I’m experiencing sexual side effects from Abilify. My erections are weak, and loss of libido.
I was on Invega (Injection form) and it’s been a good 4 months I have been taking Abilify instead.
I’m in the process of getting the Abilify reduced every month. Right now I am at 250ml injections.
Ironically, in the past when I was on a low dose of risperdal (0.75 mg) I had no sexual side effects.
I got my prolactin tested when on Invega and it was 84! Recently got it tested and it dropped to 23. This was about a month and a half ago.
I assume now that my prolactin is in a healthy range and isn’t the problem.
Do you think I should continue Abilify (The dose will continue to be lowered, although probably not every month) or switch to another AP? If so, which one would you recommend?
Abilify sexual sideaffects are rare. I worried I had it too after I had intercourse with a gorgeously and skilled woman but kept going soft and couldn’t finish (sorry for graphicness). Then I had sex with another woman who was equally as attractive and I ejaculated during sex. The key was that i hadn’t masturbated that day, and I really hyped myself up before sex…if you know what I mean. I used to be able to masturbate six times in a day (that was my record ) so either I’ve gotten older and less horny or abilify is impacting my libido somewhat. But I can deal with it by taking certain precautions. It sounds your libido is worse than mine. I thought of asking my pdoc for viagra. Because other than this I get zero sideaffect from abilify. I’d say if you really have difficulty then switch meds. But try taking sexual precaution first because abilify is a good med! Good luck. I got terrible terrible sexual sideeffect from risperdal. That was reason enough for me to come off it.
Do you think it’s the Invega that is still in my system perhaps? I know it has a long half-life in injection form.
I read somewhere online that “Invega has a long half life range of 25 to 49 days. This is the time it takes for plasma levels to fall by half.
It roughly takes around 5 to 6 half lives for a drug to be eliminated from your system.
Using this calculation then, after your last dose, you could expect it to take anywhere between 150 to 300 days to be cleared from your system.”
I’m hoping my problems are coming from the Invega still in my system rather than the Abilify.
I haven’t been on a single AP that hasn’t affected my sexual functioning Risperdal it was definitely the worst as I was not able to achieve orgasm at all.
How long did you take abilify? I ve been on it since january and my libido was gone after a few months use. Now my doctor is reducing the portion… i wish i’ll get back to normal when it comes to sex life…
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) so either I’ve gotten older and less horny or abilify is impacting my libido somewhat. But I can deal with it by taking certain precautions. It sounds your libido is worse than mine. I thought of asking my pdoc for viagra. Because other than this I get zero sideaffect from abilify. I’d say if you really have difficulty then switch meds. But try taking sexual precaution first because abilify is a good med! Good luck. I got terrible terrible sexual sideeffect from risperdal. That was reason enough for me to come off it.
Risperdal it was definitely the worst as I was not able to achieve orgasm at all.