Meds

[Soulwings]

I know I posted some of this in the coffee shop thread, but since not all members who frequent the board frequent that thread, I thought I may as well post here also.

I saw my NP on Saturday and she put me on two new meds, Abilify (titrating onto it and off of Geodon) and a tricyclic called desipramine. I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience(s) with either drug? I started them both today and had a really bad hypomanic "blip" 3 hours after I took them... it felt like I had ingested 400mg caffeine (equivalent of 2 NoDoze tablets) when I hadn't had caffeine since the day before. I wasn't sure that I could sit through my classes and actually went to the prof who teaches my first class and asked him if it would be okay if I had to leave early (I explained why and since he has experience with bipolar [immediate family members], he was very understanding) - but it was that bad. I hope not to repeat the experience tomorrow - I had to take an extra Klonopin and also some white hot chocolate (the closest I could get to hot milk), which both seemed to help after a little while. It just felt AWFUL!!!

I have also been having troubles with my temperature today, which could either be me catching the flu, or desipramine messing with me. I don't know which. Given that I haven't felt sick, I doubt it's the flu, but who knows... I need to check once more the list of side effects that desipramine can cause. Ugh.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. Thanks for reading, and please post if you have ANY comments or suggestions or support to offer!!

 

[michael714]

If I remember right, I had anxiety problems with Abilify and quit it after one day.
The last time I had a trycyclic (tophranil) I went psychotic and ended up in the hospital. But that's just the way I reacted.

Be careful.

 

[Jeshu]

Hi April,

Abilify I remember well I was on it for more than 3 years, it did contain my psychosis somewhat, but also caused anxiety, restlessness and sleeplessness, it did nothing to lift my depression, I was often rock bottom when I was on it. The other one I can't recall having - I have been on so many, and the labels often differ between you and us.

All the best with this lets hope you will stabilise a bit a lot of people are helped by Abilify and it helps some people to loose weight.

 

[Soulwings]

Michael, thanks for posting. Yeah, I read as a side effect of desipramine, it can exacerbate psychoses in schizophrenic individuals. Well, I'm not schizophrenic, but I do tend towards being psychotic, so I'm a little worried about that. I'm only on 25mg right now, so it's a pretty low dosage. My NP is being very careful, which I appreciate. But we'll see, I guess... I don't want to go psychotic again, but if it happens, it happens, I suppose. Thanks again.

Gerry, thanks for the encouragement about Abilify. I talked with a bipolar friend that I know IRL and she said that it caused her to gain 30lbs over 9 months... I really hope that that won't be the case for me, because I am already FAT (just look at my profile picture to see <gag>)... but my NP also said that some of her patients have lost weight on it, so hopefully that will be the case for me.

I did check the side effects of desipramine and "a fever, chills, or sore throat" are all side effects - and ones that the site said your healthcare provider should know about ASAP, so I called my NP yesterday to let her know. Left a message, but no response yet. Hopefully she doesn't think I'm a hypochondriac. The temperature issues are very yucky, because I can never get comfortable, no matter what I am wearing (or not wearing, as the case may be). Urghhh.

Thanks again, guys!!

 

[Soulwings]

BUMP!!! in case anyone else has stuff to add... if you do, PLEASE add it...

 

[Brinmar]

Tofranil made me break out in a bad rash all over

Abilify was OK. Probably the only med that I've taken for more that a month or two. Did gain weight - but it wasn't bad. Had to quit because it gave me an irregular heartbeat.

Power is off and on for our area - bad snow storm. Had to walk to work today - will have to walk to work tomorrow.

Everybody have a great day,
Heidi