New Medication for Bipolar

Hello @shygal I see that this is your first post at Mayo Connect - welcome!

I did not find anyone who has mentioned taking this particular medicine, but we do have many members who have discussed Bipolar disorders. I would like to introduce you to two of these members, @liz223 and @sharlynn62. We also have many other members who deal with depression. Here is a link to a discussion on Long Term Depression, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-term-depression/ Please take a look at this disuccsion and feel free to ask questions of anyone. We all learn from each other at Mayo Connect.

Have you already started taking Vraylar?

Teresa

Hi, @shygal i'm knew to this site too. I've been a member for a couple of wks but just started interacting yesterday. I am bipolar and take a monthly injection of Abilify 400mg. Has anyone heard of this type of abilify administration? NOw my mom is 75, blind and major depression. she just lost her eyesight around 2 years ago as a rare side effect of Cymbalta. There has only been about 100 cases documented and my mom is one of them. Her major depression stems from her not being able to adjusting to loosing her sight. I mean who would. 75 years old and wake up one day blind!! no warning just BAM! So any how our psychiatrist loves my mom. she is an angel God has sent to us from heaven. she never makes my mom wait in line we get to go straight back. And the doc has prescribed her Vraylar. My mom's copay was 520.00 each month. She mainly prescribes it to her for hallucinations, agitation, paranoia, and depression and breaks with reality. It seems to work fairly well but she does still have hallucinations but not many like before. We told our angel doc that we couldn't afford it so she has the drug reps give her samples and she saves them all and gives them to my mom so she will have the medicine to take. I told you she was an angel.

Hello @lilgrizz and welcome to Mayo Connect

I appreciate your post about both you and your mom. Your mom's doctor does sound amazing! This is the first that I've heard of injections of Abilify, however, we have a lot of members at Mayo Connect who might have some personal experience with it. Here is a website from the U.S. National Library of Medicine about Abilify, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a615048.html. Perhaps this will shed some light on it for you.

Are you feeling better with this treatment?

Teresa

@hopeful33250 thank you for the welcome and web site. there are quite a few drugs I am going to look up. maybe you could help start my discussion I started about being bipolar. so far no participation. its in the mental health group and called what has bipolar not done to your life. thanks again.

Hello @lilgrizz

We do have members who have discussed bipolar or disorders of a similar nature. In time they will undoubtedly join the discussion. Abby, @amberpep, has described cyclothymia which she describes as a milder form of bipolar. Perhaps she will join the conversation.

Please share with us, as you feel comfortable doing so, what non-drug strategies you have used to help you with your moods. I'm thinking of activities like keeping a mood journal, physical exercise, social activities, etc.

Teresa