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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kittencat on May 8, 2004, at 1:30:45
First...thanks to Racer for responding to my first (& only) post...I tried to answer back, but the site wouldn't recognize my name...
After years of trying every anti-depressant in the book, my doctor has given me Abilify. I had never heard of it, but asked for it specifically after reading all the enthusiastic posts here praising the drug & its merits. I have tons of trouble just "getting out there"; working, going outside (sometimes don't/can't leave the house for days) & basically living my life, and this drug really seemed to help a lot of people with energy & motivation.
However, tonight, I've read posts that indicate that it, too, is likely to cause weight gain. I figured because of the drug's seemingly stimulating & energizing effects, it would promote weight loss, if anything. I hate to sound superficial...I know mental health is the key here, but I have an eating disorder & am prone to weight gain anyhow. Additionally & I suppose, unfortunately, I am a dancer who is required to remain within a certain weight range in order to get work (underweight, actually) , so additional weight gain would really be detrimental. I've read several posts which indicate that the probability of gaining weight on an AD or AP (wow, I'm getting the lingo) is based upon your BMI, and as mine is in the lower range, it seems I would be one of those prone to gain. Should I expect pounds from Abilify even if I were to stringently regulate my diet?
Also, my doctor gave me 15mg pills, & said to take one a day. Based on what I've read here, I've cut them into quarters (not easy...they are smaller than Xanax). Does 3.75 mg seem about right to begin with? I know many people had a rough time on anything higher than five.
One more thing...I am not now nor have I ever exhibited any signs of schizophrenia. Is Abilify commonly prescribed for other conditions? If a person suffered from schizophrenia, would they be prescribed anything else alongside Abilify? If not, how does it help them? Will it comparably help a person who suffers with severe depression?
Thoughts, postulations & advice greatly appreciated!!
P.S. Speaking of "the lingo", I've tried & tried to figure it out...what is a "pdoc?"
Posted by chemist on May 8, 2004, at 1:59:52
In reply to Starting Abilify tomorrow. Lots of questions..., posted by kittencat on May 8, 2004, at 1:30:45
hello there kittencat, chemist here...the only comment i can make is that it appears to me that if your BMI is high, then the weight-gain is actually lessened upon administration of abilify. i defer to Sad Panda, SLS, and King Vultan for the rest, as they are collectively better informed than i....and there is orthostatic hypotension - a ``head-rush,'' if you will - that is associated with abilify, but this feature is common across a wide range of drugs....all the best, chemist
p.s. pdoc is an abbreviation used to refer to one's psychiatrist (if they can prescribe) or one's psychologist (if they cannot)....
> First...thanks to Racer for responding to my first (& only) post...I tried to answer back, but the site wouldn't recognize my name...
>
> After years of trying every anti-depressant in the book, my doctor has given me Abilify. I had never heard of it, but asked for it specifically after reading all the enthusiastic posts here praising the drug & its merits. I have tons of trouble just "getting out there"; working, going outside (sometimes don't/can't leave the house for days) & basically living my life, and this drug really seemed to help a lot of people with energy & motivation.
>
> However, tonight, I've read posts that indicate that it, too, is likely to cause weight gain. I figured because of the drug's seemingly stimulating & energizing effects, it would promote weight loss, if anything. I hate to sound superficial...I know mental health is the key here, but I have an eating disorder & am prone to weight gain anyhow. Additionally & I suppose, unfortunately, I am a dancer who is required to remain within a certain weight range in order to get work (underweight, actually) , so additional weight gain would really be detrimental. I've read several posts which indicate that the probability of gaining weight on an AD or AP (wow, I'm getting the lingo) is based upon your BMI, and as mine is in the lower range, it seems I would be one of those prone to gain. Should I expect pounds from Abilify even if I were to stringently regulate my diet?
>
> Also, my doctor gave me 15mg pills, & said to take one a day. Based on what I've read here, I've cut them into quarters (not easy...they are smaller than Xanax). Does 3.75 mg seem about right to begin with? I know many people had a rough time on anything higher than five.
>
> One more thing...I am not now nor have I ever exhibited any signs of schizophrenia. Is Abilify commonly prescribed for other conditions? If a person suffered from schizophrenia, would they be prescribed anything else alongside Abilify? If not, how does it help them? Will it comparably help a person who suffers with severe depression?
>
> Thoughts, postulations & advice greatly appreciated!!
>
> P.S. Speaking of "the lingo", I've tried & tried to figure it out...what is a "pdoc?"
>
>
Posted by cybercafe on May 8, 2004, at 5:04:15
In reply to defer to Sad Panda, SLS, King Vultan, some info... » kittencat, posted by chemist on May 8, 2004, at 1:59:52
> hello there kittencat, chemist here...the only comment i can make is that it appears to me that if your BMI is high, then the weight-gain is actually lessened upon administration of abilify. i defer to Sad Panda, SLS, and King Vultan for the rest, as they are collectively better informed than i....and there is orthostatic hypotension - a ``head-rush,'' if you will - that is associated with abilify, but this feature is common across a wide range of drugs....all the best, chemist
>
> p.s. pdoc is an abbreviation used to refer to one's psychiatrist (if they can prescribe) or one's psychologist (if they cannot)....
>
> > First...thanks to Racer for responding to my first (& only) post...I tried to answer back, but the site wouldn't recognize my name...
> >
> > After years of trying every anti-depressant in the book, my doctor has given me Abilify. I had never heard of it, but asked for it specifically after reading all the enthusiastic posts here praising the drug & its merits. I have tons of trouble just "getting out there"; working, going outside (sometimes don't/can't leave the house for days) & basically living my life, and this drug really seemed to help a lot of people with energy & motivation.
> >
> > However, tonight, I've read posts that indicate that it, too, is likely to cause weight gain. I figured because of the drug's seemingly stimulating & energizing effects, it would promote weight loss, if anything. I hate to sound superficial...I know mental health is the key here, but I have an eating disorder & am prone to weight gain anyhow. Additionally & I suppose, unfortunately, I am a dancer who is required to remain within a certain weight range in order to get work (underweight, actually) , so additional weight gain would really be detrimental. I've read several posts which indicate that the probability of gaining weight on an AD or AP (wow, I'm getting the lingo) is based upon your BMI, and as mine is in the lower range, it seems I would be one of those prone to gain. Should I expect pounds from Abilify even if I were to stringently regulate my diet?
> >
> > Also, my doctor gave me 15mg pills, & said to take one a day. Based on what I've read here, I've cut them into quarters (not easy...they are smaller than Xanax). Does 3.75 mg seem about right to begin with? I know many people had a rough time on anything higher than five.
> >
> > One more thing...I am not now nor have I ever exhibited any signs of schizophrenia. Is Abilify commonly prescribed for other conditions? If a person suffered from schizophrenia, would they be prescribed anything else alongside Abilify? If not, how does it help them? Will it comparably help a person who suffers with severe depression?
> >
> > Thoughts, postulations & advice greatly appreciated!!
> >
> > P.S. Speaking of "the lingo", I've tried & tried to figure it out...what is a "pdoc?"
> >
> >weird, i am taking a small dose (2 mg?) and didn't find it to contribute to weight gain
i also get a little orthostatic hypotension, but i believe that's from the parnate ... don't think abilify (at this dose anyways) has anything to do with it...... what have others found?
Posted by harryp on May 8, 2004, at 8:45:04
In reply to Starting Abilify tomorrow. Lots of questions..., posted by kittencat on May 8, 2004, at 1:30:45
I defer to your doctor, but personally I can't agree with prescribing AP's regularly to someone who does not have quasi-psychotic anxiety or psychotic symptoms. Too little is known about these drugs.
The mood-stabilizer Lamictal has a very mild AD effect for many and doesn't seem to be terrible in the weight gain department.
There are two AD's for which weight gain is almost unheard of: Welbutrin and Parnate. Prozac is better than most, from what I've heard and experienced.
Have you tried Parnate? It has one of the best SE profiles overall, is considered a "big gun" as far as depression is concerned, and actually has a stimulant effect.
The downside is that you must be cautious with your diet and with drug interactions (there are lots of MAOI veterans on this site who can help with that, and refer you to the best info)
Posted by hawkeye on May 8, 2004, at 10:13:19
In reply to Starting Abilify tomorrow. Lots of questions..., posted by kittencat on May 8, 2004, at 1:30:45
Don't be too concerned about weight-gain with Abilify. I switched from Geodon to Abilify because the Geodon caused me to gain a lot of weight. I have been taking Abilify for about 9 months now. I have been able to lose over 25 pounnds while taking Abilify.
In regards to the dosage, from my experience I would recommend either taking the full dose recomended by your doctor or perhaps 7.5 mgs to start. I doubt 3.25 mgs will have a significant effect.
Posted by kittencat on May 8, 2004, at 12:41:03
In reply to Starting Abilify tomorrow. Lots of questions..., posted by kittencat on May 8, 2004, at 1:30:45
Thank you all...it's so great to get responses. Well, I've begun...perhaps I can keep a record of any progress re: Abilify that may be helpful to others.
I am, in my own diagnosis, a person with lifelong (really, since childhood) severe, treatment resistant depression. I have tried everything from A to Zoloft (ha ha- that's pretty good), with no appreciable results, over the last 15 years. One exception: I got beautiful, absolutely stellar results with Prozac...but then they went away. When I went on it again after 10 years, got the same stellar results...at first. Then, never could get them back, even after giving it long breaks & then starting again.
My doctor is a GP, though pretty well versed in treating depression. I believe he is at his "wit's end", & is now trying to classify me as bipolar, & thinks the mood stabilizer might be the right avenue. The problem is, I never have any signs of mania...in fact, I am usually quite lethargic. I do have chronic anxiety, but is that the same? Many posts here indicated some effectiveness with Abilify in terms of alleviating depression, though it is not strictly listed as an AD. So I had/have high hopes. Don't you always, when you get your new, shiny little packet of pills home to try?
By the way, I just "detoxed" from Effexor over Easter...If I am still alive after that, I hope I can put up with any strange side effects the Abilify may give me. I hope.
Thank you so much, everyone. It is such a relief when you find out that you're not alone, isn't it? I think that may be the worst part of mental illness, & when you find out that there are so many others who are there or have been there, and understand you when your doctor and others never will...well, it just makes the whole horrible thing a little bit better. It gives you some hope.
Posted by fraulein1456 on May 9, 2004, at 22:17:57
In reply to Starting Abilify tomorrow. Lots of questions..., posted by kittencat on May 8, 2004, at 1:30:45
Hi kittencat,
I'm currenly taking 10 mg Lexapro and 3.75 mg Abilify. (yes it is hard cutting them up!) Been doing so for the past 6 months and am taking it for severe depression. 3.75mg is what I started at and it is what I've stayed at. It's a powerful drug. I think 15mg would have me literally flying around.
The Abilify has made a huge difference for me, even at that small dosage. I have gained weight however. What the Abilify does is makes me crave food. I'll get a certain food item into my head and then I just gotta have it. I think this has to do with reduced impulse control. So, if you are a controled person and exercise regularly, you probably won't have a problem. The Abilify is engergizing for me and has made a world of difference with my depression, despite the weight gain. That's just my 2c.
Write back and let us know how you are doing.
This is the end of the thread.
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