Strange question about how my antipsychotic affects my mood

Hi,

I have a bit of an odd question and just looking to see if anyone else has the same issue. I have been having ultra rapid cycling weekly for the past year. I am currently on Abilify alone. I started medication again this last summer. I was on lithium for a few months (which worked kinda ok) but had to stop due to hair loss and acne. My doctor has started me on Abilify 10mg.

I find that my cycling still exists but my highs are a bit toned down but the lows (which last approx 2 days) are even lower. I feel physically exhausted, muscle weakness, etc until the high comes back for approx three days. Is this normal? Is the drug not working properly or not enough? I can't take antidepressants because they have all (prozac, effexor, paxil, zoloft) sent me psychotic manic.

Just looking for anyone else's thoughts or experience with antipsychotics. Thanks

Hi

I am on aripiprazole 10mg as well. I have not noticed what you describe - but everyone is different. It sounds like perhaps it is not suiting you and maybe something else would be better for you. Might be worth discussing with your Dr and see what they think. I know that lamotrigine is meant to work well esp for depressive episodes as a mood stabiliser and there are others available too. Aripiprazole does have some mood stabilising properties as well as being an antipsychotic but it may not be the drug for you. I hope that you can find a solution to this.

Hugs

Cracked

Thank you for your reply. It very well might not be the med for me. I will stick it out until around 15 mg and see if it gets better. He wants to try Seroquel next but I fear that will be way to sedating. I just have the lazy, muscle weakness problem on my down days but am still awake and alert. Just feel like a million pound weight is on my shoulders lol. I guess I will wait and see

Hope that things get settled for you

Hugs

Cracked

Hair loss and acne?

You're deficient in B-vitamins and zinc. And the help you are getting is quackery.

B Vitamins and Zinc? Ok I am interested since my hair loss and acne won't stop lierally both started last summer). How much of each and would a combo pill of all the B vitamins work or is it certain B vitamins? Thanks

Mr Metal wrote:Hair loss and acne?

You're deficient in B-vitamins and zinc. And the help you are getting is quackery.

It is not appropriate to diagnose a member of this forum. It is also not appropriate to imply that professional medical advice isn't good and shouldn't be followed. You need to follow the forum rules with regard to these things.

Whilst you are welcome to suggest alternative treatment options, it is not appropriate to do so from a basis that implies that professional medical advice isn't good and shouldn't be followed. If you wish to express that type of view, please do so in the Anti-psych forum only.

Imajica wrote:B Vitamins and Zinc? Ok I am interested since my hair loss and acne won't stop lierally both started last summer). How much of each and would a combo pill of all the B vitamins work or is it certain B vitamins? Thanks

You can easily go to your GP and get the blood tests for vitamin deficiencies. They will then be able to tell you what you might be low on and recommend which supplements might be of most benefit to you.

You can easily go to your GP and get the blood tests for vitamin deficiencies. They will then be able to tell you what you might be low on and recommend which supplements might be of most benefit to you.

Thank you for your reply I would always ask my pdoc about any changes or concerns I have and never make a change based on something advised by another poster on here. I go to see my pdoc in 1.5 weeks. I do tend to take anything advised on here with a grain of salt since I realize everyone is different. I was more looking for info along the lines of the Abilify anyways XD

Good to hear that you take advice from here with a grain of salt and that you always talk things over with your pdoc.

Hopefully someone else has had some experience with Abilify and might be able to pitch in with how they found it...