Dear Abilify Mama,
I am sorry you are having problems too. I know how you feel re: Abilify’s icky side effects! I took Abilify for 5 mos. It’s interesting that your side effect with Abilify is mania, as mine was severe depression – the lesser-publicized side effect, pehaps.I started at 2.5, went up to 15 mg, then had to go back down to 2.5 because of that awful restless feeling. Even at 2.5 a day I felt like a drugged-out, depressed zombie. I tapered off Abilify 7 weeks ago, under the guidance of my psychiatrist and with the promise to my him that I would return to a low dose of Lithium. Well, I decided after I made that promise that I couldn’t take it anymore. I made a huge, dangerous (yes, dangerous decision) to try the alternative route. It is working for me. I feel 100% better. The depression is gone. I am grounded and myself again. Friends who have known me for 25 years say the old me is back, but more mature! My Mom said I seemed like myself again. I met with my psychiatrist today and I asked him if he thought I was manic. (I certainly was not depressed!) He said, plainly, I don’t know. He has never had a patient who has been successful in being on alternative medicine. Neither has my other psychiatrist. (Yes, I have 2!) Don’t get me started on that story, LOL!)
Three of my primary psychiatrist’s patients killed themselves last year. I almost was the 4th one to go, because of how I was affected by drugs, specifically, Elavil, an antidepressant that was prescribed to me.
It is a personal choice…the whole meds thing, although if you have 2 small children and a husband like me, the stakes are much, MUCH higher…and I will probably get flak for writing about my controversial choice here. I may even get my post deleted like it was at Bipolarworld.org, much to my disappointment. I’m not saying “Go off your drugs” per se. I know that can kill too. However, if you are tired of feeling horrible and you want to know exactly what I have been doing, email me. I hope I have not offended anyone. I speak from some experience, although God knows I am no M.D. or God for that matter! Hope this post helps someone. take care and you’ll be in my prayers, Dyane
