Treatment with Abilfiy and Ativan- anyone else??

decmom09

I was diagnosed with PPA a little over a month ago... anxiety is starting to get under control with Ativan, but am now experiencing some PPD... they are going to try to treat with Abilify ( I had some serious issues with the SSRIs at the beginning, hence the Ativan, not an antidepressant). Has anyone else been treated with this? It is marketed as an "add-on" to an antidepressant, is it being used as an "add-on" to anti-anxiety here? A little confused why this would have been chosen, but wanted to reach out and see if anyone else has had this experience.

 

TIA!!

Spenjamins

Are you seeing a psychiatrist or being treated by your primary care doc? Were other classes of antidepressants considered? Are you having obsessive thoughts or psychotic symptoms? Mania? Mood swings?

decmom09

I started with my primary care doc, who prescribed prozac, then citalopram for my anxiety. Both made me feel depressed with harmful thoughts, so I went to a psychiatrist who prescribed Ativan for the anxiousness and obsessive thoughts. Now the anxiousness is pretty under control, but I am having depressed thoughts, so they've started me on the Abilify.. No mania or mood swings. I stared it yesterday in a really small dosage, and feel better today. I know it's the placebo effect right now, but had a pretty good day today!

On a related note, how long has it taken some of you ladies to feel like yourself again?? I know it's not an overnight fix, or even a couple weeks, but I am so looking forward to the day when I am back to my normal self.

Spenjamins

I am a psychiatrist. Just wondering about your symptoms. It is pretty common for Abilify to work quickly. And the low dose is appropriate for the symptoms you described.  Good Luck and hope you feel better soon.