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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 20, 2006, at 18:04:24
Hi gang,
Just wanted to post on my recent med success. I have treatment resistant unipolar depression. It has lasted about 3 years. I have had a few ups after dif med additions, but no recovery. Recently, we added 5 mg of Abilify to my mix (Effexor, Lithium, Neurontin, Dexedrine, Ambien). It seems to have made a big difference. My pdoc literally did a happy dance! LOL! She said that once we get past a big deadline that I have coming up we can try to weed out some of the extra meds.
I feel differently than I felt the other times I felt better. I hope that means that this is the real thing. I really miss myself!
Best,
EE
Posted by Racer on August 20, 2006, at 20:08:31
In reply to I think it is working (crosses fingers), posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 20, 2006, at 18:04:24
Will you keep us -- that is, me ;-) -- updated about weight gain from it? And other side effects, too, but you know my concern...
Congrats, and I hope it continues working well for you! (I'm sick, doing physical therapy which has me sore, and got a shot in my butt yesterday -- right where I'm sore from the PT -- so I won't be able to do a happy dance for you. I will jiggle a little in my chair, though, if that will do? :-D )
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 20, 2006, at 20:46:50
In reply to Re: I think it is working (crosses fingers), posted by Racer on August 20, 2006, at 20:08:31
Theoretically, Abilify is weight neutral. Theoretically, of course.
I actually have been gaining some weight, but I think it started when I switched from Lexapro to Effexor. My pdoc says Eff is also supposed to be weight neutral (3% chance of weight gain). I'm going to decrease my dose of Eff next month and we'll see if that helps. I swear that I have been always hungry and craving junk food since I started it. I do like that my pdoc says that she takes weight gain very seriously and we'll work to figure it out. She's a keeper.
Someday, Racer, we'll be so sane that we'll scare ourselves. :) I'll keep you posted.
Best,
EE
Posted by Racer on August 20, 2006, at 21:32:00
In reply to Re: I think it is working (crosses fingers), posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 20, 2006, at 20:46:50
>
> Someday, Racer, we'll be so sane that we'll scare ourselves. :)lol You know I've got that in writing now...
Best luck on it all, EE.
Actually, I guess I have some good news of my own: while my mood is definitely low, and my mental acuity is on vacation, and I can't seem to get motivated to do ANYTHING -- all signs of depression for me -- I had a couple of bad things happen yesterday and managed to roll with them. That tells me that my Wellbutrin is doing more than I was aware of. Now if I could find something that augments it in the mood brightening department...
(Of course, the real test will come if I didn't get an A on that math final...)
Posted by Phillipa on August 20, 2006, at 21:48:20
In reply to Re: I think it is working (crosses fingers) » Emily Elizabeth, posted by Racer on August 20, 2006, at 21:32:00
EE that's wonderful!!!!! I'm so happy for you. I'll have to send you an e-mail. Love Phillipa
Posted by finelinebob on August 20, 2006, at 22:11:16
In reply to I think it is working (crosses fingers), posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 20, 2006, at 18:04:24
Most excellent, EE
As for the weight gain, yeah, whatever ... can't believe everything a drug company's monograph says about it. While I was in Michigan, my PDoc had me try Zyprexa. My god, what a difference! And justification for my PDoc that I was bipolar spectrum (given a number of other indicators but response to atypical antipsychotics was a clincher).
Problem was, my tryglicerides shot up to 900. Yes, 900. The tests stop becoming accurate around 400, so who knows what it was.
My new PDoc out here in NYC agreed with the DX and the first thing he asked me when I mentioned I had been on Zyprexa was "So, how many pounds did you gain?" He gave me a trial on Abilify. Not the same result, and again a spike in my triglycerides (yes, I have type II diabetes history in my family, so glipizide is probably somewhere in my future).
I wound up with a happy story anyway and I'm so glad to hear that Abilify is working for you. Just keep your GP in touch with your PDoc ... you gotta keep an eye on those diabetes precursors so regular bloodtests are going to be needed, particularly at first.
Posted by deniseuk190466 on August 22, 2006, at 11:14:12
In reply to I think it is working (crosses fingers), posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 20, 2006, at 18:04:24
Hi,
I'm really pleased for you, had you tried any other antipsychotics before trying the Abilify?
Denise
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 22, 2006, at 19:16:21
In reply to I'm so pleased for you, posted by deniseuk190466 on August 22, 2006, at 11:14:12
No, Abilify is my 1st AP. I was so hesitant to try it b/c of the AP label, but wow, what a difference. I wish that I would have tried it sooner!
Best,
EE
This is the end of the thread.
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