Comments on: Bipolarhappens.com Newsletter: Abilify – an Atypical Antipsychotic http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolarhappenscom-newsletter-abilify-an-atypical-antipsychotic/ by Julie A. Fast Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:52:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: colette http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolarhappenscom-newsletter-abilify-an-atypical-antipsychotic/comment-page-1/#comment-3782 colette Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:52:58 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/10/bipolarhappenscom-newsletter-abilify-an-atypical-antipsychotic/#comment-3782 I tried Abilify and had a series of very intolerable side effects. Severe twitching, hand shaking, inability to stay still. This meant that I was also unable to sleep and became increasingly agitated and over-tired over time which led to my also becoming increasingly anxious. My Psychiatrist has tried the conventional series of line and second line treatments of medications. He told me that I have had no positive response to any treatment with the exception of ECT. At my last appointment, he suggested I try Abilify again as I was running out of options. I have declined to do this and have been unmedicated for 3 months. All the literature says it is unsafe to use lifestyle modification in the absence of meds. However, after 3 years, I have been unable to source the right meds and actually have felt more in control of my illness and symptoms off medication than at any other time. Any comments? Colette I tried Abilify and had a series of very intolerable side effects. Severe twitching, hand shaking, inability to stay still. This meant that I was also unable to sleep and became increasingly agitated and over-tired over time which led to my also becoming increasingly anxious.

My Psychiatrist has tried the conventional series of line and second line treatments of medications. He told me that I have had no positive response to any treatment with the exception of ECT. At my last appointment, he suggested I try Abilify again as I was running out of options. I have declined to do this and have been unmedicated for 3 months. All the literature says it is unsafe to use lifestyle modification in the absence of meds. However, after 3 years, I have been unable to source the right meds and actually have felt more in control of my illness and symptoms off medication than at any other time. Any comments? Colette

]]> By: KAT Lyon http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolarhappenscom-newsletter-abilify-an-atypical-antipsychotic/comment-page-1/#comment-1887 KAT Lyon Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:21:14 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/10/bipolarhappenscom-newsletter-abilify-an-atypical-antipsychotic/#comment-1887 July 1, 2009 I had the worst experience of my life on Abilify. First I had a mania as high as I had ever had. I was on top of the world, never felt so good and went on quite the spending spree. After that, I had akathesia so bad that I started cutting myself severely and ended up hospitalized for the first time. The only reason I know it was Abilify is that I had taken it a few months before and started to get a little too happy so my doctor waited a little while and then put me on a much lesser dose. Both times I cut myself which I had never done in my life. At the time, I didn't even know people did such a thing. Now, I take Depakote and Lamictal. Guess someone always has to be in that 15% or whatever number statistics say will have severe side effects. Lucky me! I'm doing well now and that's what counts! KAT July 1, 2009

I had the worst experience of my life on Abilify. First I had a mania as high as I had ever had. I was on top of the world, never felt so good and went on quite the spending spree. After that, I had akathesia so bad that I started cutting myself severely and ended up hospitalized for the first time.

The only reason I know it was Abilify is that I had taken it a few months before and started to get a little too happy so my doctor waited a little while and then put me on a much lesser dose. Both times I cut myself which I had never done in my life. At the time, I didn’t even know people did such a thing.

Now, I take Depakote and Lamictal. Guess someone always has to be in that 15% or whatever number statistics say will have severe side effects. Lucky me! I’m doing well now and that’s what counts!

KAT

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