Posted by utopizen on May 12, 2004, at 11:52:18
In reply to abilify 10 mg on the 8th day when will it start??, posted by Jeroen on May 10, 2004, at 15:55:22
> hi im on abilify 10 mg on the 8th day when will it start working?? my side effects are bad sleep, and my vision is also bad i cant read subtitles on tv or see people clearly with a distance of 6 metters this side effect started on 7th day
>
> please tell me when the seratonin will be activated on what day? also what will i feel?
>heh- it's not an amphetamine, it's a modulator =)
serotonin isn't "activated" by drugs, but drugs like Abilify can help modulate it as well as dopamine and other chemicals in your brain.
Abilify is commonly used to augment an antidepressant, although often it's used first alone as well. You can speak with your doc after a month or so about possibly combining an antidepressant if you're not already on one.
It's not for 7-10 days until effects are noticable, and it takes a few weeks to ride out the side effects. Everyone goes through some side effects for the first few weeks, and it's important to speak to your doctor about minimizing these somehow so that you stay compliant on the med.
Unless it makes you sleepy (for me, it made me sleepy just for 2 days, then it made me energetic)-- try AM dosing instead of PM dosing to help your sleep. Sleep distribuances for me generally only last the first night of taking the drug, beyond that my body adjusts to the drug and my sleep goes back to normal again. Bodies are resillent like that, but be patient.
Speak with your doc, don't expect this to cure any depression you may have, and remember it's easier to minimzie the side effects from this drug than switch to a whole new drug that'll just introduce new side effects to adjust to.
It may very well help your depression, but that may take weeks, if not an addition of an antidepressant down the road if you aren't noticing progress.
Not that this is relevant to this board, but ever since I've started riding my bike each day for an hour, my dreams have immediately become very vivid, my mood seems to be "me" again, and I am not on any antidepressants yet (I'm likely going to try Straterra+Provigil down the road for my sleepiness/ADD).
If you happen not to exercise at least 3x/week aerobically, be aware that your body will have a harder time at coping with sleep disturbing side effects.... exercise makes your sleep more compressed and efficient, as you likely know.
(Also releases endorphins and stress, as I go from being stressed out and moody before my bike ride to giddy and tranquil with everything when I come back!)
Okay, I used Abilify, and I went off it after two weeks once restlessness kicked in. I regret this, as it was helping my energy levels/ADD a lot and restlessness can be reduced by other drugs.
poster:utopizen
thread:345465
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040510/msgs/346150.html