Abilify & newly diagnosed

I have been recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and am currently taking the medication ABILIFY..... i have noticed lapses in my memory and difficulty concentrating. Also i can't shake the lethargy either. I am just concerned with the quality of my life because the side effects of my medication are really affecting me. The reason i have continued on this medication is becuase it is one of the only antipsych medications approved for adolescents according to my psych doc. I am 17 by the way. Does anyone else, or has anyone else had the same issues with Abilify, and any other advice to a newly diagnosed is appreciated. thanks!

[ILADVOCATE]

Hard to say. Those are side effects that can happen. There are many other mood stabilizers such as lithium, Depakoate and Lamictal and Lamictal generally has less of these side effects (for general information on mood disorders google "Depression Central"). However, if your psychiatrist believes you require an antipsychotic, Abilify is generally the most tolerated out of what is available now though if you read through my posts you will see in the coming years there may be more options that are easier to tolerate. You could speak to your psychiatrist about adjusting the dose or adding another mood stabilizer and then potentially reducing the Abilify but that judgment is up to your psychiatrist. Talk to them about your concerns.

[jimgreg]

ablifi  can throw you into mania..like ssri,s do....

[ILADVOCATE]

Not quite in the same manner. Abilify does have mood stabilization effects. An SSRI generally is of concern for someone with bipolar and can easily worsen mania. Abilify like all antipsychotics can treat it. Abilify and Geodon are activating, that is they will make a person more likely to be awake instead of being sedating. I know when I was on Geodon and Abilify they kept me up practically the whole night but they didn't make me manic. Some people find it better to take it in the morning for that reason.

[dmurphyixi86]

Please stay away from abilify!!!!! I took it in in a few days it put me in mania i was going thrugh hell it is a no good drug it is bad it had me rocking back and forth in my closet emerg visit to my dr put me on depokote to counter act i think alilify too a week to set in ... stop the drug before it happens to you dont do it... i wouldnt wish mania on anyone!!!

[dmurphyixi86]

I am a month in on pristiq  it seems to be doing me good it is avalabe in gen. form. ask about that. it is expencive. my ins. charger 45 for it a month and all other meds are $5 copay. It helps

[shelby78]

thank-you both! i will definitely be talking to my doctor soon   :)