I am on 30mg of Abilify and it doesn’t get rid of all my symptoms. My psychiatrist suggested Clozapine and wants me to go on it. I have already been on Olanzapine so when he said about sedation and putting on weight I completely refused to entertain the idea as that’s why I stopped taking it after two years on 20mg.
It took me two more years to lose half the weight I gained on Olanzapine by taking Latuda, but then that only lasted 18 months before it gave me crippling akasthia and I was put on Haldol for about a year. The last thing I want is to take something that will sedate me as I need to work.
The trouble is I work four days a week, and the Abilify side effect of making me more alert is helping me massively at work to focus and get things done without the sedation but I still get mild symptoms. I also have not put on any weight on it and it’s been four months now.
I just don’t know what to do.
I guess it’s a trade off between being awake with some symptoms to put up with, or go back onto something that will just sedate me to a point that it’s effective. Abilify has helped me massively with concentration, but not so good at clearing delusions and intrusive thoughts
I think my doc is being over the top as I my understanding is that this drug is a last resort.
My pdoc prescribed Valium for me in addition when 30mg of Abilify did not took away all my symptoms.
On my last visit he suggested a small dosage of a typical anti-psychotic in addition to the Abilify. He said it remains my choice whether to take it or not. Maybe you could try something like that.
The injection was his original plan. We disagree on severity of symptoms. What I think is serious is different to my doctor. The experiences I have at this time are no where near as bad as I have been in the past, so I am confused about why he is suggesting Clozapine now.