abilify for bipolar AND adhd?

[indy]

abilify just came on the canadian market and i have always wanted to try it for my bipolar disorder. it comes at a bad time as i'm incredibly stable and my psych isn't going to want to mess with my med combo, but nonetheless i've always wanted to see if it would help me.

what intrigues me even more is its pharmacokinetics and the way it is both a dopamine agonist and antagonist. it would seem that abilify might also work to treat adhd as an adjunct therapy, much the same way the wellbutrin does.

i already take the antipsychotic zeldox (geodon) and wellbutrin, in addition to adderall, but if i went on abilify i could ditch both the wellbutrin and the zeldox and just take the one med. and less meds is always better. i'd like to have a liver and kidneys left in my old age.

so does anybody here take abilify? do you find it not only works for bipolar but also for adhd?

[KMiller]

I took Abilify. It is an excellent drug.

Abilify is not "both an agonist and antagonist," rather, it's what we call a partial agonist. It binds partially with the dopamine receptors, so they fire only partially, while simultaneously blocking dopamine itself from actually binding and triggering the full thing. It's really very cool, and competes with Vyvanse for "coolest modern drug" in my head.

[Spongedaddy]

Here's the write up from crazymeds: "Currently the newest of all the atypicals. Abilify has moderate-to-high affinity for a variety of dopamine, as well as serotonin and histamine receptors, thus is well known to be activating, rather than sedating, especially with the bipolar. However that hasn't stopped Bristol-Myers-Squibb from submitting Abilify to the FDA as a treatment for mania. You'd be better off trying this med in the morning instead of at bedtime like all the other antipsychotics. Best evaluated on a day off, just in case it turns out to be sedating after all, because it does hit serotonin and histamine receptors. In addition to the usual side effects for antipsychotics, Abilify is known for eye twitches and this weird acidic burp that usually goes away. "

Antipsychs are known to carry a large amount of side effects. I am not a big fan of them, but some people like them. I suppose like any other med, you need to do the research and then see how you feel.

[indy]

Originally Posted by Spongedaddy

Antipsychs are known to carry a large amount of side effects. I am not a big fan of them, but some people like them. I suppose like any other med, you need to do the research and then see how you feel.

thanks for the info. yeah, i've done my research and it seems like it could be a really good drug for me. i have no problems with antipsychotics. i've been taking various ones for the last 6 years. i'm on one right now. i'm too bipolar to go without one. and i certainly couldn't take adderall without being on one to prevent mania.

[indy]

Originally Posted by KMiller

I took Abilify. It is an excellent drug.

Abilify is not "both an agonist and antagonist," rather, it's what we call a partial agonist. It binds partially with the dopamine receptors, so they fire only partially, while simultaneously blocking dopamine itself from actually binding and triggering the full thing. It's really very cool, and competes with Vyvanse for "coolest modern drug" in my head.

very cool indeed! so did you find it helped ADHD symptoms as well as bipolar symptoms? that's what i'm really wondering.

[KMiller]

I couldn't say. At the time I was not being treated for ADHD, I didn't get treatment for ADHD until after my mood and such was stable. I had childhood bipolar disorder, so it was very difficult to make certain there was an ADHD problem until after the mood issues were under control. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ignore the issue again next appointment, simply because my mood is destabilizing slightly and I'd like to see about increasing the dose of my Geodon.

At any rate, I don't think you'll find Abilify to hurt the ADHD, but I doubt you'll find it to help. It does not act as an agonist the way stimulants do. Instead, it simply blocks the receptors in a different way, thus reducing the extrapyramidal symptoms that result from dopamine antagonism.

Regarding the eye twitch, it caused this in me and that was my reason for discontinuing it. Also, it can cause activation into mania but it can also cause sedation. It's very hit and miss, and really depends on the patient.

[Meadd]

I have been dxd with both. I am not currently taking any mood stabilizers... I am afraid that taking adderal 7.5 mg a day might trigger my mania...I took abilify before and it worked well for me alongside lamictal... I had to discontinue due to no insurance and going to PAP (Patients Assistance Program).... Since Ive been on disability, I was able finally to go on medicare, but abilify is still 275.00 dollars, even with insurance paying for it!

I am happy with my new p doc as the previous one did not want to dx me with ADD...

Well see what happens...one day at a time... good posts you guys...

[KMiller]

Originally Posted by Meadd

I had to discontinue due to no insurance and going to PAP (Patients Assistance Program).... Since Ive been on disability, I was able finally to go on medicare, but abilify is still 275.00 dollars, even with insurance paying for it!

I have good news for you.

[djane]

brand-spankin newbie here...

jes wanted to say many tx for JFR-Air quote
lovely - surrealistically lovely

& best wishes to ALL
in twenty-ten

~ darcy jane

[formychildren]

My daughter takes Abilify and Wellbutrin as well as her adhd meds, Folcalin (adderall caused severe mania along with a few other meds). She is doing so good now, she's doing the best ever. She's been on this med combo for awhile now, I think almost 2 yrs. Her psych dr claims the abilify helps her with the negative "voices" in her head, her temper, calms her and no severe mood swings or odd/strange behaviors she would have. The wellbutrin with the abilify seems to be the team but it does also help w/adhd. She doesn't take her adhd med Folcalin all the time, she only takes it for school, no problem with that at home w/o Folcalin she's fine. She skipped a few days (off and on) of Abilify and her old behaviors/attitudes/feelings/voices etc started to re-appear. We had insurance issues too, we were going to have to change her abilify to Geodon but the dr was a little bummed because it might not work as good as the abilify. Overall, everything is fine and my daughter continues the meds, she noticed the difference when she was w/o and appreciates her meds now- mainly her abilify. Thought I'd share that with you, maybe it'll help someone.