Abilify is a drug primarily used in patients with milder forms of schizophrenia - being a partial dopamine agonist it could worsen psychosis.
Clozapine is a more effective medication, used for more severe or hard to treat medication resistant cases - but comes with a lot of side effects and weight gain usually
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This is great information! I will bear this in mind when making a decision, thank you very much for taking the time to reply!
I know someone who takes it. He showed me his test results where he had a low white blood cell count. He almost died when his appendix burst and Iām not sure itās related. Itās difficult for him to get refills instantly as he has to go through this complex process, and then complained his doctor was trying to kill him because they wouldnāt give him the medication. It does make him calm, and much more normal seeming. He said Abilify never worked for him. He still has delusional beliefs on it, but can communicate better and seems to function more normally by taking his medication regularly and not using drugs. It wouldnāt be right for me, because Iāve responded fairly well to medications other than Seroquel and Geodon and since Iāve been on Abilify for so long itās the one that works the best. I take a high dose of 30mgs each night, it helps me sleep usually. Lower doses donāt work as well, but my psychiatrist recently attempted to half the dose of Abilify so I could function better. I realized that perhaps there were other factors influencing my memory recall and attention. Adderall helps me with the worst cognitive symptoms, but itās not a common option for people with schizophrenia as for some it can cause psychosis. I only got diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and the stimulant medication has helped me with drive and focus.
On the flip side, Abilify is often prescribed for people with milder schizophreniaā¦but I was in the worst states of psychosis when I started Abilify and over years it has lessoned my symptoms. I was started on it as a teen. It prevents thoughts from becoming irrational. I feel like it allows me to think versus other anti-psychotics. Iām more productive on Abilify. It just takes a lot of time and patience. You have to take it regularly for several months to see an improvement.
They tried a bunch of other anti-psychotics on me, and since Abilify was brand new at the timeāthey tried it on me as a last resort and it worked amazingly well. I recall finally being able to sleep, it cured my insomnia and irrational psychosis almost instantly. When I finally agreed to take it, it did help. Clozapine is a higher risk medication, you need to be approved for it and take frequent blood tests to determine that it isnāt killing you. You need to monitor your white blood cells and not drink alcohol or use drugs like weed on it.
Iām not sure how clozapine works, but my friend with more severe ptsd and schizophrenia swears by it that itās the only medication that works for him. I notice when he doesnāt take it heās completely crazy though, so I donāt know how effective it is over time or long-term, how beneficial it would be to your recovery if you end up dependent on a medication that is so dangerousāfor life. Once youāre on it, IDK how hard it is to get off it, I do know my friend said he experiences severe withdrawal like irritability and hostility.
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Thank you all, Considering that abilify is an agonist, and can make me worse I fear using that.
I feel this time around I could manage a weight gain side effect when considering clozapine, mum says sheāll weigh me every week and keep a close eye on it. Sedation Iām not sure but a night time dose could be the thing to consider. Iām meeting with my doctor on the 14th January so will ask his advice.
Iām going to ask to not have a major med change until the summer, or attest until after my exam. Iām considering leaving college, prioritising my degree and possibly looking for something safe, maybe Iām just not ready yet. But I donāt know if I should persist, but I nearly self harmed at the end of this term, I know I fought it but I was unsafe. Iām fluctuating between all sorts of states of mind, extreme anger, to extreme fear, I feel as if Iām going to explode. I happier now the living room is finished I have a safe haven in my home.
Iām just going to go back until this unit of my course is finished which is two weeks, I will see how I cope, if itās too much, I wonāt let myself break, I may go back better, weāre trying to rest my head but itās not working just yet.
Thank you for your replies, theyāre all so helpful, and Iām open to any more!
Take care,
Meg.
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