i was just given a prescription for abilify yesterday. after one dose i noticed the muscles around my mouth, jaw, and my tongue were tensing up. I am assuming this is a side effect and i will stop taking it until i can reach my doctor on monday.
my question is:
are there other drugs like abilify that may work for me without side effects?
i was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depression, and extreme paranoia.
i am also taking cymbalta and wellbutrin.
Abilify is classed as an atypical antipsychotic. Other medications in this group include Seroquel, Geodon, Invega, Zyprexa, Clozapine and Risperdal. They all have possible side effects, including what you noticed. Although it's unusual to experience side effects after a single dose, it may have indicated that you have an unusual sensitivity to this particular drug.
The tightness of your mouth, jaw and tongue could have indicated the onset of tardive dyskinesia, a serious side effect involving involuntary facial movements especially involving the mouth, so you were wise to stop immediately. I hope you were able to reach your doctor promptly and discuss the situation with him or her.
Whether or not a different antipsychotic would work for you without this particular side effect may only be able to be determined by trying them. But there aren't any antipsychotics that have no possible side effects.
~Marcia
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