Reports on the Long Term Zyprexa to Abilify Switch

I had been on Zyprexa (5mg) and Depakote (1000 mg) for close to ten years. I was scared to switch the Zyprexa to Abilify, but I thought I would share will all of you what the experience has been like.

During the ten year period (1997-2007) I have been stable. 1995 and 1996 were lost years to me because of Bipolar I.

For the past two weeks I took all three drugs, starting Abilfy at 5 mg. The intermix was not pleasant, my moods were up and down. And during day four I had a low level manic spark during which I had a severe case of road rage and literally wanted to rip the eyeballs out of some motorists. Normally, these things don't bother me. During day six, I just wanted to punch things and people for no reason. It's a shame that you can't take a week or two off work for a major drug switch like this.

Finally the shrink let me back out the zyprexa and things started to settle down. I am now completely off Zyprexa and am only taking Abilify and Depakote.

The pure Abilify feels like a mild ecstasy. Not manic. But deeply calm and serene. In the afternoons I get drowsy and need a nap, but overall the earlier manic symptoms have disappeared. Wed night I had to speak in public and I felt like a bit of a zombie, but I have hope that this feeling will pass, with some time.

A bizarre rash, which I had for years on my back cleared up in about two days after leaving Zyprexa behind. I still need to talk to the shrink about this. Dunno.

No strange dreams, but I wake up earlier and periodically through the night.

On the whole the experience is scary to leave a tested, trusted friend that had worked for so long and switch to something else, but I have hope and faith that everything will be okay.

Sincerely, thank you to all of you who have offered good counsel, wisdom and shared your experiences.

Kevin

thanks for sharing your story,,,,, I want to share about my journey with Zyprexa. I was admitted to the hospital. in Oct 2006, for hallucinations. I am Bi-polar, I had never experienced this before..They put me on zyprexa. First there was the sugar cravings and weight gain and then handfulls of hair started falling out. I went to my p-doc and now on new meds..

I am taking Wellbutrin 100mg.s and Tegretol 100 mgs. I dont have an sugar

carb cravings any longer. I have only been on these for a few weeks.so  they seem to be working no symtoms.....

Caren