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Global Patient Feedback for Abilify (Aripiprazole) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I take in the evenings where it makes me tired. If you live in ky look for your local ky home cares they help you pay for meds. I get my abilify for free.
30 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-20 16:35:16
Question/Comment:
All the comments that I see posted here are adults. My son is 17, was recently diagnosed with Bipolar, and is currently taking Abilify. He complains of headaches, fatigue, and restlessness since taking this medication. I'm wondering if this is normal? I'm also wondering how many other teenagers who are bipolar take this mediacation.
Concerned mother
19 year old Male – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-16 10:35:13
Member Answer/Reply:
My 19-year-old daughter was just taken off Abilify after 5 years (she has OCD manifested by intrusive thoughts). Although the drug was extremely effective with few side effects for many years, she developed eye-blinking, muscle jerking, and vocal tics within the past 6 months. These symptoms have gradually subsided since she was taken off it, although a neurological consult was required to verify the connection - the psychiatrist really wasn't aware of it.
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-26 11:08:48
Member Answer/Reply:
Concerned Mother, get that child on something else. I experienced the restlessness you are speaking of and it is just miserable. Abilify is very good for Shizophrenia but there are better drugs for Bi-polar such as Effexor and I have had great luck with Mirtzapine {misspelled?}. Seroquel is also good for bi-polar. Good luck.
47 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-27 06:57:09
Member Answer/Reply:
My 17 year old son is taking it and it really is helping at this point.
61 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-29 01:36:09
Member Answer/Reply:
My daughter is 13 and on Abilify. Her doctor has told me that she is too young to diagnose as bipolar. The medicine has reduced her emotional outbreaks but she also complains of fatigue.
Another concerned mother
39 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-29 23:34:11
Member Answer/Reply:
I have a soon to be 13 yr old stepdaughter that my wife and I have just got costody from her Dad. The father was diagnoised as bipolar and schizophinic 5 yrs ago. After much abuse from the father over several years she has shown sighns of resentment and anger toward him and has emotional scars that we are now dealing with. She is a normal child that has just lacked a male role model in her life. My concern is that after one visit with a therapist rencently, she was given a precription for abilify. I totally disagree with this and it has presented problems between my wife and I. This thrapist has not talked to either my wife or myself as to why he prescribed this medicine to a 12 yr. I believe we are letting doctors and therapist give medicine to our children before we need to study and examine the consequences of this or any drug. Concerned step-dad !
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-07-09 14:39:24
Member Answer/Reply:
My daughter is 21 now and started on Abilify when she was 17. She did get akathesia horribly at first(the restless feeling you are speaking about). There are meds out there to counteract this side effect. Her first doctor put her on propranalol which did not help. The second doctor put her on cogentin and told her within a day it would help and she never had a problem with it after that. From personal experience with many meds before that for bipolar I would caution you about listening to anyone's advice about wonder drugs. What works for one person may go totally wrong for another. There are thankfully many wonderful drugs out there to choose from so the chances of finding a good one for each individual is greatly increased from even ten years ago, but always use caution. Remember that the first line when looking up any psychiatric disorder is we don't really know what causes it and the first line when looking up a psychiatric med is we don't really know how this works.
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-07-15 10:19:26
Member Answer/Reply:
yes my daughter is 17 also, she is feeling the same things, but her manic state is under controll and she is more focus, however she is more vocal in an aggressive way then she was before the abilify, however i have not determined if this is good or bad, she might just be expressing what she always felt but was stuck in her manic mood aand unable to communicate as well as she does now.
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-07-18 10:08:48
Member Answer/Reply:
My sister is 17 and has been bipolar for about 4 years. She took Abilify and it gave her blurry vision. She was also fatigued. She only took Abilify during one of her manic episodes. She normally takes Lithium for maintenance (3 at night). She was also prescribed Lamictal, and she has seemed to developed an immunity to the drug. She is again manic, my family wonders what other teenagers are taking to stabilize their manic episodes. I recognize that there are mainly posts from adults, which is why this posting caught my attention.
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-09-28 12:04:20
Member Answer/Reply:
Did you advise his doctor?
Maybe needs smaller dose.
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-11-30 23:45:03
Question/Comment:
My psychiatrist prescribed 2 mg one time daily to augment my 20 mg dose of Lexapro as my depression was beginning to escalate. I take 20 mg Lexapro at night and the 2 mg of Abilify in the morning. I have noticed that my fibromyalgia symptoms are somewhat more bothersome, but I still rarely have to take pain medication (hydrocodone) like I did before I was put on the Focalin XR, Lexapro, and Provigil, which for the most part almost completely eliminated my fibromyalgia flares and my chronic fatigue symptoms. I do find myself being somewhat more tired since the starting the Abilify a week ago. 60 year old female
63 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-05-21 19:27:06
Question/Comment:
Gave me Horrible Joint and Muscle pain, have done research and this might not go away. Also gave me twitch problems, have read that it has produced the onset on LUPUS. Stay away if possible, I hope this medication did not cause me even more problems.
30 year old Male – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-05-11 06:22:13
Question/Comment:
It has helped me tremendously as I have gotten off several meds I didn't need.
43 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
get your eyes checked first and then after you have taken it for a while
40 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
This product has saved my life, it has stopped my EXTREME mood swings.
31 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
It just didn't work for me. I'm very sensitive to drugs. I couldn't sit still. Very agitated, so had to stop this med.
62 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Member Answer/Reply:
me too............... very agitated & retlessness i told dr and he upped my dose to 30 mg instead of lowering it ugg
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-26 09:04:04
Member Answer/Reply:
me too............... very agitated & retlessness i told dr and he upped my dose to 30 mg instead of lowering it .. no other symptoms
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-06-26 09:06:52
Member Answer/Reply:
What dose were you started at? Maybe it was too much. You can start at 2 mg. Older people seem to have more issues, though.
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-11-30 23:33:12
Question/Comment:
I had headaches the first few days that I took abilify. I was also being weaned from my prior medication so I had night sweats. But after a few weeks things seemed to work out fine. The only thing is that I developed an aneurysm about 1 month later for which I had emergency brain surgery. It is unknown whether this medication caused it. I am, however still taking it and quite satisfied with the way it works.
35 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
take it as directed by your md
60 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
If the doctor says to take it please take it. It has done wonders for me!
59 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
Yes, if you can, it is possible to acquire abilify from other countries. We looked into a generic form of abilify from China which is only 1/5 of the price here (Canada)
28 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Member Answer/Reply:
I wouldn't take any meds that come form china, that is risky!
56 year old Male – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2009-08-20 15:19:44
Question/Comment:
take at bedtime so the sleepiness isn't bad
36 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
ABILIFY works very well and it helps in everyday living.
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
Follow your doctor's advise and don't expect over night relief of symptoms.
59 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
read and study on it before filling the prescription so you know what to expect.
40 year old Male – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
keep taking as prescribed and things may get better for you
50 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
just take as directed.
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
I have no side effects by taking it at bedtime.
60 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
I have had mild side effects from Abilify but they are mild compared to some of the other medications I have taken.
38 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
Please take at the time each day. For my self I have to be ready for bed because I will fall a sleep anywhere I am
49 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
A high dose may lead to diabetes
50 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
take it at night, because it may make you sleepy
49 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
It's a great drug. I stand by it. Expensive, but worth every penny.
43 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
If you are experiencing difficulties it is always best to try alternative things, such as meditation, food allergies, etc, but when needed the meds can really make a difference if all else fails
46 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Member Answer/Reply:
This is used for serious and life threatening situations and imbalances. It is often not possible to "try everything else". A good psychiatrist is priceless, specialists can help and a team approach is best for these sorts of mood disorders. I am starting to have a few days with this medication and another anti-depressant (cymbalta) where I am not suicidal. It is the first break in almost 2 years of deep depression with constant suicidal thoughts and gestures.
47 year old Female – Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-07-16 12:14:32
Member Answer/Reply:
I am also on Cymbalta and Xanax and just started Abilify. ome twitching, vision issues, but am satisfied. Nomore suicidal or manic depression. (Bipolar I). The cost is high, but how much is happiness worth? Try calling the manufacturer to get help. Maybe they have aid or coupons. I do get bothersome stomach indigestion type symptoms, but it is worth it. I will be notifying my doctor.
Hang in there all. Most people I know are anti-medication, but I have never been happier, and they don't live my life or experiece the anxiety and manic deprression.
It is time to also alleviate the symptoms of stogma we all go through that make this harder.
41 yr old female
Source: iGuard
Posted: 2008-11-30 23:42:59
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