Tapering off Abilify

Hi,

Has anyone tapered off the Abilify Astada Injection 882 or any Abilify. I've been on Abilify for 6 years. Can you tell me how the withdrawal went? Scared to death after reading withdrawal symptoms and comments at bottom of page at following web site. I have to go off it due to bad side effects of the Abilify which include acute Involuntary jaw movements, lose of balance, spasm in toes and eyes, severe weight gain, high cholesterol, hand tremor, insomnia.

http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2...

I sure feel alone in this.

I'm sorry, I thought I made a reply to you yesterday. It is my first post on this forum. I've been on Abilify for a year and stopped it cold turkey. (its a long story why, but I stopped other meds as well which led to the hospital). Here's the thing if just one person reports a symptom even if its not related to the drug. The makers have to report as side effect or withdrawal. So don't get worried about all the symptoms, they all won't happen to you. IMO your doc should have something (med) incase of withdraws. But I would think you need to be on something else to replace the Abilify. Best of luck and I'm sure it won't be that bad as the internet stories tell.

Hi 50calty,

That is the first hopeful word I've heard. Thank you for educating me and leaving me with a positive note.

Replacing the Abilify with Latuda. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Well, they are both atypical antipsychotics so they have similar mechanisms of action. And as with any drug like this the side effects suck. I've been on both these drugs and will say that abilify made me suicidal, while Latuda worked for a little while than just kind of pooped out on me. I hope you will have better luck with Latuda and I hope you and your doctor can set a plan in motion so you can get off abilify without the misery of withdraw. I remember trying to taper off Paxil, that was like a 6 week long nightmare, but Paxil is known to cause withdraw symptoms like "brain zaps", which basically makes you feel like someone is electrocuting your brain. But as long as you and your doctor come up with a good way to taper off you should be fine. Good luck!

Hi Mentalmarci,

Thank you for your response. I saw my Psychiatric Nurse Specialist yesterday. She said, Abilify is easy to taper off of. We could do it in three months. Sure, if you want me to end up in crisis and in the hospital. I'm very angry with her. She dismisses everything I say. Lowering doses, taking away medications. I had a PNS for 7 years who I trusted. This is her replacement and things aren't going so well. My PCP said, the 10% reduction should be used. It causes less harm. In a nutshell, the 10% taper method recommends a 10% dosage reduction every 4 weeks, with the 10% calculated on the last dosage. The amount of decrease is proportionate to the last dosage (not the original prescription) and keeps getting smaller. I can't come right out tell her this. She will get defensive. So I'll give her the power and say, I'm to anxious going at the speed she suggests and we need to taper slower. Personally, I don't want to even go on the Latuda, but what am I to do? I'm sorry the Abilify made you suicidal and the Latuda isn't working out positive for you. Good luck to you as well. It really helps to hear what other people are going through.

Two months into tapering and I'm miserable. Let me make the symptoms clear: Leg cramps, joint pain, muscle aches and back pain! Severe insomnia, headache, nausea, depression, excessive crying. The pain is so relentless, I can't get out of bed sometimes and it's impossible to sleep with such discomfort. This is definitely pushing my limits. Eh!

Causes me to become depressed when I taper off.

I believe that for sure. I'm a very mellow person, but since this started all of a sudden I have anger issues. Went off on my sister, when she was only trying to help. I feel awful. I have a clinician who won't return my e-mail because I want to go back up on the Abilify. Even my PCP said, "we were tapering to quickly." He is going to call her. It truly is brutal coming off it. I can take a lot but eventually I'll end up in the hospital, which I don't want. However, am not getting the support from my clinician and haven't had a case manager for two weeks who has been supportive. Thank you for letting me vent. Think I'm going to implode soon.

I went from Abilify to Latuda, they were relatively equivalent doses. We just went from one to the other. I was jumping out of my skin on the Ablilfy so I was happy to be done with it. I’m now on Seroquel.

Your clinician should listen to you. In the past I’ve been able to change who I was seeing, but now I’m trapped, sounds like you’re in the same situation. Maybe make a list of all the problems you’ve had and take it with you to show her.

Blue

Hi Blue,

Nice to hear from you. I saw my PCP oct 3rd and he called and e-mailed my Psychiatric Nurse Specialist. She hasn't returned his call or e-mail. I was depressed with Auditory Hallucinations, when I saw him. I'm stuck for sure and don't know what my mood will be from day to day. I've sent her numerous e-mails stating we need to go back up on the Abilfiy and why. I don't know anymore....

Linda

Hi Window—I don’t frequent this site much. I am wondering how you are doing.

I went from Abilify 20 mg to Latuda (cannot recall dose). Anyway,when switching atypicals docs typically cross taper so you don’t see much of a withdrawal. I did not like Latuda (severe anxiety) so I went back on Abilify cold turkey, just quitting Latuda one day and back on Abilify the next. This was pdocs orders.

Sadly my pdoc retired, but for 8 years I had an awesome one who really knew what he was doing. He never let me down and always got back to me within a couple hours of calling. I just found out he had 1000 patients. That’s how special he was. Now I have a crappy pdoc and am looking for a new one.

Hi Artista,

I've been off the Abilify for 2 weeks now. I'm experiencing very bad withdrawals. Severe, Severe headaches, muscle, joint aches and insomnia. I see her tomorrow and we will go over medication options. She mentioned Latuda and Invega. I find the side effects worrisome. I could also end up back on the Abilify. At least I know what to expect.

OMG 1,000 patients says a lot about your pdoc. I had a really good PNS that I trusted, but she opened her own practice. I'm in the same boat, as you with my new PNS. I call her the "Ice Queen" that pretty much says it all. My old PNS was compassionate and this one is really harsh and condescending. Sometimes she actually makes me cry....

I still cannot imagine why she would make you stop Abilify before starting Latuda. You should take lower dose of both at the same time before going 100% onto Latuda. Then you won’t get such withdrawal.

You should ask her why she doesn’t cross taper. I think I saw an article on how to switch antipsychotics in Psychiactric Times magazine. There is more than one way to do it, but practically going cold turkey isn’t one of them. I’ll see if I can find it. You might be better off having your GP help you until you can find a new pns.

Hi Artista,

I'm glad you are there and I have someone to talk with. She told me to call my insurance company to see, if they cover Latuda and Invega. In 2018 they are a Tier 5 speciality drug and I can't afford the co-payment. I don't feel like I can ask her "why" on anything. I feel so dismissed by her and I told her that being ignored is one thing that hurts me. She was suppose to call in a refill on one of my other medications and took me off the Aderall. I haven't stopped crying since I got home. I will follow your advice and e-mail my PCP because right now I feel like just saying "F--- It" I feel like I'm crashing and could end up in the hospital. A place I haven't been in 13 years. She isn't good for my mental health or self esteem.

Window,
I’m so sorry that you’ve been fighting this so long. I’m not sure if you’ve said this before but is there something that you know works for you.
For me I know Seroquel works the best, evens things out and gets rid of hallucinations. Bonus it’s cheap as dirt.
If you’ve got something fight for it I hated it when the pdocs wanted to try the most expensive meds in the world.
In the end always fight for yourself. Go to the office if you’re not getting callbacks and if you have the time sit there until you have an answer.

I had to come off of it cold turkey 6 years ago when it started making me pace and move constantly. I didn’t feel any withdrawal but I immediately went manic.

Hi Everyone,

I should know sometime next week who my new PNP or Psychiatrist will be. I wrote a list of everything that did and didn't work in the past and Abilify was actually my "golden star" until I started to get the injections. They have a Psychiatrist and new PNP. Not sure which one they will put we me. If they don't transfer me my PCP will look into getting me someone new. This all came about because I stood up for myself and just couldn't deal with her style anymore. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sure. There has to be. Thanks to everyone who has helped me out, given me encouragement and guidance. I couldn't of done it without you.

Hi Window! So happy to hear you are moving forward. I too am in between docs. I hope we both find providers we can trust and rely upon.

There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. You just can’t lose sight of it which is possible due to the nature of the disease. I have been up and down enough times in the last forty years to know things will always turn around for the better, at least for a while.

Keep advocating for yourself—you deserve good treatment! And wellness!

Hi Artista,

New Hopes,

New Possibilities,

New Year

Wishing you the warmth of the season.

Window

Hi Window,

I wish you the best this coming new year!

Wellness and happiness is the goal. :)

You too have a wonderful holiday season.

Artista