If my side effects stay as they are, I would probably stay on Abilify. Worse than insomnia for me is muscle stiffness because it affects my mobility combined with my physical disabilities. But I like that my mind is clearer than it was when I was on lamotrigine and Seroquel. I'm thinking of taking courses again!

Lithium among a number of other meds are attacking my kidneys. No pain at all, just the blood tests show my kidneys are in trouble. I obviously need to see a specialist, and soon.

I've been on many other psych meds. The worst was Topamax. It didn't help bipolar at all. I did lose 30 lbs, but at the expense of losing about 3 years of memories, when my daughter was in her early teens. She gets very bitter I do not remember all the fun things we did together. Well, at least I was going in the right direction.

So far only ones I’ve had is weight gain and paranoia. I’m hoping to shake the weight soon!

Its interesting how we all respond to meds differently. I've used Topomax for 15 years now the last 11 as my sole Mood Stabilizer and it works great and I have no side effects from it. Since I have a Seizure Disorder and have to take Anti-Seizure meds, we try to use those for Mood Stabilizers, For the last 11 years I've used Tegretol and Topomax, but stopped the Tegretol 3 years ago.

I used to take Lithium years ago and had great success with it, but I had Liver Disease and Kidney Issues going in, so had to be monitored very closely and eventually had to stop it. I used Seroquel years back and gained weight from it and not much help, so stopped it. I also used Depakote, way back and it did the "zombie memory wipe out" thing so didn't take it very long.

I've been on pretty much the same cocktail for the last 11 years with a few tweaks here and there on dosage, but none of them cause any side effects, a headache here and there. I'm not much of an eater so I do have to watch food intake as the Topomax wipes my appetite completely. Lately I drink a Slimfast Protein shake once a day when I wakeup and set an alarm for early evening so I remember to eat a meal....otherwise I get busy working or doing stuff and forget.

It is interesting and perplexing how we all respond to meds differently. The brain is a complex organ.

Thank you all for your responses!

Some side effects go away with time they say, but so far I find that happens mostly with antidepressants better than it does with atypical antipsychotics. Kidney damage from these meds is so unfair! So is memory wipeout!

I stayed on lamotrigine for too long because it helped my bipolar depression but the side effects were many and severe and they kept getting worse with increased dose. My cognition has never been the same since going off of it nor have my leg muscle strains been able to heal probably because of the subsequent Seroquel and then the subsequent Abilify because of some muscle stiffening as well. But not as severe as lamotrigine likely because the lamotrigine went to a higher dosage before it became intolerable and I couldn't easily straighten my leg in the morning.

The Abilify side effects are much less. My main concern is the muscle stiffening. My 2nd concern is insomnia but I think it may improve with time. I'm glad to have my brain back although it feels like I have permanent brain damage already from the meds previously. If I take courses I will have radical acceptance (DBT terminology) of my lower than usual grade :-).

It's hard to decide whether to stay on medication or not or hope for the next one having fewer or no side effects. Is that realistic? After 3 tries should I just be satisfied with Abilify even though it's not perfect? Are there a lot of people out there that have no side effects? Could that be me if I keep on going? Do I want to keep going? What if the next drugs worse? Sorry, I should have blabbed these feelings in a journal. I will copy and paste and send it to my counsellor/therapist.!

I really appreciate all of you for replying! Hugs to you all.

Maui1992

Good post! Weight gain from Zyprexa. I tolerate it cause I lean towards suicidal and Zyprexa and lithium keep me stable. I tolerate frequent bathroom trips and drinking gallons of water and occasional blood draws because again, I am stable.

Thanks very much kisses, for calling it a good post! That means a lot to me. XO to kisses. :-).
I have read that Zyprexa has the greatest amount and risk for weight gain than the other atypical antipsychotics. When I was on it years ago I never gained weight. My psychiatrist was very surprised to hear that! But I did find it easy to tolerate back then. I don't know if I'd tolerate it well now because of my neurological conditions I developed.
And yes lithium does cause drinking more and urinating more. Plus all the blood tests. But I agree, if you're not well mentally, what's the point in being slim or going to the bathroom less and fewer blood draws. You are correct that being stable needs to come first most of the time. Developing kidney failure or something is another story. I'm so glad Zyprexa and lithium are working well for you. I hear they are a good combination. I'm starting to value and realize how important mental stability is over some of the concerns I have about side effects.

I take Rexulti and I have a jaw tremor that acts up when I go to the dentist. They have to use a bite block in my mouth to control the tremor. I also have tremors in my hands and feet the right side being worse. Since being on Rexulti, an antipsychotic, I have felt normal and not flat anymore like I was on the abilify. So far, I can live with these side effects in order to live a controlled life.

I have a bad tremor from lithum years ago and now on lamictal and it's worse but have to take it nothing else works.have to just live with it

Thanks, Becky. I never heard of Rexulti. It's unfortunate that you have to live with tremors but stability is worth it.

Thanks, bywena. When I tried lithium I got hand tremors also. I'm glad Lamictal works for you. Sorry have to live with even worse tremors than lithium, but again stability is worth it especially if nothing else works for you.

I think I can live with the side effects of Abilify that I'm getting but I'm not sure yet because I don't know how high the dose the doctor wants me to go on. This is trial number 3. I could try more and more other meds, but since this is the 3rd time in a row that I got muscle stiffness and my neurological conditions seem to trigger that side effect, I will ask the psychiatrist if he knows if this will most likely continue so I'm best to stay on Abilify or not. I just don't know if it would ever be possible not to have this side effect when it's a possibility for EVERY mood stabilizer!