arirpiprizole

[Cedrus]

Ok, I know I have two posts up, so apologies. I wanted to know peoples experiences with aripiprizole, I am starting it next week alongside my olanzapine and citalopram. I am very scared it will make me throw up in the mornings, as it has done that before. Do people find the side effects lessen after time? I only took it for a short while before. Feel pretty scared about the side effects. I know everyones different and all that, just sort of want someone to tell my the side effects wear off after a while.:ermm:

[Ami]

Hiya Pilot, this is the only antipsychotic i get no side effects off. Surely, its no worse than olanzapine but evryone is different! If it makes you sick you could take it before bed providing its not going to cause insomnia. Or ask about short term antisickness meds, however they can interfere with antipsychotics.

Ive just started 30mg. I would assume the sickness would lessen over time, as it usually does with meds, however, Ive never got it off aripiprazole.

Take care x

[Cedrus]

Thanks Ami! Olanzapine has been pretty good to me, I don't get any side effects now, not even increased appetite, although my body is used to it as I always get put back on it. The worse med for increased appetite was clozapine by far! I may try taking it at night if i feel really nauseas again but my psych said to take it at the same time as the citalopram so i will try that first.

I'll be starting on 10mg.

[Ami]

Oh right, citalopram can cause nausea too. You could try stuff like peppermint, ginger and eating small but frequent meals as well as a non-pharmacological anti-sickness method.

Hope it goes well! When are you starting it?

[KarynEclipsed]

when I started I was only sick for the first 2 days and then it started to really help me.

[Cedrus]

Thanks.

Ami, i seem to get side effects from all meds. I have been on citalopram for over 8 months and i still wake up feeling nauseas. i took the arirpiprizole for two weeks in the hospital last year and i was being sick every morning, literally would wake up and run to the toilet. but i want to take this med as my psych said it will help a lot with my concentration, which has been shot to pieces.

would peppermint tea be helpful? i dont feel sick once i have vomited lol :/

do you find it gives you more energy?

[Steel Maiden]

I find that taking the aripiprazole after breakfast helps with the nausea.
I think peppermint tea could help - I take peppermint oil for my digestive problems.
I'm going to scan in and send you a pdf of some pages from my psychopharmacology reference book, if the scan works lol
Aripiprazole does give me more energy though

[Cedrus]

Thank you Oly, the pdfs have been immensely he;plful. I am pleased i have some facts to refer to.

[Steel Maiden]

You're welcome. If you need anymore advice then just ask

[Ami]

I think its the dopmine agonism that causes the increased concentration and energy (i dont get this personally). Im not really sure how this helps psychosis though because most anti-psychotics block dopamine.

Have you started it yet? Hope it goes okay! Try not to worry about it too much because expecting to feel very sick could make you feel more nauseous than normal.
Take care
x

[Cedrus]

Thats true Ami. What other meds are you on at the moment? Its a bit confusing when I am starting it as I am leaving the EIP in three weeks so my meds are now prescribed but my gp, and my consultant said she would fax them about starting the new script for aripiprizole, but I dont know when he will write it.

I will try and tell myself that I may not have the side effects like last time, although I know it helps a LOT with my concentration.

30mg is high! although i guess because i am taking it with olanzapine i shouldnt need a high dose. i am starting at 10mg and then it might go to 15mg.

Whats you diagnosis? if i can ask.

Take care x

[Rhuben]

I think its the dopmine agonism that causes the increased concentration and energy (i dont get this personally). Im not really sure how this helps psychosis though because most anti-psychotics block dopamine.

Have you started it yet? Hope it goes okay! Try not to worry about it too much because expecting to feel very sick could make you feel more nauseous than normal.
Take care
x

Aripiprazole is both an agonist and antagonist.

For D2 receptors it is a partial agonist, but for D3 and D4 it is an antagonist.

[Ami]

Oh okay :) cheers for that.

I am on propranolol and yasmin and promethazine when needed but aripiprazole is the only psychiatric med.

Diagnosis I have had a few but they are not defonite, bipolar, psychosis, delusional disorder. But it seems like generic psychosis.
xx

[Cedrus]

how is the propanolol? i asked my psych for it but she said no. My olanzapine helps me sleep but not get off to sleep. I have schizoaffective disorder and borderline traits. Im curious, how old are you?

[Ami]

i'm 20.

I take propranolol for migraines. I dont find it helps for anxiety but I'm on slow release so the instant release might work better for that type of stuff.
I dont find propranolol sedating though.

Took 30mg of aripiprazole for a few days now, I was taking 15mg for a week previous and the only side effect is a but of restless but nowhere near as worse as haloperidol. But haloperidol helped a decent amount .

Thats what my consultant does, sends letter to GP. But he usually says give it a few days upto a week before going. how are you feeling about leaving eip?x

[Cedrus]

I had extreme restlessness with haloperidol too! I only managed to get up to 5mg and I was pacing up and down all the time.

Do you feel like the aripiprizole gives you energy? Does it interfere with your sleep? My psych explained why she thought propanolol wouldnt help my anxiety and increased the citalopram instead.

I feel nervous about leaving the eip. i have my last meeting with my psych on the 7th, I do like my new psych though, i've met him in ward rounds when i was in the hospital. Feel more scared about having a new social worker as the one I have now I really like. What team are you with? Do you get on well with the professionals involved in your care? My social worker will be leaving gradually over 3 months where one week i see her, the next week new social worker then back to my current one and so on.

Sorry your experience migraines, that must be really difficult. Has the propanolol lessened the frequency and/or the severity of them?

x

[Ami]

Yeah its been fantastic for migraines. I still get them now and then, but i used to get them like 2-3 times a week, now its 1-2 times a month and they're not as 'severe' as they were.

I think when proprnolol is used for anxiety, it is usually most effective in physiological symptoms like fast heart rate. sweating, shakiing etc.BUt not so much with the psychological anxiety.

Same with haloperidol, i took 2 x 2mg, and i was standing up, sitting down, stand back up. etc etc. constantly twitching and shaking too. But for the few weeks I took it, it helped a lot more than anything else has.

And regarding aripiprazole, i didnt get any side effects or increased energy / linsomnia on 15mg dose, but these 30mgs, i'm not sure as of yet.
I do feel something quite different from the 15mgs, but not sure what it is so far. My psych said that they take 10-14 days to reach a steady level in blood. So i guess thats when side effects and also positive effects might become more apparent.

I think thats why most people take it in the morning with breakfast - to help with nausea and because some people find it activating.

The three month phase out sounds like a good idea because they its gradually getting used to your new worker while still seeing someone who you know and like. Do you think your old social worker could come to the appointments with the new social worker for a few times? Im glad your new psych seems okay too.


I used to be in eip also, but ive past the '3 year' rule and so Im at adult mental health services. I did move down here for uni, so i've had to switch people a few times. I havent really seen any cpns / support works etc since being in brighton. I Did have an appointment with 3 psychatrists at the same time on friday, which is when my dose was increased.

Give it ago anyways, it should fade after a few weeks, if you do get nauseous.

Ami x

Ps i like your dog :-D

[Cedrus]

Lol, he is actually my dog but I have named him Winston regardless, lol. I'm in supported housing and we're not allowed pets =[ I did sneak in a hamster but they found out during 'room checks' and i had to send him to my dads house.

I'm really pleased the propanolol has helped with your migraines. Pain is so difficult to cope with, so its very positive they have reduced. My psych said something similar to me about propanolol being good for physiological symptoms. The haloperidol was like that for me, constantly pacing up and down and moving. lol, it helped me lose weight though! lol

Gosh, 3 psychiatrists at the same time! Did you not find it difficult to speak? Do you feel it would be helpful to have a care co-ordinator? I'm meeting my new social worker tomorrow with my current one. I doubt having my sw in with the new one would help because I fin it difficult to speak to more than one person at once. I always go silent during my cpa meetings, so know they try and only invite a few people to them.

What are you studying at uni? I had a friend who lived in brighton, it's a nice place to be. I live in london =]

I am hoping the aripiprizole will be ok. I have an appointment today with my gp practice nurse because I have a burn that is infected (scared about her cleaning it! :/ ) so i will ask her today for her advice about tackling the potential nasuea, it was making me vomit in the mornings last time but I didnt stay on it too long.

x

[Ami]

Hello in these early hours :).
Yeah, 3 psychs was far too much! Rather scary!

Did you see your new social worker yesterday? How did that go?

I had an infected burn that required antibitics. It can potentially be very serious, so I hope you go to the nurse. did she give you any advice too?


I would like to try art therapy or animal therapy if it ever came more available. I went horse riding today for the first time ever :-p

How do you find the supported accomodation? Is it like being with a family or like a flat with helpers around if you need them?

Im doing enviornmental science. Do work or are in education? Even though its hard, it helps having an aim and something to do. I am going to london at 11am today for a day out too :)

Hope you're okay, sorry for hijacking thread xxx

[Cedrus]

lol, the hijack has been a nice one =]

Yeah i met justine, the new social worker. tbh, i don't really like her :/ but hopefully with time i will warm to her.

I'll probably end up seeing the nurse weekly until all my burns have healed. She checks them for me and the one that isn't doing well she put manuka honey on it, i think it has anti-bacterial properties.

environmental science sounds cool. Are you in your first year? Sadly I'm not in any real form of education or work. I've been pretty unwell over the last few years and have been in and out of hospital. I'm doing a gardening course with mind at the moment and they will help me find voluntary work when phase two starts in january. I'd love to get back into education, I hope that my anxiety levels lessen a bit so that its possible.

I have my own little 'home' lol, it's just a room with everything i need in it and then a corridor to my bathroom/shower room. Theres an office in the basement and staff work 9am-9pm. Its quite nice having staff downstairs as theres always someone to chat to, it's nice having company when i can't be arsed to clean, lol, but the room checks get on my nerves.

What did you get up to in london? I hope you had a nice time! Have you ever heard of dance and movement therapy, or drama therapy? Those are pretty cool. I did art therapy in the hospital but i didnt like the therapist being so analytical, lol. Horse riding =] What was that like? Apparently horses are good at picking up on your feelings, theres a special type of therapy involving horses but i can't remember what its called.

xx

[Ami]

Hiya sorry for late reply. Glad the nurse is taking care of the wound. Did she give any advice about the aripiprazole? When are you starting it again?

When I was on 15mg I didnt get any side effects but being on 30mg, I feel a bit restless. But nowhere near as bad as haloperidol /amisulpride. But equally I dont feel much positive effects.

I am in my first year and got exams soon. >< ! Mainly went to camden at London. Never had the chance to do dance therapy or music or art even.

horse riding is fun but scary :P

How are you? Have you had an nice weekend? xx

[Cedrus]

No worries. I started the aripiprazole last week, been on it about 5 days. Feeling a bit sick in the mornings, but my citalopram was causing that too. The bad thing I do is that i feel sick and then i tell myself 'crap, im going to throw up' which makes the feeling even worse and i end up running to the bathroom :/

Camden is cool, i like it there =] Did you buy anything? I still have this really cool jumper i bought from there in 2005/6.

How do you feel about the exams? I wish you all the best of luck! I should be going back to college this september but my concentration is still really poor =[

My weekend was ok, spent it at my grandparents, am glad to be home though. Did you have a nice weekend?

x

[Ami]

Heya. Thanks :) quite anxious about exams really. Voices have got a bit worse and people are putting messages in my head which is making it hard to think as well. Weekend was alright - revision, friends and lots of sweets, lol.

The sickness shouldnt last much longer, I would assume. Keep at it :) Are you taking it with breakfast? Although citalopram made me feel a bit sick (like most SSRIs), but that generally went after 2-3 weeks.

If it gets worse maybe the psych could taper you up, like 5mg for a while then 10mg, instead of straight 10mg, maybe? I hope it helps with concentration for you. Do you find olanzapine is helping with voices and stuff?

Glad you had a nice weekend :) x

[Cedrus]

I replied on your other thread but i really am worried about you. im scared the stress of the exams might trigger a relapse for you. i don't cope very well with stress and have noticed that every hospital admission i have had, something majorly stressful has happened in the months leading up to it.

i don't know what it causing me to be sick if im honest. ive been on the citalopram for 8 months and i wake up every morning feeling sick. it goes away once i have had a drink. i am trying to take my meds with breakfast but i find it hard to eat in the morning. i actually asked my psych to start me on 2mg of aripiprazole but she said no. i think if things get worse for you, you should ask for a 2nd anti-psychotic to be added on. I think i am right in thinking you have tried quite a few.

I find olanzapine to be a helpful drug. I am still aware of things that my psych says are due to my delusional beliefs but it doesn't worry me as much now. Last year I was very stressed with it all, but thats because my family had been targeted (complicated) and basically i had to do certain things to keep them safe, but it all got really really dangerous and i ended up on a section 3 for my safety. I feel stronger now and i just tell them to get lost. I'm not paranoid now either, i used to suspect professionals and friends being involved in the Research too (i once went over 3 months without seeing a friend) but now i can dismiss that worry. i think the clozapine was really helpful for me, before i took that i was hearing voices and apparently i had a thought disorder, but i feel better now, although my concentration is still poor. Overall though, i feel well. i wasn't expecting a 2nd ap to be added but i am pleased as i am hoping it will help with my motivation and concentration.

Would you ever go on clozapine?

Sorry for the essay

[Ami]

Its your thread, dont apologise! :-)

Yeah stress does seem to be a really big trigger. Most of the time its just an accumulation of stuff that just becomes uncope-able. Have you ever done a stress bucket diagram? I done one with EIP.

Im glad things have improved alot for you. How come you came off clozapine? I have tried a fair few (but not olanzapine or clozapine because I dont want weight gain.) But ive heard clozapine to be the best, just potentially bad side effects.

How are you doing today? x

[Cedrus]

Never done a stress bucket diagram, what is it?

I came off the clozapine because i put on literally stones in a few months. Was discharged, things started to slip so i went back on it in feb i think but i put back on the weight i lost and could only see it getting worse so i told them i just cant tolerate it.

My day hasn't been that good to be honest. My plans for today got messed around with which made me anxious and moody and got stressed of the potential prospect of the Researchers interfering with my college life again, the last time I went in 09 they sent a spy to all my lessons and then tortured me with pain. It was absolutely horrific, i went to a&e twice in one weekend but they wouldnt give me anything strong enough for the pain, although i have a strong feeling no painkiller would have touched the pain due to it being caused but evil pieces of poo. keep seeing signs outside saying 'be aware of brain implants' which is getting to me. finding it difficult to go out as it is, but a support worker came for a walk with me earlier which was nice.

I have my cpa on Thusday which im a bit anxious about. But I'm hoping it will go ok, feel scared about the transfer now that its getting closer.

x

[Ami]

A stress bucket is explained here it where you look at triggers, symptoms, things that make things worse, and draw a diagram of a bucket. This is a website from my old EIP team. http://www.aminormal.org/why.htm#02

The researchers sounds awful, really hope that things dont get like that again. Im sorry you felt so much pain. Its good you seen your support worker, did you tell her about the signs?

Good luck for tomorrow too. It should be fine, just be honest about stuff, such as being nervous about transfare and whatnot, hopefully it will be as smooth as possible for you.
How you finding aripiprazole so far?
x

[Cedrus]

Thanks for the link. Will update tomorrow after the cpa and also the meeting with the disability officer person at college. feel scared about going back there, all my worries are coming flooding back. i hope too, that i am not tortured again, i can't go through that again and im scared that its a strong posibility as i ignored their last task. my psych and social worker 'helped' me, i dont know if its actually helping - me ignoring what was asked of me. finding it so hard to focus on anything