Posted 1/28/2011 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I guess you could say I'm new here (but not to Bipolar Disorder). I am receiving treatment for my disorder at a nearby institution. I started Monday of this week, and group therapy was going pretty well. And then I got to see a doctor, who prescribed Abilify to me. I explained to her that I had been taking sleep aids for 3 years and needed 3 things out a medication: (1) stabilize my moods, (2) help with horrible anxiety, and (3) help me sleep. So, she prescribes Abilify. I HATE it. I started Abilify on Tuesday night at 11pm (friends told me it took no more than an hour to knock you out), Wednesday I woke up with hardly no sleep, horribly blurred vision (prevented me from driving), and developed the inability to keep myself warm. So, those are bad enough, right? It gets worse. Next day (Thursday - oh and today): slightly blurred vision (oh, there's hope!), *no* appetite (well, k, awesome!), still cannot control body temperature, body *aches* *everywhere* (crap), light-headedness, vision turned peachy red for about 10-15 seconds (Um....), shaky, bad confusion at times, clumsy as hell, nausea (OMG - I practically have a phobia with throwing up. This is NOT good to have for me), stomach cramping which is causing... digestion.... problems, can't sleep until abilify wears off. Anyway, can't get a hold of my doctor, and there is no way that I'm going to Outpatient today and throwing up there. Not Going To Happen. But my pdoc won't call me back... I've been talking to my mom who is an RN and I explained every little problem and told her I can't deal much longer - i.e. these side-effects are causing a severe depression because I can't sleep and I'm sick and every day symptoms get worse. I am getting into thinking that I don't want to be in. Mom told me to stop taking them. I'm afraid that if I don't stop taking them, well.... why should I really be here anyway? Nothing's really working out. I'll be darned if I'm going to take a medication just to feel depressed and horribly sick for the rest of my life and get *no* sleep. Anyway, anybody else experience these side-effects on Abilify? I can't stand it.
P.S. I am not currently living with my parents, but I turn to my mom for medical questions or problems. She actually diagnosed me with a thyroid problem and told me to tell my doctor to check my thyroid levels. Sure enough, I have a thyroid issue. Anyway, she's a really smart woman and can give me good advice. Also, I am 24 years old (I'm not acting it today - sorry), have my Bachelor's in Psychology, and I am pretty much independent except for when I'm sick. haha.