Abilify or Clonazepam?

[ahalo]

So Zoloft didn't work for me, tentatively the belief is that I have PMDD (major PMS basically). I went in to my psychiatrist today and he at first suggested Clonazepam but then said something about how it would cancel out the methylin then he suggested Wellbutrin which I was hesitant about (b/c I heard it's not great for anxiety), and finally he ended up at Abilify. So I have 21 5-mg tablets that I can split it half and use during those 10 or so days a month when I've been having problems. So they should last me four months. Well I looked up Abilify and it's just way too expensive for me to even get attached to it. I guess one 30-day supply of 5 mg tablets would last me 6 months but that's only if I am able to stick to taking it only 10 days a month. But it's REALLY expensive!! ($355.00!)

Now I have heard of people here who take Clonazepam, do any of you notice it cancels out the ADHD meds? I know it to be very cheap and I know I shouldn't just be thinking about that but the simple fact is, a med is no good to me if I can't afford it. Also i don't have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder which Abilify is used to treat. *Sigh*

[katatak]

I have the same prescription for Chlonzapam. It is a generic so that's why its inexpensive. Before I took Dexedrine I found it a bit heavy handed as a sleep inducing medication. I found that I had a kind of hold over effect into the next day. I was a bit lethargic. Now that I'm taking dexedrine for ADHD, it works just right as an aid to getting a full nights sleep. Don't hesitate to break it in half. I've found half is enough sometimes.

If Chlonazapam works for you, don't take the expensive stuff! I'm sure you have better things to do with yoru money than line the pockets of shareholders of a large multi-national.

Chlonazapam is frequently prescribed as a sedative to help with sleep. I have a prescription for this medication and it will guarantee me some rest if I have trouble sleeping because I cam taking Dexedrine.

As well, you will find that it is used in emergency rooms for people who have admitted themselves due to accidental or other overdose of an amphetamine. It does not counteract the effects of Dexedrine nor does it affect the effective treatment of ADHD. It works in a completely different way to allow you to relax and sleep.

It is one of the Benzodiazapine medications so frequnetly prescribed for anxiety and "panic attacks".

I have found it usefull in the past (before treatment for ADHD) in helping me sleep, but it did not silence my over active mind. Only my ADHD meds helped with that.

I still use it on occasion o guarantee myself a good nights rest

I hope this is what you were looking for.

cheers,
Katatak

[texassweetpea]

Abilify is a slightly stimulating antipsychotic. Seems crazy to give it for anxiety. I took it a while for schizoaffective disorder...didn't do much for me. You're right its ridiculously expensive and not even called for with your symptoms. It is for psychosis. I have been on ADD meds for 8 yrs. and I am prescribed benzos (mostly clonazepam) too. They don't cancel each other out in my opinion as long as your not taking huge amounts.

Today my doc gave me a rx for ritalin then 5 min later he gave me a rx for ativan lol

[simbryo]

Abilify is a weird drug.

It's hard enough to use correctly in the inpatient setting (it requires these constant up and down titrations) that it's generally avoided if at all possible. As for outpatient use.... I've always been taught there are less expensive drugs that have fewer crazy *** side-effects and work as well or better.

BUT, your psych knows more than you or I. It's not a commonly perscribed med, but it is used with some frequency and if your doc has good results with it, then well, good for him and his patients. Pay very close attention to your side effects. It may work for you, it may not. Keep in close contact with your psych while using this drug.

[netsavy006]

The reason why you doctor may have prescribed abilify is because anti-psychotics can be used to treat severe anxiety. I learned that from my psychology classes at college. The most common anti-psychotic used for this purpose is called risperdal. abilify and risperdal work differently in the brain so they may not produce the same effects on the same person. abilify can adjust (increase or decrease) the levels of dopamine in the brain as needed. risperdal can only decrease these levels...

As for Benzos, I'd stay away from them as much as possible. There are better drugs out there than can be used for PMDD. One such drug which I take for Bipolar 1 Disorder and Panic Disorder is called Zoloft (http://www.zoloft.com) This is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor or SSRI. SSRIs prevent serotonin from being taken back in by the nerve cell that releases it so that the 2nd nerve cell can recieve the serotonin neccessary for communication between these nerve cells in the brain...

I hope this information helps a little; Good Luck
Andy...