Posted by SLS on January 2, 2014, at 11:47:13
In reply to Abilify as an add-on to antidepressants?, posted by chinaboy on January 2, 2014, at 0:10:54
> My psychiatrist (the one who suspects me that i might have psychosis) also mentioned Abilify is an effective add-on to antidepressants to boost their efficacy.
> Is this true?Yes.
> If true, why? Why can Abilify boost antidepressants' efficacy?
Abilify does a few things that promote dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) balance. It is a partial agonist of D2 and D3 receptors and also of 5-HT1a receptors. As to which of these properties contributes to its antidepressant effects is nothing more than an educated guess at this point.
Sometimes the only way of finding the right drugs for a given individual is through experimentation. Since doctors do NOT understand enough about how these drugs work, their treatment practices are often reduced to trial and error. This becomes particularly true of cases that are difficult to treat. Actually, empirical observations using trial and error becomes necessary in many more fields of medicine, even with cardiac illness. The practice of medicine is as much an art as it is a science.
I take Abilify 10 mg/day to treat bipolar depression. However, the dosage necessary for a therapeutic response in unipolar depression is generally lower (2 - 5 mg/day).
Good luck with the Abilify. Just know that the first week might include some uncomfortable feelings of restlessness. This usually dissipates quickly. On the other hand, a much more severe side effect called akathisia can occur. It is not dangerous. If you discontinue the medication, the akathisia disappears. Under some circumstances, it makes sense to remain on the Abilify and treat the akathisia.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1057471
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20131209/msgs/1057496.html