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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 7:46:54
I've posted before that I have soft bipolar (atypical depression and mild dysphoric mania, and anxiety). After much trepidation and tremendous support from this board I tried low dose abilify 2.5 mg, along with ativan as needed. It helped greatly but I had to discontinue after 5 weeks due to side effect of painful myalgia and increase activation. My pdoc now suggests I WORK UP TO 20 mg Geodon with low dose of requip. I'VE HEARD BOTH THESE DRUGS CAN CAUSE HEART ARRYTHMIAS....I've had isolated PVCs and they were very bad with Depakote. I just think there must be a be a better drug combo out there with far less side effects; because my condition isn't bad enuff to warrant such serious side effects in my opinion. Any suggestions??
Posted by Bill LL on August 1, 2005, at 9:34:22
In reply to HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP, posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 7:46:54
I can understand your concern. My humble non-professional opinion is that you re-try abilify (with ativan as needed) and see if adding something like neurontin can help with the pain and activation.
> I've posted before that I have soft bipolar (atypical depression and mild dysphoric mania, and anxiety). After much trepidation and tremendous support from this board I tried low dose abilify 2.5 mg, along with ativan as needed. It helped greatly but I had to discontinue after 5 weeks due to side effect of painful myalgia and increase activation. My pdoc now suggests I WORK UP TO 20 mg Geodon with low dose of requip. I'VE HEARD BOTH THESE DRUGS CAN CAUSE HEART ARRYTHMIAS....I've had isolated PVCs and they were very bad with Depakote. I just think there must be a be a better drug combo out there with far less side effects; because my condition isn't bad enuff to warrant such serious side effects in my opinion. Any suggestions??
Posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 10:35:38
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP, posted by Bill LL on August 1, 2005, at 9:34:22
Thank you Bill. Your humbe non-proffesional opinion is valued; I had actually been thinking of re-trying Abilify, but when I mentioned it to my pdoc, he didn't really answer. What has been your experience, if you don't mind me asking?
> I can understand your concern. My humble non-professional opinion is that you re-try abilify (with ativan as needed) and see if adding something like neurontin can help with the pain and activation.
>
> > I've posted before that I have soft bipolar (atypical depression and mild dysphoric mania, and anxiety). After much trepidation and tremendous support from this board I tried low dose abilify 2.5 mg, along with ativan as needed. It helped greatly but I had to discontinue after 5 weeks due to side effect of painful myalgia and increase activation. My pdoc now suggests I WORK UP TO 20 mg Geodon with low dose of requip. I'VE HEARD BOTH THESE DRUGS CAN CAUSE HEART ARRYTHMIAS....I've had isolated PVCs and they were very bad with Depakote. I just think there must be a be a better drug combo out there with far less side effects; because my condition isn't bad enuff to warrant such serious side effects in my opinion. Any suggestions??
>
>
Posted by ed_uk on August 1, 2005, at 15:01:51
In reply to HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP, posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 7:46:54
Hi Alvin,
My suggestion is to try Abilify again but this time at 1.25mg. Give it a few weeks at the lower dose to see if it helps.
~ed
Posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 16:05:56
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP » Alvin, posted by ed_uk on August 1, 2005, at 15:01:51
Thanks Ed...I've thought that could be a good idea, and have made three calls into my pdoc today suggesting something along those lines. Clearly I'm panicking, in part because I got a call to interview for a professional position that I had applied for while I was on the Abilify in the month of June. It seemed doable at the time, but when I got the call today (with nothing in my system) I just panicked. I've also been toying with the idea of going on prozac, since that might help my IBS, seems to be a strong brain-gut connection for me. When I was on PRozac before, it eliminated the extreme bloating I get from IBS (right now I look about 20 months pregnant). Perhaps in the short term that might even be better than the Abilify. What are your thoughts on Prozac Ed, instead of the Abilify? I hope you're doing well. Alvin P.S. I've been reading your other posts on bipolar and schiz info, and find them interesting & informative.
> Hi Alvin,
>
> My suggestion is to try Abilify again but this time at 1.25mg. Give it a few weeks at the lower dose to see if it helps.
>
> ~ed
Posted by ed_uk on August 1, 2005, at 16:10:22
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP » ed_uk, posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 16:05:56
Hi!
>I've thought that could be a good idea, and have made three calls into my pdoc today suggesting something along those lines.
Oh well. You don't need your pdoc's permission. Just do it!!!
>Prozac
Why did you stop taking Prozac? Did it help your psych symptoms?
~ed
Posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 16:19:17
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP » Alvin, posted by ed_uk on August 1, 2005, at 16:10:22
You're right, but I like to be as politically sensitive as I can; my pdoc is good and will probably call me back tonite and say go ahead with the abilify. Prozac helped me greatly, in fact so great that I was pushed into a hypomanic, possibly manic episode on 60 mg. I loved Prozac and it helped all the anxiety, OCD and depression as well as the IBS, but it is clear that I can't take such a high dose; also after about 4 months it does produce apathy and weight gain (at least in my case!)Also, Prozac, even at its best, MASKED problems for me, so it was almost if I didn't care about anyone else's problems; abilify, on the other hand, didn't mask problems, just helped me cope with them.
> Hi!
>
> >I've thought that could be a good idea, and have made three calls into my pdoc today suggesting something along those lines.
>
> Oh well. You don't need your pdoc's permission. Just do it!!!
>
> >Prozac
>
> Why did you stop taking Prozac? Did it help your psych symptoms?
>
> ~ed
Posted by ed_uk on August 1, 2005, at 16:45:51
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP, posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 16:19:17
Hi,
>my pdoc is good and will probably call me back tonite and say go ahead with the abilify.
Tell us what s/he says :-)
~Ed
Posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 18:09:56
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP » Alvin, posted by ed_uk on August 1, 2005, at 16:45:51
Hey Ed, I got a call from my pdoc; he said he had other possibilities other than the requip/geodon combo & that by all means, to get through this, by taking the abilify (1.25 mg, just like you said). Personally, I think you should become a pdoc - with your background in pharmacology, you'd be a star
> Hi,
>
> >my pdoc is good and will probably call me back tonite and say go ahead with the abilify.
>
> Tell us what s/he says :-)
>
> ~Ed
Posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 18:14:36
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP, posted by Bill LL on August 1, 2005, at 9:34:22
Hey Bill, I got a call from my pdoc; he said to go on the low dose abilify; your opinion is a very well-educated one. My pdoc said he has some other possibilities, too, and that geodon and requip are not the only things we can try. Thanks for your help....perhaps neurotin to the mix will also turn out to be a good idea.
> I can understand your concern. My humble non-professional opinion is that you re-try abilify (with ativan as needed) and see if adding something like neurontin can help with the pain and activation.
>
> > I've posted before that I have soft bipolar (atypical depression and mild dysphoric mania, and anxiety). After much trepidation and tremendous support from this board I tried low dose abilify 2.5 mg, along with ativan as needed. It helped greatly but I had to discontinue after 5 weeks due to side effect of painful myalgia and increase activation. My pdoc now suggests I WORK UP TO 20 mg Geodon with low dose of requip. I'VE HEARD BOTH THESE DRUGS CAN CAUSE HEART ARRYTHMIAS....I've had isolated PVCs and they were very bad with Depakote. I just think there must be a be a better drug combo out there with far less side effects; because my condition isn't bad enuff to warrant such serious side effects in my opinion. Any suggestions??
>
>
Posted by Bill LL on August 2, 2005, at 10:47:14
In reply to Re: HELP!DON'T LIKE PDOC ADVICE RE GEODON REQUIP » Bill LL, posted by Alvin on August 1, 2005, at 18:14:36
That sounds encouraging. I personally have never tried Abilify or any of the other drugs in it's class. But from what I have read, I think it's supposed to have less side effects than others.
> Hey Bill, I got a call from my pdoc; he said to go on the low dose abilify; your opinion is a very well-educated one. My pdoc said he has some other possibilities, too, and that geodon and requip are not the only things we can try. Thanks for your help....perhaps neurotin to the mix will also turn out to be a good idea.
>
> > I can understand your concern. My humble non-professional opinion is that you re-try abilify (with ativan as needed) and see if adding something like neurontin can help with the pain and activation.
> >
> > > I've posted before that I have soft bipolar (atypical depression and mild dysphoric mania, and anxiety). After much trepidation and tremendous support from this board I tried low dose abilify 2.5 mg, along with ativan as needed. It helped greatly but I had to discontinue after 5 weeks due to side effect of painful myalgia and increase activation. My pdoc now suggests I WORK UP TO 20 mg Geodon with low dose of requip. I'VE HEARD BOTH THESE DRUGS CAN CAUSE HEART ARRYTHMIAS....I've had isolated PVCs and they were very bad with Depakote. I just think there must be a be a better drug combo out there with far less side effects; because my condition isn't bad enuff to warrant such serious side effects in my opinion. Any suggestions??
> >
> >
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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