Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Abilify

CatinMichigan
CatinMichigan

Does anyone take Abilify (a mood stabilizer, I believe) for Bipolar Disorder? Well I do and it makes me feel numb or completely neutral to any feelings. It relieved my mania but now I never really feel anything. I've cried (and very lightly I may add) maybe twice in the 3 yrs I've been on it. There were many valid reasons to cry too. I hate it, yet, I love being rid of the mania like the rage towards myself to the point of feeling suicidal. I used to feel such rage and shame that I would yell and cry at myself so loudly my neighbors heard me. There were other mania behaviors such as partying and promiscuity that have disappeared since taking the Abilify. I was OCD too before taking the Abilify, now I'm not, but, to the extreme of being apathetic and lazy. I have to really force myself to do anything productive around my apartment. I should feel mortified by some of the things that I need to do in the way of cleaning. I'm exagerrating a bit, but I actually would feel more mortified if certain friends or family saw parts of my apartment that need tending to. I don't know if it's just the Abilify or the combination of it and Seroquel together. I've also lost my creative ability to write poems and chapters for a book. I have to way the pros and cons of staying on the Abilify. I think the pros may outweigh the cons. I'm not positive though. Any thoughts?

beckyp
beckyp
I was on Abilify for about 12 years. I, too, was numbed to emotions, but I think it was worth it to be stable. Since being off it I've had worsened anxiety, and irritability, and agitation. So far no other symptoms. I am worried about worse bp symptoms coming on as time progresses, but I just have to take it one day at a time. The reason I discontinued it is because I developed a jaw tremor that wasn't too bad for a few years, but got worse in the past year. My psychiatrist has a plan for a new med for me to take if I get bad again.
OlderCPer
OlderCPer
There are many other Mood Stabilizing medications, if Abilify is disruptive to your natural emotional flow, to the point that you don't have any. Perhaps its time to talk to your Pdoc about trying something different. BiPolar is something that we have to manage for our lifetime as it's not cureable, just treatable. Med cocktails change as we age and body chemistry changes. Something else might keep your Manic Eps in check and allow you to "feel".

Is it a risk to try something new and maybe wake the monster, yes. You are the only one who can decide if the risk is worth it.

Take care,
kat
CatinMichigan
CatinMichigan
Thank you for your comments and support. I think I will talk to my pdoc about other options. I see her the first week in June.
JessNoLess
JessNoLess
Yeah, definitely talk to your pdoc. I am also currently on Abilify, and the thing to remember about Abilify is that it not only is a mood stabilizer, but it also is meant to boost whatever anti-depressant you are on with it. It might just be that the two meds are imbalanced and the dosage needs to be tweaked properly for them to work together in a way that serves you well.
Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
I am really flat with my moods as well now..... I have been for years..... It's something I've sort of accepted as 'better then' for me however if this is hard on you I agree to discuss it with your doc..... Big hug......xo
CatinMichigan
CatinMichigan
I'm not on an antidepressant with the Abilify. I'm on Seroquel (another mood stabilizer which also helps my insomnia). Both have the side effect of weight gain, which is another concern of mine. I'm thinking I need to be on a different mood stabilizer that doesn't cause the side effects I mentioned in my initial post, along with weight gain. I've gained almost 50 lbs since being on the Abilify. The problem is, I've tried other mood stabilizers like Depakote and Lithium (to name a couple) that caused side effects and didn't work to stabilize my mood. I took Zyprexa when I was first diagnosed with bipolar, and that seemed to work well, but I gained about 40 lbs on it so I went off of it. I know there are other meds out there that I haven't tried. I guess it may be time to try something new. I'll definitely talk to my psychiatrist when I see her June 6th. Thanks for your response, JessNoLess. Have you gained weight on the Abilify?
art4life19
art4life19
I don't think the problem is the Abilify I think the problem is the seroquel I have taken both in the past and I found that they both worked but worked differently and I know that I am different from you but seroquel can be very sedating and that could be while you feel numb. I did well on Abilify but I took it with lexapro ask your doctor about that combination and if it would be right for you.
fireflywing
fireflywing
Sometimes doseages for acute care can be different from long-term care. Things like dosages can be adjusted as well too if you are having the side effects you are having. There have been some positives for you on the med combo. However, it’s not the only one out there, and if it’s that bad, definitely talk with your doctor. I hope you find something that makes you feel more like you want to be/yourself. Hang in there.
CatinMichigan
CatinMichigan
Thanks art4life19 and fireflywing for your responses. I've been on seroquel for many yrs. and I didn't feel numb on it till my pdoc added the abilify about 2-3 yrs ago. I would like to maybe try the abilify with another med, maybe latuda. Latuda is an antidepressant specifically for bipolar depression. It would be nice to go off the seroquel because of weight gain, but it helps me sleep. I'm sure I'll find the right cocktail. It's always such a hassle trying new meds though. I've already decreased my abilify from 15mg to 5mg. within the last 6 months or so. It has helped a bit, but not as much as I'd like. We'll see. Thx again for your feedback.
OlderCPer
OlderCPer
Yeah, you didn't mention the Seroquel in your earlier post. I would say that would be the problem before the Abilify.

Celexa or Lexapro are 2 antidepressants for BiPolar, they are both the same medication, and they do not cause weight gain, since you've mentioned that being a problem.

Another thing you might ask about is using dropping the Seroquel and adding Topomax as a Mood Stabilizer adjunct. Topomax helps you lose weight very effectively. Trazadone is an Anti-depressant that doesn't cause weight gain and is used for help with Insomnia.

There are many of these med combo's that can be put together to give you help in all the area's and way you need them. sometimes it just takes looking at all parts of the puzzle and seeing what helps with what. Then you have an educated conversation to have with your Pdoc as opposed to just going in with, "I don't like this because it does this can you change it."

So, just wanted to throw out some things that might help you out.

Take care.
Kat
CatinMichigan
CatinMichigan
Maybe you're right. Maybe the Abilify has increased the intensity of the Seroquel and that is causing the problems!? Now that you mention it, Kat, I've researched Topomax in the past when I was thinking of asking for a change in meds and I remember it saying that it can help in weight loss. I wasn't ready for med changes then, but think I'm ready now. I wonder how the Abilify w/the Topomax would work? Oh, there are so many possibilities. Of course, these are questions I can ask my pdoc. All of your responses, everybody, has given me the hope that a different combo or cocktail could work better for me than the one I'm on now. Thx so much! If there are any other members who want to chime in, please do. I'm not seeing my pdoc till June 6th.
JessNoLess
JessNoLess
Sorry for the late response, but to answer your question in one of your earlier comments CatinMichigan: I haven't gained any significant weight on the Abilify, and like art4life19, I also take Abilify with Lexapro and it has done me a lot of good. Granted I have a stocky build to begin with haha, but I've stayed consistently at a little above my ideal weight. Hope that helps!

Love, Jess
CatinMichigan
CatinMichigan
Thank you, Jess, for your response. I'm thinking it may be the combo of Abilify with the Seroquel that has caused me a significant weight gain. When I was on the Seroquel by itself, I had a little weight gain but not that much.
ellomalley
ellomalley
i hated abilify. it made me a completely different person. i felt numb, sleepy, etc. im so happy im off of it. you may want to try something else for your symtoms. im on latuda and works a lot betteer. doesnt cause me weight gain. or severe side effects
CatinMichigan
CatinMichigan
Thx for the response. I've thought about trying Latuda. Maybe I will. Don't know what will happen when I talk to my Pdoc about wanting to change my meds. I really don't hate the abilify because there are some pros to it for me. But I do feel like a different person in some good and bad ways. I'm afraid my weight gain is forever. I'm post menopausal too and my mom gained weight at that time in her life too. We'll see.
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