Experience with Abilify

In addition....(continued from my previous post)
Sorry for the ranting emotion, though the situation has been a struggle.
The expense and perceived medical and psychological impairment of the patient by using anti-psychotic drugs in part cause me to ask these questions.
However the patient does not yet have the desire to get off of the very thing that seems to be impairing relationship and career progress.
The Positive
On a positive note, a new psychologist has built trust and some real progress has been made over the past year; the patient's ability to have insight and to be mindful seems to be restored to some degree. Other factors including two years living with family, thus lowering the stress of housing costs and of living alone, as well as job success, have helped.
Concerns Still
The compulsivity associated with the medication concerns me. With the marked progress recently, compulsive set backs threaten to undo the progress toward a more fulfilling life. In addition with the patient showing no insight into the potential long-term side effects, is it the ethical choice for someone, myself or the medical team to suggest alternatives?
Any experience or thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

I'm glad it's helping you. When I was on it several years ago, I gained over 200 pounds. I'm now preparing for bariactric surgery in a few months.

Some medicines are really the cause of weight gaining. I don't know anything bout Abilify, but I experienced suddenly weight gain after using a medicine called Mirtazapine. (It was prescribed to me because I had a really hard time sleeping at night. ( I still take it today but at a very low dosage.) The problem is that my entire life I have been slender (if not skinny!) and now I find it difficult to deal with these extra pounds. :<(
@netter9064, Thank you for sharing. It must have been difficult. I wish you well and I hope everything turns out fine after your surgery. 😊

I didn't realize until a couple of years after I had been on Abilify that it was notorious for weight gain. I just thought it was me and my depression symptoms. I was on Mirtazapine for anxiety for a while as well until just recently. I found out that it, too, can cause weight gain. I just don't understand why these doctors would put me on a medication like that when I'm already severely obese. My current psychiatrist just prescribed me Vrylar and I discovered that it can cause weight gain, too. I haven't been taking it and I have been unable to reach him to follow up about it. I'm starting the process of getting vagus nerve stimulation. So far, medication hasn't worked for me. I've also tried ECT, TMS, Spravato and ketamine. Ketamine was a true game changer for me, however the clinic started doing it by injection and not infusion. Unfortunately it didn't have the same results. I'm going to give the vagus nerve stimulation a try. There's really nothing else for me to try at this point. I know getting the weight off will help, but I don't think it's the cure. I can imagine how difficult it is for you with the added weight. I have battled my weight all of my life. I know how I feel when I'm at a healthy weight verses a few pounds and it was challenging. Currently my situation is definitely unmanageable. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.

@netter9064
Hi again, netter9064! Well, do you know why some doctors and some psychiatrists do not mention that these medicines can cause a big weight gain? Sad to say, I believe it is because 1) they (or their dear ones) are NOT the ones taking these medicines. 2) Often, because of pure negligence or ignorance, they are not even aware of the side effects. 3) They (I know this is hard to take, but still) simply DO NOT care. - The reason for me saying this, is that I have noticed (on more occasions) that they give up on us patients, even before listening carefully to what we are about to say. I have experienced saying to more than one doctor that I am so sick many months in a row in the course of any given year since I, unfortunately, suffer tremendously because of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (to the extent that sometimes even making a simple phone call is a cause of huge stress and feels like having to climb Mount Everest). They listen somewhat, but after I have explained how my days are (miserable), they either say nothing or tell me that I am depressed (I bet I am! How would they be if they were so weak every single day for 6-7-8 months and they were not living but only merely surviving?) A few of these doctors have had the guts to tell me that they have never heard of these symptoms before (which is really bad :<( since I have just told them.) If they only had been a little more interested in learning something new, that they don't know or at least had owned a little curiosity (if not empathy!), they surely should have made the effort of trying listening more carefully (and afterward perhaps do some research (?) - which, of course, also would require some extra time - and time is money, so why bother?). I have even met a couple of doctors who (instead of just admitting that they know nothing about CFS) say "You know, there are many doctors who do not believe in CFS" (and obviously they themselves belong to the incompetent & arrogant category). This respectless behavior on their part makes me feel as if I was some sort of a charlatan who is inventing things just for the heck of it.

Sorry, netter9064, this is longer than I intended. I hope I haven't taken up too much of your time.

I got Tardive dyskinesia from the use of Abilify. It is an antipsychotic and I have never been psychotic. It was prescribed to me by a psychiatrist to help to make my antidepressants work better. Well now, my speech sounds like I have had a stroke and I have chronic pain in my tongue. Constant burning and discomfort. I told my psychiatrist that I was having some tongue movements and thrusting noticed by others. I told him this for over a year. HE DID NOT LISTEN TO ME! Please don’t take this awful drug. It can cause very serious problems!!

Hey, well I don't know for sure why.. like you I can only speculate:
1) They think (hope) that the benefits outweigh the negative.
2) They hope that it will be a side effect that we won't get.
3) They are so "taxed" with patients that they don't have time to read about all of the potential side effects of medication.
4) Giving them the benefit of the doubt, they are prescribing what they feel would work the best irregardless of the side effects.
I have really had to be proactive about treatments and medications in recent years. However, with depression and insomnia I have let things like researching medication slide. It's hard to be motivated to research stuff, but then it comes back to bite me in the butt.. like the weight gain. Mental health and other invisible illnesses can be very challenging because we don't have a broken bone to show or "prove" our illnesses. As a Christian, I'm at the point that I'm just looking forward to heaven where there will be no more pain, sickness or sorrow. I am just trying to stay focused on Jesus and get through each day. I know He can heal me instantly but for whatever reason He has chosen not to so far. I try to be grateful for the health that I do have as it can always be worse. A close friend of mine has had Complex Regional Pain Syndrome for 20 years now. She is in off the chart pain 24x7.. and she can't take pain meds. A lot of people in her state are on morphine drips because of the pain or they die by suicide as the pain is so horrific. There's not a cure either. So, I'm very grateful that I'm not in pain, I don't hear or see things that aren't there, I'm not homicidal. So, even though my situation is severe.. I've been on SSDI for several years, I have plenty to be thankful for. I'm not trying to minimize the pain or seriousness of our situation. It's just if it weren't for Jesus I would have been gone a long time ago. I keep reminding myself that this life is temporary, but heaven is for eternity. I will be praying for you.. restored health, peace and joy. I will also pray that in every moment, good days or bad that you would reach out to Jesus. He does love and care for you. The Bible says that He is very close to the brokenhearted. Once you feel and sense His presence.. there's nothing else like it. I don't mean to preach at you. Just wanted to share how I cope with severe depression and insomnia. I certainly understand fatigue.. though I don't have your diagnosis. It's super challenging for me to function with the little sleep I get. You're so right.. the smallest task seems impossible. Keep moving forward.. one breath at a time 🙏🥰🙏

What is your dose of mirtazapine?

15 mg

7.5 mg is usually the dosage for sleep.