HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Abilify and nightmares

Support Forums
>
Bipolar Disorder
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/8/2019 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
My wife has had bipolar 1 for forty years, and has been stable for the past 30 years until one of her meds (thiothixene) became temporarily available. Currently nearing the end of a two-week inpatient stay. Psychiatrist has switched her to Abilify, but when she tried this before, she had terrible nightmares. This seems to be happening again and I don't know what to do. Psychiatrist doesn't want to keep her on thiothixene for fear it will again become unavailable as it is a very "old" medication. Any ideas about what can be done? It can be hard to convince doctors that family members know their loved ones well. I didn't go to medical school, but I have a Ph.D. in my beloved wife.
Posted 8/8/2019 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
She had unmanageable side effects with other options such as Zyprexa (acute urinary retention) and Seroquel (numbness in her leg). Haldol was tried; seemed to produce fatigue, slurred speech, some gait difficulties but I personally think these are more manageable than the nightmares.
Posted 8/8/2019 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Just to give enough background, she is also on Depakote (switched from Lamictal) and Wellbutrin. However, I think that the nightmares stem from the Abilify, not from some drug interaction.
Posted 8/9/2019 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
It's good that you are trying to help this person out.

As a bipolar I person myself, that is someone who has both the mania and the depression, I am on the antidepressant Mirtazapine and Lithium, with the Lithium acting as a stabilizer to keep the anti-depressant from throwing me into mania and panic attacks.

You said she used to use the medication Thiothixene, which webmd.com says,

"Thiothixene is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders (such as schizophrenia). This medicine helps you to think more clearly, feel less nervous, and take part in everyday life. It can reduce aggression and the desire to hurt yourself/others."

With Thiothixene being discontinued, she now uses Abilify, which the same webmd.com says is used to treat bipolar.

Under list of side affects I did not see nightmares, but did see "trouble sleeping." I have nightmares when I turn on my heating pad on my chest and fall asleep.

about the availability of Thiothixene (Generic name Navane), drugs .com said,

"NAVANE (thiothixene - capsule;oral)
• Manufacturer: PFIZER

"All of the above formulations have been discontinued."

iodine.com says there are (10) alternatives to Thiothixene:

1. Trilafon 2. Clozaril 3. Zyprexa
4. Risperdal. 5. Haldol. 6. Geodon 7. Loxitane 8. Abilify.
9. Seroquel 10. Stelazine

You might want to check out these websites and others yourself by typing in the various subjects in the search engine.
Posted 8/9/2019 7:43 AM (GMT 0)
Haliperodil is for acute psychosis and rarely used. Mainly in psychiatric hospital. Zyprexa and seroquel are not the best for bi polar. Used them both. Yes risperidone a better option as an adjunct to current treatments. HT
Posted 8/9/2019 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks. Navane is currently available (different manufacturer), but the future of its manufacture remains uncertain. Still trying to figure this all out. Will keep you posted.
Posted 8/9/2019 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Ever since going on psychiatric medication(s) in 2000, I rarely even remember having dreams, which, to me, is a nice problem to have since that means less nightmares.

I've been on Clozaril since 2011. That's the only medication I've been taking since going on it back in 2011.

However, before going on Clozaril, I was on and off lots of other psych meds. Yet even then, the other psych meds stopped me from even remembering having dreams, even meds that didn't help me with my psychiatric issues.

Post Edited (MainerMikeBrown) : 8/9/2019 1:43:40 PM (GMT-6)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply