So I went to see my new doctor yesterday, and I mentioned how my symptoms aren’t entirely gone. I’m on 10mg Zyprexa, have been for a bit over a year, and weight gain is a very prominent issue, so she doesn’t recommend upping the dosage, which leaves either adding another, first-gen med (she recommended Haldol), or switching to a different medication.
At first, switching seemed like the better option, but after reading a bit about the drug she suggested - Abilify - I wasn’t so sure. It appeared slightly similar to Risperdal, which I have been on, with little to no results. I’m mostly worried about potential side effects, particularly diminished impulse control, so I just wanted to hear from people who have taken either of those meds. What was your experience like, and what would you recommend, or would have done in my position?
Thanks for reading xx
Abilify, rexulti and vraylar act in a different way to other antipsychotics.
I’m on haldol and love it. I’ve also been on abilify and the first time I was on it it was great. Little to no side effects and did its job. But every time I’ve tried it after that first time had been awful. Full of side effects and little improvement in symptoms.
Abilify is different than Risperdal but it’s similar to Rexulti and Vraylar.
abilify has some side effects which are similar to first gen meds. many people feel anxious and cant sit still on it. then theres the issue of impulse control going down.
abilify does cause weight gainin many people, often a significant amount.
i would consider geodon instead if weight gain is an issue.
I’m new to geodon, called zeldox in my country. I was previously on invega and put on a lot of weight.
Geodon has killed my appetite.
Have u looked into Latuda?
Latuda (Lurasidone), Geodon (Ziprasidone) and Risperdol (Risperidone) are all in the same class of drugs (-idone suffix). Same way Clozapine, aspenapine, olanzapine are all in the same class.
I’ve been on risperdal ability and qutiapine. Ability was without success. It did not help my symptoms and gave me bad anxiety.
However, we all respond to medication differently what works for one doesn’t the other. It is worth tryin if your doctor recommends she must believe it will help you.
Abilify is ok in small amounts for me, but the higher the dose the higher my addictions become. Everyone reacts differently to these meds. You may like abilify like I do.
I got seriously addicted to gambling when taking abilify (Aripiprazole), I play online poker regularly anyway but on that particular drug it was out of control. I was doing other stupid impulsive stuff as well, I had to come off it in the end.
I was on double the max dosage of abilify which was 60mg and that didn’t control my hallucinations. I’ve also tried haldol (30mg) and this helped get rid of hallucinations but I was very restless so I had to switch to a different drug.
Why do i see a lot of thunbs down to invega. If abilify hadnt worked he said he would try invega.
I like Invega, it reduces the voices to where they are barely noticable. It’s not likely to cause twitching either. I am gaining weight on it though, which sucks.
Going to switch to Rexulti in 3 weeks, that might be the ticket to weight loss.
i beg to differ with the invega not causing twitching. invega is very similar to risperidone, risperidone is almost as bad as haldol when it comes to eps.
I’ve been on risperidone three times, ability, invega, fanapt, latuda and haldol. Risperidone the first two times it worked ok the third time it didn’t work. Ability made me anxious so did invega. Latuda worked for a while until I reached the max dose they tried to lower it but I had symptoms increased. I’m on haldol injection along with latuda.
The clinical therapist who reviewed my paperwork, records and did my intake interview said he is sure the new doctor I see after the three therapy sessions will try to lessen my meds and try me on new. Just remember meds are different for everyone
I don’t know Roxanna but I only started it not long ago so I wish there was not so much like that about it because I already struggle taking medication as it is. That is why I am on invega injection.
I’m on abilify 30 mg and makes me manic. I didn’t realize but after dose increase, I’d spent 300 in one day just cuz stuff was on sale…Later I was like wtf…am I not in the drivers seat anymore. It also keeps me from sleeping much. Risperdal caused long qtc for me so grrrr to it.
I understand.i couldnt take most of the atypicals except for abilify.
I’m on Abilify. I gained about 7 pounds, but I’m losing it again. The restlessness was bad at first and now I find it gives me insomnia, but my psychiatrist is keeping me on the lowest effective dose/