taking Aripiprazole 5 mg with a 5 mg increase over the next 4 month. Have had anxiety for many years and the Dr now wants to try this medication . Has anyone else had any experience with this medication. Just wondering if it was helpful in controlling anxiety which is affecting my life and functioning ability.
Hi, @bobbiekc, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. As you are now newly on aripiprazole (one of the brand names of which is Abilify), I'm sure we have some members who could comment on their experiences with taking it. Please meet @guener@desirea@carlysmith011 @parus @karen00, who may have some thoughts for you on how it worked for their anxiety control and daily functioning.
@bobbiekc - how are things going so far at the 5 mg dose?
Hi, @bobbiekc, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. As you are now newly on aripiprazole (one of the brand names of which is Abilify), I'm sure we have some members who could comment on their experiences with taking it. Please meet @guener@desirea@carlysmith011 @parus @karen00, who may have some thoughts for you on how it worked for their anxiety control and daily functioning.
@bobbiekc - how are things going so far at the 5 mg dose?
I take a low dosage of Abilify (5mg) along with my Lexapro for depression, primarily. I have weaned off of Gabapentin that was helping with anxiety but giving me side-effects of brain fog and sleepiness. I don't know how my the Abilify contributes to my anxiety being under control, but it made a big difference with how effective the Lexapro is for my depression.
Hi, @bobbiekc, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. As you are now newly on aripiprazole (one of the brand names of which is Abilify), I'm sure we have some members who could comment on their experiences with taking it. Please meet @guener@desirea@carlysmith011 @parus @karen00, who may have some thoughts for you on how it worked for their anxiety control and daily functioning.
@bobbiekc - how are things going so far at the 5 mg dose?
just started on the medication - too soon to tell . Still having "bad" days with high anxiety. Will see what the next month brings with 5 mg increase. thank you .
just started on the medication - too soon to tell . Still having "bad" days with high anxiety. Will see what the next month brings with 5 mg increase. thank you .
@bobbiekc I just quit Abilify for the second time. First time I felt so bad that I stayed in bed for the day. I had to quit. I was on 5mg. Just a couple of weeks ago with a new pyschiatrist started me on it again. Even after telling him that I did not do very well.. I started off with 2 mg. for a week then went up to 5 mg. again then 7 mg. with the intention of bringing me up to 15 mg. I didn't help any anxiety. In fact I turned very restless.. and then sleepy.. it went on all day. My lips and gums were swollen. It didn't help my anxiety at all. Doc told me it was for my mood swings. I ended up calling the Crisis center and the nurse told me to stop taking it. What helped my anxiety was a strain in marijuana. It helped me a lot more than drugs. I am 66 yrs. old and enjoyed the high for awhile but not for long. Coughing also because I have COPD. It did help my phlem and weed should be studied for COPD. Everyone is different... You should try it and see for your self and not listen to others. I wish you the best of luck in finding your medicine. OH I also became very depressed and lost my appetite.
Several of you have talked about aripiprazole (Abilify) and how it's gone for you. Hoping you can provide some updates. I think that your responses will be helpful to all those in this discussion.
@guener - you mentioned something about aripiprazole (Abilify) making a big difference with how effective the escitalopram (Lexapro) is for your depression. Will you share more about that?
@godsgirl1969 - you mentioned you were prescribed aripiprazole (Abilify) some time back. Wondering how that medication has been for you? How is your depression lately?
@bobbiekc - how are things going? How has it been with the increased dosage of aripiprazole (Abilify) this month?
good days and some bad days. My mental health worker now believes I may have Bi Polar . Will see my psychiatrist next week to discuss. Trying to stay active, socialize, and exercise to help with my mental health condition.
good days and some bad days. My mental health worker now believes I may have Bi Polar . Will see my psychiatrist next week to discuss. Trying to stay active, socialize, and exercise to help with my mental health condition.
Hi, @bobbiekc - Sounds like you are doing many things to boost your mental health.
Please let us know how things go with your psychiatrist. I realize this may not be a confirmed diagnosis at this point, but if you do have bipolar disorder or are curious, you might check out these resources:
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Hi, @bobbiekc, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. As you are now newly on aripiprazole (one of the brand names of which is Abilify), I'm sure we have some members who could comment on their experiences with taking it. Please meet @guener @desirea @carlysmith011 @parus @karen00, who may have some thoughts for you on how it worked for their anxiety control and daily functioning.
@bobbiekc - how are things going so far at the 5 mg dose?
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1 ReactionI can only comment that Abilify did not help with anxiety for me. It was not a positive experience.
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1 ReactionI take a low dosage of Abilify (5mg) along with my Lexapro for depression, primarily. I have weaned off of Gabapentin that was helping with anxiety but giving me side-effects of brain fog and sleepiness. I don't know how my the Abilify contributes to my anxiety being under control, but it made a big difference with how effective the Lexapro is for my depression.
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1 Reactionjust started on the medication - too soon to tell . Still having "bad" days with high anxiety. Will see what the next month brings with 5 mg increase. thank you .
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Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@bobbiekc I just quit Abilify for the second time. First time I felt so bad that I stayed in bed for the day. I had to quit. I was on 5mg. Just a couple of weeks ago with a new pyschiatrist started me on it again. Even after telling him that I did not do very well.. I started off with 2 mg. for a week then went up to 5 mg. again then 7 mg. with the intention of bringing me up to 15 mg. I didn't help any anxiety. In fact I turned very restless.. and then sleepy.. it went on all day. My lips and gums were swollen. It didn't help my anxiety at all. Doc told me it was for my mood swings. I ended up calling the Crisis center and the nurse told me to stop taking it. What helped my anxiety was a strain in marijuana. It helped me a lot more than drugs. I am 66 yrs. old and enjoyed the high for awhile but not for long. Coughing also because I have COPD. It did help my phlem and weed should be studied for COPD. Everyone is different... You should try it and see for your self and not listen to others. I wish you the best of luck in finding your medicine. OH I also became very depressed and lost my appetite.
Lorraine
Several of you have talked about aripiprazole (Abilify) and how it's gone for you. Hoping you can provide some updates. I think that your responses will be helpful to all those in this discussion.
@guener - you mentioned something about aripiprazole (Abilify) making a big difference with how effective the escitalopram (Lexapro) is for your depression. Will you share more about that?
@godsgirl1969 - you mentioned you were prescribed aripiprazole (Abilify) some time back. Wondering how that medication has been for you? How is your depression lately?
@bobbiekc - how are things going? How has it been with the increased dosage of aripiprazole (Abilify) this month?
good days and some bad days. My mental health worker now believes I may have Bi Polar . Will see my psychiatrist next week to discuss. Trying to stay active, socialize, and exercise to help with my mental health condition.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi, @bobbiekc - Sounds like you are doing many things to boost your mental health.
Please let us know how things go with your psychiatrist. I realize this may not be a confirmed diagnosis at this point, but if you do have bipolar disorder or are curious, you might check out these resources:
- Mayo Clinic information on bipolar disorder https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955
- Mayo Clinic Connect thread on bipolar disorder https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bi-polar-issues
I hate Abilify! I want to wean off of it. I've tried to withdrawal twice and no luck. I'm trying once again.