Has anyone heard of Abilify (aripiprazole)?

HappySaver1968

Hi,

At my CPA today, I was asked to start Abilify (aripiprazole) as of next Monday. The thing is, when I asked what it was being prescribed for exactly, the Psychiatrist just stated that it was "best" I started on this medication as soon as possible as it should benefit me a great deal without actually telling me the reasons behind WHY it was being prescribed. If you followed my other posts, you'll see that I feel I'm not being told everything about my condition/s, or even what's actually wrong with me in the first place as I just don't know for sure. I was told when I asked before if having a label would really make a difference and that sometimes you're better not knowing...!? Can anyone share some information on this please? I'm currently on other medications but I'm sure that is the right name for the one I've been asked to start.

John.

Koicarp

http://bnf.org/bnf/index.htm This link takes you to the drug information which prescribers use. Join for free and you have access to it. If you don't feel you are getting appropriate information from your medical team, you can talk the provider's PALS service. Some people who feel vulnerable may take along a family member, friend or if they would rather, request an advocate.

[Deleted User]

discussing specific medications is not allowed on mse,but theres obviously lots of info avaliable via google

Jemma-T

woodbine wrote: »

discussing specific medications is not allowed on mse

How about non-specific? Sounds a bit strange to me.

Aripiprazole http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aripiprazole Essentially an anti-psychotic drug I'd say.

Have a search on YouTube and you'll find lots of stuff there too. Obviously read and view as much as you can because you're going to find a lot of information out there (rather than asking here with very few replying).

And when you get the drugs read the enclosed patient information sheet.

If you can post a message on MSE I'm sure you can soak up the information on the drug.

dane-katie

Ive took it for 2 weeks had to come off it due to constant heart burn, was horrible, soon as i stopped taking it the heart burn stopped

cattie

I hope I'm not breaking any rules by mentioning it's often prescribed to prevent psycotic episodes.

HappySaver1968

cattie wrote: »

I hope I'm not breaking any rules by mentioning it's often prescribed to prevent psycotic episodes.

Thank you, this is news to me. I must admit, things have been quite difficult recently but as I said before, I still don't feel I'm being told everything related to my condition/s. What would have to be wrong with a person for this medication to be prescribed? nightmares, anxiety, paranoia, depression? my nurse has referred to my having "psychotic" episodes but she hasn't explained them fully to me.

John.

cattie

Paranoia could be a cause of a prescription being given for this medication. Don't worry too much about having a 'label'. When you are mentally ill there can be many ways that symptoms manifest themselves & often it's not possible to just give one 'label' that will convey what the illness is & how it affects you. I take this same medication myself & it has been beneficial.

Basically a psychotic episode is when you sometimes feel something is/has happened that isn't actually real. Hope this helps.

skater_kat

also prescribed for aspergers/autism in some cases.

Jemma-T

HappySaver1968 wrote: »

....I still don't feel I'm being told everything related to my condition/s.

There's no way you can be told 'everything' because a lot of what these professionals find is based on their past work and lots of other things like what you tell them and how you react and they'll also be going through a tick-box diagnosis to fit you into a certain category Or at least they will try to. You'll NEVER truly know what they think as it's none of your business really and it wouldn't help you anyway.

If you had a serious physical disease the doctors wouldn't tell you everything either. You'd need to move into the surgery and get daily updates!

You are on the Internet so the world's information is there in seconds. There's no doctor that will say "You have 6 months to live" if you are dying. It's all padded information. Ins and outs, might bes, could bes. Opinions.

If you have been prescribed (the psychiatrist would have written or spoken with you GP too) something it's because they think it will supress anxiety or thoughts related to what's been mentioned already. And of course they believe it will help you.

Psychiatrict problems are much more complicated that rocket science

Start to learn to help yourself.

Errata

If you had a serious physical disease the doctors wouldn't tell you everything either

Absolute utter nonsense. I have a rare type of cancer and not only does the consultant and my GP tell me eveything they know about it, I actually know more about it than my GP does.