Abilify and Ambien

[kelliebellie]

My dr put me on ambien 12.5mg to help regulate my sleep, which sounded great to me since I do not remember the last time I had a good night sleep. He also put me on a low dose of abilify 2mg for a week then  up it to 4 mg a day. I slept good last night, went right off to sleep and did not wake up, still woke up tired, shucks!! but the kittne woke me up so who knows what time i would have slept too...anyway, today is my 2nd day on the abilify and muy body is exhausted, I had to lay down this afternoon, My mind and body are soo sluggish, worse than before I started taking them..
Also, im  very irritated, worse than before...I taek the abilify in the morning and effexor in the afternoon, should I take them together? Im so frustrated Im feel worse not better Im losing my hope again, Its taking all my energy to get dressed and do my makeup, and im trying not to cry because I am soo exhausted
Also can being depressed cause you to lose concentration and the ability to make decisions? I am having a hard time with these things. Thank you

[kelliebellie]

Thank you... I thought the ambien was too strong, but I was so happy to sleep again...Now the abilify, I was suppose to  increase from 2 mg today to 4mg, I wanted to tknow if 2 mg was a thereaputic dose and also can I take have of that and take 1 mg since Im so sensititve and that might work, Its been keeping me up at night the abilify, makes my mind and body racy and alert...Waiting for my dr to call back, but sometimes that doesnt happen......Thanks

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You are taking a lot of medication, and many times this combination can backfire and cause the kind of symptoms you are describing. I suggest you go back to your doctor, and ask that instead of adding medications, you start subtracting them.  The ambien alone can cause memory loss and fatigue....and that is a hefty dose of ambien.