff for every person. But I like to hear how others have done on it and what they think.

I start it tomorrow as an addition to my other meds.

02/08/2011 05:54 PM  Top
kellylynn
kellylynn
 
Posts: 234
Member
i have taken abilify for a few years now and i think it works well. i dont think i gained any weight from it either like i have some bipolar meds i take 20mg and i know it is very expensive but i have had good luck on it.

Previous discussions I participated in:
Ouch
Tinnitus
Vivid Dreams

02/08/2011 06:24 PM  Top
Joy75
Joy75
 
Posts: 15646
Group Leader
I'm an Advocate
I love Abilify. It works very well for me. It takes away my hypo-mania and works with my antidepressants. I don't know what I would do without it really. I hope it works out for you. The only side effect I got was Akathasia for two days. That is an inner restlessness. Where you can't sit still, you have to move around. It did go away though after two days. I hope it works for you. It's a great drug. Good luck!
Joy, 37 years old

Blog:

http://www.joylepley.blogspot.com

Email:

simplyjoyful75@gmail.com

Bipolar type 2 and ADD

300mg Wellbutrin
200mg Lamictal
40mg Viibryd
15mg Abilify

I AM NEITHER A PSYCHIATRIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST. I AM HERE FOR THE SAME REASONS YOU ARE. TO GIVE AND RECEIVE SUPPORT. WHAT I SAY IS PURELY MY OPINION. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.

Bipolar disorder can be a great teacher. It’s a challenge, but it can set you up to be able to do almost anything else in your life. – Carrie Fisher

02/09/2011 06:42 AM  Top
mimmy
mimmy
 
Posts: 1695
Senior Member
hi. I've been taking abilify for a few years now. It is really doing it's job. I don't hear "nighttime" voices anymore. and I have fewer disassociations(sp?) I finally lost the weight I gained from being on zyprexa and being depressed(50 pounds)took long enough...lol. I did have the "can't sit still" thing going on for a really long time, but it has eased up a lot since adding the Orap..but that's just a happy side effect. I take it for a different reason.

Oh, one more thing. I take it in the morning, because , for me it caused nightmares at first. taking it in the morning eliminated that side effect.

Post edited by: mimmy, at: 02/09/2011 06:43 AM

aroo?
bipolar w/ psychotic features
fibromyalgia
gastroparesis
mitral vavle prolaspe

lamictal 100mg
abilify 15mg
protonix 40mg 2 x's a day
neurontin 600 2 x's a day mg
orap 3mg's
zanaflex 4mg
topamax 50mg 2x's a day
ativan .25 mg up to 2x's per day.
singulair 10mg

is a leap of faith the first step?..or the moment when you realize if you go any furthur there's no going back?

02/09/2011 07:06 AM  Top
uppitywoman
uppitywoman
 
Posts: 42360
Group Leader
I'm an Advocate
I have been on 20 mg of Abilify for the past year as an antispychotic and it has worked pretty well for me. I have had a couple break throughs for which I took some Zyprexa temporarily, but I have maintained pretty much over the year with it and would recommend it. I have been dieting as well and losing weight because it is weight neutral for me.
With God, all things are possible

My blog:

http://uppitywomantwo.blogspot.com

Bipolar I

10mg Abilify--400mg Lamictal-90mg Cymbalta--25mg Ambien CR--200mg Topomax--30mg Temazapam--1mg Ativan as needed.


Please note that I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist. My opinions are personal only. This site is not intended to be a substitution for professional care, nor is anyone here qualified to make diagnoses.

02/09/2011 10:26 AM  Top
niecy440
Abilify is my most expensive med. However, it has been the best med i've ever been on. I've been stable because of the Abilify for 5 years now. I did gain quite a bit of weight. So i'm being switched to Lamictal. It can also raise your cholesterol and sugar. Since i have very high cholesterol anyways, my doc is switching me to Lamictal.

I wish you well on the Abilify. Not everyone gaines weight on it. So you might not. Again, i don't know what i would have done without the Abilify, it really changed my life for the better!

I hope after i switch to lamictal and get the Abilify out of my system, i will be able to remain stable.

Let us know how you do on it. It takes a week or two to really get into your system, so don't give up in the mean time.

Good Luck!!!

02/09/2011 10:43 AM  Top
snickerflix
snickerflix
 
Posts: 309
Member
I was on Abilify for a while but then my pdoc changed and the new one didn't like my reaction to it. I'd have nightmares while walking around in my sleep. I also gained about 20 pounds on it. I only took it for 6 mos. I hope Abilify will help you, just keep a close eye on what's going on with you for the first month or so.
Marilyn

The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.

"Life is short. Break the rules.
Forgive Quickly. Kiss Slowly.
Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably.
And never regret anything that made you smile."

Prozac
Wellbutrin SR
Pristique
Klonopin
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