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Abilify as a mood stabilizer????

Posted , 6 users are following.

Sarakeats
Sarakeats

I am a diagnosed bipolar and I'm wondering if something like Lithium would be better for controlling my mood swings instead of abilify and an antidepressant. 

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • aj01311975
    aj01311975 Sarakeats

    Posted

    I have been on lithium for 15 years. Granted I have my moments. I use cymbalta as an anti depressant. If you go on lithium please ask for the lithium SR. Good luck. Need any more help let me know
  • sharon12462
    sharon12462 Sarakeats

    Posted

    Hi I take lithium & venlafaxine. . Lithium didn't work for the severe depression ... its turned out to be a really good combination for me 😊
  • clare39944
    clare39944 Sarakeats

    Posted

    Hi,  I have been on 400mg Lithium for 4years.  I have a blood test for levels every 3 months. It is good for controlling manic episodes, but not so effective with depression.  Years ago I was put on Abilify and I found it no help at all. I suggest you discuss Lithium with your doctor.  I am in a depressive phase at present and have an appt with my psychiatrist in July to discuss possibility of trying an antidepressant.  In the past I have gone high but that was before Lithium.  It is always a balancing act.  At present I thank god for gardening!  I sincerely hope you manage to find the right drug combination. Good luck
  • richard89308
    richard89308 Sarakeats

    Posted

    I think  that  abilify works best  for mood swings. Liithium  is a drug used with bipolar and the anti depressant is  for the low moods.
  • mjmental
    mjmental Sarakeats

    Posted

    I am on lithium and it has helped a great deal. I can not remember if I tried ability. I have tried several things. I've been on lithium a few years. I don't think there's anything that can take all of it away.
    • aj01311975
      aj01311975 mjmental

      Posted

      I have been on lithium for 15 years. I'm on 2200 mg a day. It's not enough. I have Bipod 1
  • 425SpaceS
    425SpaceS Sarakeats

    Posted

    I have Bi-polar 1, on lithium, smokes WeeD

    Different parts of the brain is used when manic and depressed.

    Mood stablizer is there to balance/numb it out.

    When you are manic, psycosis follows e.g. hellusinations

    Weed is a drug, that bends the drain. But it comes along with anexity

    When you mind is weak and you smoke too much weed, you might get bad 'sence' of people going after you.

    I get phycosis when i am high (for a while) 'manic' but i cant sleep for 2 days

    I only been through is for 1 week, so i dont know what does it do when i am depressed

  • jim84297
    jim84297 Sarakeats

    Posted

    Abilify isn't a mood stabilizer, only Lithium, Depakote, Lamictal, Equatro are true

    mood stabilizers for bipolar. Point this out to your Doctor. Abilify is good when used

    in combination with one of the true mood stabilizers

  • jim84297
    jim84297 Sarakeats

    Posted

    To clarify my previous statement, the big 4 true mood stabilizers that I mentioned have a long history of stopping the cycling of bipolar disorder, which is the foundation of all bipolar treatment. These newer atypical antipsychotics and antidepressants help with some of the residual symptoms but in no way stabilize

    the mood[ stop the cycling). Some doctors fall prey to the newer is better advertising of drug companies. But let's stick with drugs that have a solid track

    record.

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