Posted by puravida on August 21, 2010, at 6:30:51
Hi everyone,
I've just completed a two week trial of Abilify and wanted to share my "findings" here. I have been taking 5 mg in addition to 60 mg Prozac and 300 mg Wellbutrin XL.
First, it WORKS. I haven't felt like my "old" self like this in years and years, despite being on meds of various flavors since 1995. I remember when I was first put on Prozac and how all of a sudden I could look and see clearly that I had been depressed, and that on Prozac, I wasn't. The addition of Abilify seemed to take me from being able to handle my depression to being completely undepressed. Both thumbs up there.
For the side effects, I've gained 6 lbs in these two weeks. :( And I have been super hungry. Not anxious I want to pig out hungry, but hungry in my stomach, like I need to eat, and NOW. I haven't changed my lifestyle or started eating extra, so I have to say the weight gain is due to Abilify.
How I've been different the past two weeks: Decisions are simple - I don't have to talk myself into getting out of bed, I just do it. Up early, sleeping well, too! I guess overall my self-control is just so much easier - it makes me realize how abnormal I have been most of all these years. And I'm able to easily see the glass half full, without taking half a day of self-therapy, or more. No physical side effects, except for the hunger pangs and the weight gain.
But I can't afford to keep taking it, at $400 a month, so...we'll see what happens. Because I do have basic insurance, I don't qualify for the drug companies patient assistance program. I am sort of hoping that now that I remember how it feels to be really, really undepressed, that I can keep acting "as if" - and maybe, maybe...???
Well, yesterday took 2.5 mg, today I am out, so we'll see. This past week has been super productive, catching up on a lot I have procrastinated on. I hope I can keep the momentum going without the Abilify. Gotta try. Otherwise I may have to drop my insurance so I qualify for PAP - how messed up is that? :)
PV
poster:puravida
thread:959302
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100821/msgs/959302.html