Abilify is a very strange drug IMO...
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Aripiprazole exhibits high affinity for dopamine D2 and D3, serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors (Ki values of 0.34 nM, 0.8 nM, 1.7 nM, and 3.4 nM, respectively), moderate affinity for dopamine D4, serotonin 5-HT2C and 5-HT7, alpha1- adrenergic and histamine H1 receptors (Ki values of 44 nM,15 nM,39 nM,57 nM,and 61 nM,respectively), and moderate affinity for the serotonin reuptake site (Ki=98 nM). Aripiprazole has no appreciable affinity for cholinergic muscarinic receptors (IC50 > 1000 nM). Aripiprazole functions as a partial agonist at the dopamine D2 and the serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, and as an antagonist at serotonin 5-HT2A receptor.
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from
http://www.rxlist.com/abilify-drug.htm
What this means is that it works on many receptor systems in the brain. Stimulants work on the dopamine system mostly.
Celexa and other SSRI types mostly on serotonin reuptake.
Adding an SSRI will augment Abilify, in this regard.
What happens in the brain with time with drugs that affect neurotransmission is that tolerance occurs. These drugs are pretty novel, but we do know with opiates new receptors are formed in the brain, and then that requires higher doses to fill those receptors. The thought is that this occurs with other systems and if so then tolerance is a serious issue for long term treatments. Discontinuing therefore requires serious slow tapers as well.
The bottom line? No one really knows for sure. Much of psychiatric drug use is trial and error. That is tough on small children and their parents.
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All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.-- Galileo Galilei
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Weezie looking at petunias 8.25.2017
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