Personality Disorders Support Group

Personality disorders form a class of mental disorders that are characterized by long-lasting rigid patterns of thought and behaviour. Personality disorders are seen by the American Psychiatric Association as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it.

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going off of medication

belle
belle
I was put on medication Abilify a few months ago. After about 2 months people started telling me I looked so much better. I felt better too and was doing things and being positive. Then the side effects started bothering me so much. #1 my feet started swelling so my doctor put me on a diuretic and it helped some #2 the insomnia is driving me crazy. I don't sleep but only 3-4 hrs at most nightly #3 I am eating everything in sight and craving junk food which I don't need because of diabethes.

Is anyone else experiencing these side effects with Abilify? If so, what are you doing for help?

I am trying to go off Abilify but now feel awful and feel the depression returning.
Tazmom09
Tazmom09
Hi--never been on abilify...i assume you're using it along w/ another med since the ads seem to suggest that this is what it's prescribed for (to support the efficacy of another drug)? In any case, insomnia sucks, so i don't blame you for wanting to get off of it.

But I wouldn't go off the abilify without the supervision of your doc...maybe you can try another anti-dep altogether if the current one isn't working so well? I know the med hopping gets REALLY OLD, and I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged. Don't want to see you slip into depression, tho...
valgal18
valgal18
i'm currently on resperidone and i have gained 60+ pounds on it......it's AWFUL!!!!!!!!! i've tried other meds. but it didn't really work.....i know i need to be on an anti-psychotic b/c when i wasn't on it, i actually made a plan to kill myself and stuff.....try to get on other meds. to help.....there are A LOT of different medications to try....good luck and i hope this helped
NYNM
NYNM
Perhaps you'd want to see another psychiatrist. There are many approaches to medication, and if you are not comfortable with one, another psychiatrist might offer an alternative. Just be sure it is a psychiatrist and not a general MD.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You might look into lamictal as a mood stabilizer. It doesn't do the same things as abilify but the side effects are much much less. My girlfriend has been on it for years now and it's stabilized her emotional swings enormously. She's been on lamictal as a mood stabilizer and wellbutrin as an antidepressant. It doesn't fix it, obviously, but makes it manageable with very few side effects. Wellbutrin at a high dose is also an appetite suppressant which may help with the eating issues you described.
CajunWolf
CajunWolf
Hi I too am on Abilify along with Prozac. I did not realize that swelling was one of the side effects till I seen you post. I too have all the side affects you are having plus I have jerking or twitching in my legs and right arm. I also have gained a lot of weight. I talked to my psych doc and she is taking me off of it......She has put me on a fairly new med called Latuda. I have just started it and I am still on the Abilify, but I lower dose. She is slowly taking me off of it. And I am glad so far the Latuda is helping but only time will tell. I would talk to you doc about your symptoms & see if they can put you on something different. I wish you the best.
tats69
tats69
When I first started Abilify I wanted to eat the house.....you have to not fall into the hunger and keep occupied with other things...I know its hard and sucks but the feeling hungry will subside.

I do really well on 10mg of Abilify this is the most stable that I have been in many years......some times it just takes a while to adjust to the med. Try to hang on there with it, I wish you the best!!!