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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by uncouth on July 17, 2015, at 13:07:35
Hi, taking kind of a brief survey here. I'm currently at 2.5mg of Abilify, splitting 5mg tablets. I always do best with abilify the first few days, maybe just because it "flips the switch". But I also get weight gain issues.
I am using it to treat BP2, anhedonia, motivation, mood.
I'm just sort of curious "how low can you go" with this med. I've never tried less than 2mg a day, but have people ever tried less than this, like 1mg/day, or even 0.5mg/day (1mg EOD)?
How did it compare to higher doses?
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 17, 2015, at 16:31:46
In reply to Abilify minimum effective dose?, posted by uncouth on July 17, 2015, at 13:07:35
I read somewhere about a pdoc who used low doses like yours every 2nd or 3rd day.
Posted by SLS on July 17, 2015, at 18:54:11
In reply to Abilify minimum effective dose?, posted by uncouth on July 17, 2015, at 13:07:35
From what I can see, weight-gain is dose-independent with Abilify. You will probably gain the same amount of weight at 2.0 mg/day as you would at 20.0 mg/day. For my bipolar depression, I lose an antidepressant effect if I go below 10 mg/day.
I don't think it makes sense to forfeit the full effect of Abilify in an effort to prevent weight gain since this side effect will be present for you at any dosage.
If it turns out that I am mistaken, please post your results. Thanks.
As was suggested by others, you can dose every-other-day if you want. The half-life of Abilify is about 75 hours, and 95 hours for its active metabolite.
I believe it is Lambdage who extolls the virtues of using metformin to control weight gain. I'm thinking about asking my doctor for it.
- Scott
Posted by Lamdage22 on July 19, 2015, at 6:23:09
In reply to Re: Abilify minimum effective dose? » uncouth, posted by SLS on July 17, 2015, at 18:54:11
> I believe it is Lambdage who extolls the virtues of using metformin to control weight gain. I'm thinking about asking my doctor for it.
>
>
> - ScottThats correct. Its pretty good at 2000mg
Posted by Uncouth on July 24, 2015, at 12:10:33
In reply to Re: Abilify minimum effective dose?, posted by Lamdage22 on July 19, 2015, at 6:23:09
I've been at 2000mg of metformin for years. HAs done nothing to attenuate Nardil weight gain or Abilify weight gain. I went from 225 to 275 from 10 months on Nardil, and that was while exercising and lifting weights (so some of that is muscle, but I was already overweight at 225, i'm 5'11).
Wondering if metformin at 3000mg a day would be effective? I know the highest dose i've heard of is 2550mg a day (3x850). I haven't heard that metformin dosage is related to weight, but who knows.
Any thoughts on 3000mg? And what would i look for in terms of effectiveness or side effects if i wanted to try?
Posted by phidippus on August 5, 2015, at 10:27:43
In reply to Abilify minimum effective dose?, posted by uncouth on July 17, 2015, at 13:07:35
2.5 is the lowest dosage I've taken.
Eric
Posted by Lamdage22 on August 14, 2015, at 7:33:54
In reply to Re: Abilify minimum effective dose?, posted by Lamdage22 on July 19, 2015, at 6:23:09
be advised though that you should get your kidney checked regularly to avoid a serious Metformin side effect.
This is the end of the thread.
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