Dealing With Side Effects
 

Hello, I have, what is in essence, depression and anxiety, and I've
just added Abilify to my only other medication, Citalopram (an offbrand of Celexa),

and now I'm trying to deal with the weakness and insomnia-like side effects from Abilify. Basically I've been feeling restless and sleepy all the time, getting up to do stuff for a few minutes and feeling like going back to bed the next. If I just lay down for a second I feel better for a while, but this is not the way for me to live if I'm expected to get a job soon (20 years old, unemployed and presently out of college).

So what can I do? Is there some sort of herbal mix that could balance me out until this crap goes away? Or could I just force myself to sleep all day and then be up for the next one? Sorta sucks to be me lately and I want it to stop for a while.

I would try switching to something else. Is it really a benefit beyond those effects, that no other drug can provide? If not, why put yourself through that?

Check with your doctor to see how long to expect side effects.
And find out if there is anything that won't interact with the meds.
Some herbals can interact poorly, but practicing good bedtime hygiene can help sometimes. I've heard of this side effect, actually, so your doc should be able to help you out with ways to balance it out bit or help to figure how long this is to be expected.

I dealt with HORRIBLE side effects from Abilify. God awful nausea, but I couldn't throw up. I was green for a solid day the first and only day I took Abilify. Really green. One of the worst days of my life for real.

If the side effects are unbearable, then you probably shouldn't keep taking the med. But you need to talk to your doctor first and foremost. Regarding herbs, I've had bad experiences while taking herbs along with head meds. Especially Valerian. It really messed me up for a good week after I quit drinking the tea. But I'd suggest talking to your doc before incorporating herbs in with your treatment.

And don't be afraid to page your doctor over the weekend. It's part of their job to be available to you.

Sometimes the side effects are so much worse than the illness.

Yeah valerian root contains L-Dopa, the immediate chemical precursor to dopamine. In other words, consuming valerian root will cause elevated dopamine levels. Many psych meds (like Abilify) work by modulating the dopamine systems so it's not surprising you'd have bad side effects from combining them. A similar thing happens with MAO inhibitors (as found in yerba mate), so you should avoid those as well.

A friend just happened to pass on some teas to me that she wasn't going to drink anymore. I fell in love with this one called 'Chill Out' or something like that. I loved the flavor so I was drinking the hell out of it. Like 5 cups a day. Well I went bat shit. I'm bipolar as it is (not crazy - just bipolar lol) so it just completely fucked with my levels. Not only did it mess with me while I was drinking it but that week after I quit consuming it altogether was rough. Heavy depression. Like, suicidal thoughts depression :/.

These herbs on the market really are like medications without a prescription. Some are even poisons. People really need to use caution when it comes to using herbs. Talk to the doc and do some online research beforehand, etc.

No - they are medications. Just because you don't need a doctor's permission doesn't make them any less potent. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know what over-the-counter and herbal "supplements" you are taking.

Therapy only has the side effect of being kinda expensive.

Mate i've just started on Pristiq a couple of days ago, still waiting for the SE to kick in. Was on Luvox a few years ago but it made me so nauseous I had to give it up. Tried Avanza but I turned into a social cinderblock. Been very lightheaded with this obne so far, hoping it subsides beacuse I just started back as an accountant so I can't really afford to sit down all day spinning out like I've double-dumped a couple of pingers.

I'll tell you what not to do... go to a bloody hypnotherepist. God I went to one and she told me I could just drop the meds cold, so I did, and went through the worst month of my life! Fuck that, when u feel like u want to get off them, do whatever the doc says.

I'd rather get reiki therapy rather than all these abnatural medications and Western theology from the doctors.
Then I'd learn it, get a degree in reiki so I can do health maintenance on myself. If I could get the money, that is.

The problem with all this is that I only have this problem because of a weakness in my genes, and wasn't prepared when the weakness was taken advantage of by the situation that broke it. Now I'm all screwed up like this and the cheapest thing to do is to get Western meds and doctors when I don't agree with anything that this world has to offer medically. I'm serious, bring on the alien doctors!