Abilify Helping Fibromyalgia???

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Thu, October 29, 2009

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I think so. The doctor put me on it about 2 months ago for my depression and nerves. I also take Paxil and have for a long time. Well, I noticed the pain is not as bad most days and lets up quicker. Even a tad more of energy. I wrote the people over at Bristol Myers Squibb and they called me last week. They said that they would turn this over to reserach and development to see if it helps others. I am on a small dose. Only 5 mg a day but I swear it has helped. I am far from cured, but it has helped.

I am thinking it makes sense. This drug works on dopamine which is one of the chemcals found to be off balance with FM patients.

Just a tid bit of info.

Debra

a.k.a. learnFMnow

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chris101899

10/29/09 3:35pm

Hi! Glad to hear something's working for you but I wanted to pass along a warning.

I took it for depression around a year ago and had to stop. One of the side effects can be that your body no longer regulates its temperature. We caught this because I live in AZ and we noticed it was over 100 outside and I stood at a bus stop for ten minutes without sweating at all.

So keep an eye out. Good luck!

learnFMnow

10/30/09 2:26pm

Thanks for the warning. I will watch for that. It makes sense it could do that being it is a drug that alters brain chemistry. So far, no problems....except I crave candy. LOL. Don't need that side effect but guess I can live with it if it helps FM.

hugs,

Debra

joanna

1/13/10 1:21pm

Thanks so much! You guys are so great! Without you, what would I do?

Lorie Stransky

10/30/09 2:14pm

Dear Debra,

I went on Abilify for depression and I had to go off it because I just couldn't keep still. My friend thought I was super hyper. I had tons of energy (which I liked because I have fibro too), but I noticed I couldn't sleep at night and I felt like I had to keep moving. My doctor gave me samples at the time and I just looked and those samples were 10 mg., I think that may have been too high of a dose for me. I am going to make an appt. with my doctor again and I am going to request the lowest dose and give it a try again. Thanks for posting that, you never know, this might be it!!

learnFMnow

10/30/09 2:29pm

Yeah, it makes me kind of hyper. But if I take it in the morning time, it does not seem to bother my sleep at night. (not that I have ever slept refreshingly anyway...lol). But so far so good. I do know it has also helped the depression symptoms quite alot so for that I think it is worth it anyway.

thanks a bunch,

Debra

joanna

10/31/09 6:32pm

I have a question to ask you. Did you ever take Lyrica? My Dr. put me o it to see if it would help my back pain. Well it didn't, but when we tried to taper me off of it, I got terrible sied effects. To tell you a few; strong urges to commit suicude, cotton mouth bad, shakes, anxiety, etc. In fact if you read the side effects they list for this crap, I've got almost every one. Whenever we get too low when tappering offf and the bad thoughts come back I have togo back on them because I can't stand it. I don't know what to do!

Anonymous

1/12/10 1:47pm

Two other meds to try that also help nerve pain: Neurontin or Amitryptalene (sp?). It's possible that you can slowly move directly over to one of those without having to be totally off the Lyrica first. Good luck!

Melissa

learnFMnow

1/12/10 5:58pm

Neurontin is closely related to Lyrica. Almost the same drug. The Lyrica is the latest and most potent. So, I would guess that your doctor might say you could just go from one to the other. If you are on Lyrica though, he may want to wean you off it slowly. Amitriptyline is one of the older of antidepressant drugs. It is not as effective for depression as the newer drugs. However, they have found that it does help nerve pain. I have thought of trying it myself because of cost reasons. But, amitriptyline also makes you sleepy. That is why it is sometimes given for sleep or only prescribed at bedtime.

I don't believe there is a problem between the drugs amitriptyline being taken with Lyrica or Neurontin. The only concern would be sedation. I know Lyrica can be very sedating to some people and so can Neurontin. But I have seen both of those drugs prescribed to patients on Neurontin.

Neurontin does not seem to make me sleepy. Lyrica did not make me sleepy either but it does do that to most people.

Of course, ask the doctor before making any changes.

Debra

learnFMnow

joanna

1/13/10 1:18pm

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me. I really appreciate it.

joanna

1/13/10 1:40pm

Thank you Debra, I appreciate all the feeback I can get. All of you have mentioned Amitriptaline. I have a whole perscription of it I've never taken because of some side effects I can't remember now. Good ole CRS! I will talk to my pain meds Dr. when I go in again and ask him about, or ask my therapist today when I see her. Sounds better than waiting. Thanks again girls! JoAnne

Linda

1/13/10 2:11pm

Hi Joanna, I am at work, and just read you posted a question, do you know anything about NORMITRIPTYLINE? My primary Doc just wrote script out on it, had it filled, it is 10mg at bedtime. Do you know anything about this drug?

I am hoping to catch you later,, have something to share with you., take care , oh and i am going to reply to the woman you replied to about amnitriptyline (sp), and see what she has to say,,, i dont know if it is for depression or chronic fatigue or F.M.

K,,HOPE YOUR DOING WELL,,,,,,,,,,,, and having a low pain day,,,,,,,,,,

Linda

1/13/10 2:17pm

Neurontin did quite a job on me,,, and i never reached the dose i was suppose to,, Lyrica savella, and cymbalta allll went out the window, Had horrible effects from it,, DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT NORMITRIPTYLINE (SP?) has anyone taken it,, side effects? I havent started it yet, waiting for vacation to start before i put anything in my body,will not do it while i work, until i am familiar with it,,ANY HELP WOULD BE SOOOO GREATFULLY APPRECIATED,,,,,,

OH THE NORTRIPTYLINEIS 10 MGS AT BED TIME,,

thank you, hope you allll have a low pain day,,,,, Linda

learnFMnow

1/14/10 9:09am

I have not taken Nortriptyline, but I believe it is closely related to amitriptyline. However, if you need it for nerve pain, it may help. Of course, the drowsiness may still be there but if you take it at bedtime that may not be a problem. I looked it up and it says it can be taken for nerve type pain.

I am sorry you are so sensitive to meds. I know how hard that must be in trying to control this disease.

hugs,

Debra

Linda

1/16/10 1:02am

Hi Debra,

Thank you so much for writing. Yes nortriptyline is related to amitriptyline, i asked the anisthesiologist who gave me my injections yesterday "what is the difference between the two" and he said "more" lol, i called him a wise a**, He gave me some info, I dont get it, my tolerance to pain medication is extremely high, but i couldnt take the cymbalta,lyrica,savella,or neurontin... tonight is my second night taking the nortriptyline, and i did sleep pretty much all day (i am on vaca, and planned the medication around it) but i think i slept all day due to not being able to move due to the injections yesterday, which is typical, i am usually useless after injections for a couple days. But, i did not notice anything different so that is good, then again, i am not sure when it will "kick in" zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz(it just did,,lol, kidding) When i looked it up, i did find that it say "peak time 8 hrs" i took it that it would peak while I wasss sleeping, dont remember if it did, cuz um.. i was sleeping,,lol. also i read that it could cause dizziness and to get up slowly, i dont do anything slowly, so when i FLEW up out of bed i did not end up on the floor or into the wall, so thats good, lets just hope it stays that way. I am leaving for vacation Sunday so if it "kicks in" then, fine!! i need to know what it is going to do to me, its amazing like i said, how much pain meds my body can take, even ones i never took before, different class of meds and i am on high doses. I dunno,. thank you so much for writing, i REALLY APPRECIATE IT.. we are so lucky to have this room, such caring people....i was diagnosed in the fall, but my primary doc pointed out to me, that i have disc problems, athritis, osteoathritis, in which we have known for a few years, but we both agree that the F.M. is something that is very new to me, we have been treating the back issues. then the F.M. came up and bit me in the a**, hands up in the air,,,,,,,,,,,,,,now what??? again, thank you very much. I hope you have a low pain day. Linda

learnFMnow

1/16/10 1:21pm

Linda, I also have a high tolerance for pain medication. I always have. What puts one person out just does not even touch me. I wonder why that is? I have heard so many people with fibro say the exact same thing. I even take Soma and it does not knock me out by any means. Most people can take that drug and be drunk off it.

Good luck with the nortriptyline. I hope you find it helps you.

I am sorry about all the back problems you have and stuff along with the fibro. Makes it hard.

hugs,

Debra

Abilify Helping Fibromyalgia???

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