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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Abilify for Depression?
I know there are a number of posters here who have struggled with depression nad other mental health issues. If you are willing to share, could you please tell me if you use Abilify? Are there serious side effects? Is it effective? My mother's psychiatrist has suggested she take this, but up until now she hasn't because of its cost (something like $500 per 3 month supply).
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
Re: Abilify for Depression?
Thanks SBP.
I would laso like to add to my OP that I think she also needs to start going to weekly therapy (not just add a more potent drug..it bugs me that the psychiatrist didn't suggest this too). I think she has gotten worse partly due to her age and related physical limitations.
HOwever, other family memebrs and I are starting to realize that my brother's long term unemployment (over 4 years now) which is mostly his fault is a huge part of her downward spiral as he lives with her. Any advice on what to do about that would be greatly appreciated as well. It seems to me that we'll need to tell him and knowing his situation (he's not in the greatest shape emotionally either) I'm not sure how that is going to work out.
Is she in therapy at all? I know she has a psychiatrist, but I know that some of them do not handle the therapy themselves.
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No, she is not. Her psychiatrist is just the person she touches base with (I think every 6 weeks?)/get new prescription if needed. There was a time years ago that she went to therapy, but basically she just takes meds now. That's why I think she should be in therapy with this med change.
I absolutely agree. Prayers for her.
How does she feel about trying the abilify? Would it be a supplement to another AD? At that cost, I'd want to exhaust all possible options, but I also know that when meds aren't working, all you want is to just not feel that way anymore.
Are you close to her (proximity-wise)? Depending on how she's currently feeling, having someone there to advocate for her/ask the right questions/etc. might be really helpful.
Hugs for you, too. It's hard to be on the watching side of mental illness, too.
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Haven't used abilify, I used Cipralex (10mg). I just wanted to wish you and your family the best of luck - I know how hard it is to be the depressed individual, and also to watch as someone suffers from depression.
Hugs.
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notquite, I switched to Celexa when my Lexapro (at the max dose) stopped working for me. I had almost no side effects because the two are so similar in makeup, and the switch evened me back out. I totally know that everyone is different, but as a fellow anxiety sufferer, figured I'd share in case it could help you in the future.
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I took it in a low dose (2 mg) with my regular antidepressant for about 6 months. It worked wonders. The cost is daunting; however your mother's psychiatrist may be able to get her a discount card for it. My psych NP gave me a card that made it a more manageable $30/month.
No major side effects. Very effective for me (everyone's different, you know this already). I would suggest that she give it a try. See if the psychiatrist has samples too so she can give it a try for a few weeks before getting a full prescription.
My sister took it. She had to take another med with it to stop some sort of shaking or tremors (I think its a Parkinson's med) which is a common side effect. I agree with what others have said in terms of trying it after the normal ones: zoloft, prozac, etc. It wasn't the drug for her and she does a lot better on prozac now.
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I agree. I take Seroquel which is a antipsychotic in the same family. I take it for BiPolar disorder. I have gained 40 pounds. Unfortunately, this is the only med that works for me. I hope she finds something that works for her. Oh and therapy for sure.
I took it for awhile, in addition to Pristiq. I don't remember if my dosage was 2mg or 5mg.
The first week or so adjusting to it was rough. I felt like I was in a fog, my arms/legs felt weak and shaky (similar to the feeling after getting over a bad case of the flu), and I couldn't get enough sleep.
After the 7th or 8th day it was AMAZING. The adjustment side effects went away. I was alert, I didn't have bad reactions to emotionally trying events -- I even handled losing my job in a positive manner. I was finally in a good enough mental space that I started seeing positive results from the therapy. Before that I felt like I was going in circles with therapy.
For me, the combination of an SSRI, Abilify, and therapy worked wonders.
It did take a lot of encouragement and support from both my therapist, and my physician to get past the initial adjustment period. I'm glad I did it though.
For her, it was the cost that was keeping her from trying it. It's my understanding that she has since filled the prescription after a discussion with my SIL re: her health is more important, dont' worry about the cost, etc.
Unfortunately, I now live 5 hours away, so no, I'm not nearby. However, I trust my SIL in this regard. She is the one who called me yesterday with her concerns.
Thanks. Honestly, the whole situation with my brother is what makes it worse.
I'm pretty sure she has Medicare and another insurance for the donut hole. However, thanks for that info....I will definitely let her know about it.
She has been on other AD's for many years. I think this is an add-on, but I'm not sure.
Yeah, with the very limited knowledge/experience I have had with Abilify (former student), my initial reaction to hearing about her using it was a negative one.
I'm glad to hear this from you. Again, my experience is super limited...one person (and that person I never even met because her issues caused her to stay home from school..... I only helped manage her case).