Abilify

I tried being on abilifiy at 15 mg but I had to major panic attacks due to the medication, one lasting about three days because no one would do anything about it. Now I am on a lower dosage and I am always getting frustrated over the slightest thing. I don't know if I should request a new medication (but I have tried a few before and in between the dosage switch and none work that well ) or if I should go back on the higher dosage and risk panic attacks. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas on what they might do in my situation?

[LisaLisa77]

I was on Abilify 5 mg and had muscle twitching so my psych. lowered the dose to 2 mg. It has really helped. 15 mg. sounds like an extremely high dose. How many mg are you on now? It does make me a little restless, but I'll take that over the voices and hallucinations anyday.

Lisa

[triedeverymed]

I;m on 2mg of Abilify and I love it but maybe you need another med with it, perhaps an antidepressant? Usually those of us with Bipolar disoder are on more than one medication. It's a matter of finding the right combination.I would get nack on the phone to the doc and tell him/her what's going on. They may change the meds alltogether. Don't get frustrated, it's part of the process, believe me I've been on everything all with no effect or bad side effects. Have you tried Lamictal? A lot of people have success with that one. Check with the doc, you shouldn't have to suffer. Oh I forgot I have Panic Disorder and I was given Prozac for it 10 years ago and the attacks went away and haven't come back, i"ve been off Prozac for years now but still no panic.
Hang in there, you'll find the right medication, it just takes time and I know that *****.
Erin

[butterflykitty]

I liked 15 mg except for the panic attacks it caused, it worked great. Now, I am being tried on 12.5 and will see him in a couple of weeks. If things are not going well, I will ask about the Lamictal. Thanks for the help.

[triedeverymed]

If the Abilify works except for panic attacks, why don'y you see about adding an antidepressant first? The reason I say that is Lamictal is a great drug but it takes 5 weeks to build up to the appropriate dose. Everyone goes on a 5 week starter pack. That's a long time, while Celexa and Lexapro for example work within 2-3 weeks. They help with panic attacks. This is provided Abilify helps you, if not, I would see about switching too. Geodon is in the family with Abilify and it works fast too, like within a couple weeks. Just a suggestion.
Good Luck, I know how frustrating it is finding the right medication. I've been on over 47 kinds of meds over the last 10 years. Cymbalta was another one that helped my panic attacks, I went on that after being on Prozac for 8 or 9 years. It works faster than Prozac but slower than celexa & lexapro.
Erin

[triedeverymed]

Forgot to mention 15 mg. does seem like a high dose of Abilify. Pehaps the does is way too high. I'm on 2mg and my doc says most of his patients are on 5-8mg. a day. I bet the high dose may have caused the panic attacks. Check the side effects, nervousness may be one and in you it could manifest as panic attacks.
Best of luck!!