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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pedr on August 8, 2011, at 12:37:45
Hi,
I have been on 90 mg of Nardil for 1 1/2 years. It helped with the severe depression but left me incredibly tired - falling asleep during the day, very little energy, but still having some bursts of motivation and only intermittent apathy. I decided to go down to 60 mg a couple of months ago to try combat the stupor (and weight gain, snoring etc.). This worked nicely for about a month. But then increasing amounts of apathy crept in. I started to feel very flat and blue most days.After trying multiple stims (Provigil, Ritalin (sr&ir), amphetamine salts, caffeine), none of which worked) I tried ability, starting at just 2.5mg and so far (1 week - early days), so good:
- increased energy
- much improved mood, outlook, sense of Wellbeing
- less depressed. My OCD is less painful and less pervasive.
- better cognition. The fog of Nardil is partially parting. My observable behaviour and IQ are significantly improved.Perhaps others on the love-Nardil-but-am-so-tire...zzzz train might want to check it out (and discuss with their PDoc, which I am not...)
Pedr
Posted by Zonked on August 8, 2011, at 15:05:36
In reply to Nardil + Abilify. All good so far., posted by pedr on August 8, 2011, at 12:37:45
Thanks for the update. Keep posting... I've been offered Abilify before but very scared of EPS... and long term sides of any drug in that class. I'll wait until it's been on the market a few more years unless I just can't stand it anymore. If you get weird movements or akathisia please tell us. Congratulations on finding a great augment!
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 8, 2011, at 19:56:08
In reply to Re: Nardil + Abilify. All good so far. » pedr, posted by Zonked on August 8, 2011, at 15:05:36
The chances of getting EPS from that low dose are about the same as being killed in a car accident while driving to the supermarket - so unlikely that it isnt worth thinking about
Posted by pedr on August 24, 2011, at 20:33:51
In reply to Re: Nardil + Abilify. All good so far., posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 8, 2011, at 19:56:08
EMS == Extrapyramidal symptoms? No, I haven't experienced any of those yet although my OCD and anxiety have been sky-high from time to time.
Unfortunately after 2 weeks I began to feel flat, sad and a bit depressed again. As each day passed I could just feel my Mind turning negative and my mood degrading. A pretty galling experience after such dizzy heights.
So I upped the dose on Sunday to 5mg and it's only made things worse. I feel quite badly depressed and perpetually exhausted - quite the opposite of the activating previous 2 weeks when I was too buzzed, if anything.
So just now I looked up the Pharmacology of Aripiprazole and lo :
Aripiprazole displays linear kinetics and has an elimination half-life of approximately 75 hours. Steady-state plasma concentrations are achieved in about 14 days. Cmax (maximum plasma concentration) is achieved 35 hours after oral dosing.
~ upon starting Abilify, I found that it took 2-3 days (i.e. 75 hours) to notice a robust, appreciable response
~ I had noted feeling better 3+ hours after taking a dose
~ time to reach steady-state is equal to the period of time I felt good, after which I am feeling horridSo either I felt good because the Abilify was continually increasing in concentration in my blood and now feel awful because it's stopped increasing, or, I felt good because the plasma concentration levels were lower and now feel bad because they're higher.
I've decided to go down to 1.25mg a day as a consequence. I will post another update in due course.
Cheers,
Pedr
This is the end of the thread.
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