Resistant depression; how long does it take for Abilify to kick in?

Question

Hi guys, I am currently on Wellbutrin XR 150 mgs twice a day & celexa 40 mgs. I just started the 25mgs of Lamictal yesterday. However, I wanted to know is Abilify a different class of drug than the ones I listed? Cuz my dr wants 2 start me on a different class, since my depression is resistant! Do u know how long it take or usually take for Abilify to kick in? I couldn't take the higher dose lamictal cuz it seem to have a affect on my skin a little & it scared me! Long, story short, since I stopped the higher dose of lamictal, now on the weekends i stay in the house, isolate & don't leave the house & I want to have the desire to clean up, cook, wash & get out of the house instead of lay down on my couch & isolate! I did that for a whole summer & I did not realize that the depression was the cause!

I don't feel like doing anything on the weekends but sit on the couch & watch TV. I am going back into my shell & isolating again! I had no idea that my meds that I took last year, stopped working & my sadness & isolation came back! I did not know about online depression support groups & I dragged my feet for so long that a whole year passed me by with my isolation issues! All I did was go to work on the weekdays, & lay on the couch all weekend! Of course I called in quite a bit & my patience was low but yet I did not seek help! But now I am going 2 a psych doctor & getting my meds monitored & trying different ones, cuz some of the ones given to me did not help me! I need to do my normal chores & activities, but I don't have that get up & go anymore! It's hard sometimes! Do you guys have suggestions that i can take to my doctor or any advice or suggestions in general???

I need a medication that will not make me gain weight, stop me from isolating, give me back that get up & go energy, give me enthusiasm to get out of the house & enjoy my weekends! Do you guys have any suggestions of what has helped you? ( i already know everyone is different, but I just want some ideas, suggestions, etc.)

The only reason I leave the house on weekdays is because I have to go to work, but if I did not go to work, I would be on my couch on those days also! I have an appt in 2 weeks for my psych doctor & I wanted to see what has worked for you guys & I wanted to know more about Abilify. Please let me know & Thanking you in advance for your responses! bless you all!

Answer

I have been taking seratonin uptake drugs for over a year with no meaningful results. Prozac, Zoloft, etc. Have also participated in 2 research studies with very little result. Started on Abilify 10 days ago. Noticed extreme improvement in 2 or 3 days. I think I continue to improve every day. Won't solve everyone's depression, but for me it is a miracle.

Answer

Dear hope31,
I have been in the same boat as you, and I know how crippling depression can be. I'm so sorry that you are experiencing this. I will share what works for me. I am currently taking Pristiq along with Abilify. I have not had any problems gaining weight on either of these. I also take Topamax for migraine prevention, and it can cause you to lose weight. It is used for several things other than just migraine prevention though. But it seemed from the beggining that the Pristiq gave me some energy. Maybe not everyone agrees with that, but it did that for me. I hope you find something that works well for you and you will get to feeling better really soon. And that will make you want to be more active in other areas too. And sometimes you have to just make yourself get up and go, and then you are glad that you did. But that is oh so hard to do when you are depressed... I know. Easier said than done.

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Right? But it isn't good to isolate. So hopefully you can find something to help you out. Best wishes to you and good luck. Ruth

Answer

Hi Ellen, I completely relate to how you are feeling concerning the weight & depression, and I think the advice all three posters gave you was ace! Why wouldn't you be feeling depressed, if you are so inclined, and then combined with extra pounds... well that badly impacts your self-esteem and confidence in yourself. Doesn't bother some, but obviously you - like me - are one of those who find the weight gain drugs CAN (but not always!) cause to be difficult to live with.

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Well, just for me now... ZYPREXA was a killer for weight gain, especially when combined with depakote. So I'd take a pass on trying that drug, even if suggested to you; being that you are weight conscious. My two-year experience with Abilify was VERY positive in terms of weight; my doctor said that it is the only anti-psychotic which doesn't cause that side effect, and just for me, the facts bore him out. I WAS down to 112lbs... after two years went to 118; but my weight froze at that number... so it appears that the doctor was right about Abilify! But just like Laurie said, on TOP of that, I DID treat the business of keeping the weight off like a fine science, with strict diet and exercise. I know that's a hard agenda to sell to anybody though, especially when you are holding down a job - I don't work, so it's easier for me to do that. Plus I always said that when you are in a really depressive funk, it's SOOOO hard to motivate yourself to diet and exercise - how to motivate oneself? But you CAN do it... because you have to start from somewhere with weight loss. I needed to shed 100lbs... it was so bad that what was the motivating factor relates to the day I could no longer reach my shoelaces to TIE them (I nearly died... or cried... or both!) - and so that was IT! Great reason to decide the pounds HAD to be shed! And it took a year, I didn't make any sweeping statements to anybody about my game plan to lose weight - I just did it quietly and with resolve.
So maybe the abilify could be your magic bullet... combined with a 1,000 calorie per day diet, plus try to walk a few miles a day if you feel too self-conscious to go to a gym. (Gyms are not my cup of tea... ). When you finish work at night, get off the train a few stops earlier and WALK home. And at the weekend, get an ipod going, put your music on, and aim to walk a few miles. As Ellen said, fresh air, sunshine and exercise do WONDERS for keeping you upbeat and relaxed. And finally, depending on how severe the weight gain is, ask your doctor about the possibility of combining Topamax with the abilify. I hear it actually causes weight LOSS... was used for years in Europe for the treatment of bipolar (it is an anti-epileptic drug like lamictal and depakote)... but to date is not FDA approved for bipolar here. Some doctors will give it - mine would not, as the facts concerning it's success are not in - but perhaps your doctor might be willing to experiment with it for you. Feel better soon, and good luck! Kathleen

Votes: +3

Answer

Hey Hope, I am so sorry that you are feeling so bad. It is horrible to be so depressed. The best advice I can give you, and it is HARD, is to try and exercise a bit everyday. Even when you don't feel like it, put it on your schedule, just like a pill that you would take. I know this is extremely hard to do, but it has been proven that exercise is the BEST antidepressant. Try to do a little everyday, and build yourself up as you go along. I know that this is hard. I really understand. My hubby has drug resistant depression, and he HAS to exercise, or he can't even work. It's hard. Perhaps a little dog to walk everyday? Not only will the doggie make you feel better, because that's just the way dogs are, but he will have to be walked everyday, and you will have to follow through, or else, well, you know :-)) Good luck sweetie, and give yourself a pat on the back. You have recognized a problem, and you are going to work everyday!! That in itself tells me that you are trying your best! Ellen

Answer

Hello hope31. Theres such a selection of  antidepressants . They all carry there fair share of side effects. If you feel that the traditional antidepressants really aren't helping you. A MAOI (Maonamine Oxidase Inhibitor) might be just what you need. They also carry thier share of side effects, only in as much as you're restricted to a diet which is free of tyramine, a chemical found in certain foods and beverages. If a person were to eat or drink a product that contains tyramine, your blood pressure would sky rocket and you could possibly die. However, the success rate of MAOIs is relatively high, and most people usually remain on the drug, and put up with the diet restrictions because they do feel so much better, once again enjoying thier lives. Regards, pledge

Answer

I have taken Abilify for years. Found it to be very helpful in fighting my depression. Some people say it makes them gain weight. I have gained weight and lost the weight while taking it. Really depends on your calorie consumption versus how much you burn. I believe Abilify to be a great adjunct to the  antidepressants  and one that has little in the way of side effects. It works fairly quickly as well. May start to work within the first week and continue to get better.

Resistant depression; how long does it take for Abilify to kick in?

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