Abilify
 

Anyone here ever been on Abilify? What were the side-effects? Did anyone have significant weight loss while on this drug? My pdoc just prescribed it. I have been taking it for 2 days now. I've really noticed that my appetite has diminished considerably already. I read that that is one of the side-effects. I'm also really, really tired. I'm sure my body will adjust to it though, and, in a month or two, it won't be so bad. If anyone has ever taken Abilify, I would really like to hear about your experience with it. Thanks!

peace and love,
cgirl

Hi cgirl, I take abilify and had the opposite effect, I think I put on about 15 pounds. But then I also had quit smoking so I think that had something to do with it too. What dosage are you taking? I started off at 5 or 10, I can't really remember. I take 30 mg now a day in the morning. It never made me tired though, have you felt any relief for the racing thoughts from being on it yet? I know that was the most profound benefit for me and made me believe I truly was BP II. Because once things slowed down and I felt better I knew how bad I had been feeling and I couldn't deny the truth any longer. I've been on it for a few years now and have been pretty stable but I also take Elavil and am weaning off wellbutrin. :)

ANything specific you want to know cgirl? :)

My doc..
 

is phasing it in over the next month. I'm only taking 10 mg. for this week. Next week, will be on 20 mg. for 2 weeks. Then, up to 30 mg. and will stay there. I am supposed to be phasing out the risperdal at the same time. Lessening doses each week for the next month while the abilify is building up. Cross-tapering they call it. However, I've reached my coverage limit on my medicare part D the prescription coverage. Now, I have to pay full price for all prescriptions. My pdoc said if I can't get the risperdal, just go ahead and take the samples of the abilify how he said--building up slowly. He said I might have some symptoms though. I really hope not. I do feel different already. I'm going to apply for a medical card from the state on Mon. I don't even know how much my prescription for abilify will cost. Hundreds of dollars a month I'm sure. Aren't they all? When they told me $445.00 for the risperdal at the pharmacy a couple of days ago, I nearly hit the floor! When it was covered, I only paid like $3.00 per month for it. I didn't even want this stupid part D coverage. They signed me up for it automatically. Last year, it was great, but this, really throws a monkey wrench into things. I sure hope things don't get as bad as they were a few months ago with the symptoms. I had finally started feeling like myself again. Pray for me.

peace and love
Cgirl

Oh Cgirl, I am so sorry you're signed up with a crummy part d. I am lucky mine hasn't told me any such nonesense yet...yet...It does cost about 500 a month for abilify, I know I see the invoices coming in monthly. I definitely feel better with the abilify though then I did on risperdal, its a subtle difference, but it's there. I am sure you'll start feeling it better by 20 mg. I remember that was when things really started to kick in and I felt relief. I did a cross taper too from risperdal to abilify and things worked out fine for me. Good luck Cgirl, I'll keep you in my prayers. :)

Hi Cgirl,

I was on Abilify a couple of weeks and only slept about 4 hours every night during that time. I believe that Abilify is less sedating for most people if my memory serves me correct.

befuddled2

Hold on!

500.00 dollars for one month's supply of ONE med??!!
http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/confused0068.gif

What's wrong with the world??


Mari

I went from risperdal to abilify and then back to risperdal. Abilify caused my mouth to move involuntarily.
I have the humana plan and I am nearing the 2400 dollar mark when I have to pay 100 percent of the medications until I reach 3850. I thought of using Canada drug place, but then reassessed and decided even though the drugs are much cheaper in Canada, it would still cost me more than the Humana plan I have. Drug prices are obscene.
Bobby

Yep, $545 or something a month, it's totally outrageous. I thought migraine medicone was overpriced, but that was before I saw the cost of Abilify. I forgot about the cost of Risperdal, I was only on it for a little while, but if it's that expensive its more costly the abilify since its $500 for abilify at 30 mgs a pill and Risperdal was like 1 mg...at least that was how much I took. I hope it works well for you Cgirl. :)

I don't know if I can handle this...
 

With only taking 10mg. of the Abilify, and no Risperdal, I am not feeling quite so good. I go from feeling sort of ok, to feeling literally like my head is full of air. That's about the only way I can describe it. It was difficult for me at work today. We got pretty busy for a couple of hours, it was really tough. One of my co-workers even noticed that I was not myself, and asked if I was ok. she ended up helping me out by taking all of the bigger tables that came in, and just let me wait on the regulars. The people I know, that are always really easy. That helped tons! I have to make it though through all of next week before I'll probably be seeing any improvement. Not only can I not afford to take any time off, but, 2 of our regular girls are on vacation for a month, so they are kind of short-handed. They really need me to work right now. I think the tiredness is coming from the fact that I'm taking Benadryl at night to get to sleep now that I don't have the Risperdal. When I was taking that, I would literally be falling asleep 10 mins. after I took it. My body is just not used to not having it. I really wish I would've had a medical card from the state when this all happened. I'm going tomorrow to apply for one. But, even with that, it probably at the earliest, will be approved for use starting next month. Need to marry a rich doctor. That sounds nice right now.

Peace and Love,
Cgirl