HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

How To Wean Off Abilify?

default
Posted on Sat, 14 Jun 2014
Question: I take 10mgs of abilify every other day.I have been doing this for several years.
How do I ween myself off this outrageously expensive drug?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (20 minutes later)
hello,
thanks for your query,
abilify is an antipsychotic drug used in schizophrenia. bipolar disorders.
you are on this drug since several years.stopping this medication can have serious withdrawal symptoms.
it should be gradual withdrawal done by your psychiatrist,after seeing your status.kindly visit your psychiatrist.all d best. take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (21 hours later)
I need to ween myself off off the outrageously expensive abilify.I have been taking 10 mg every other day.I take daily 300mg of effexor,80mg of ritalin and .25 mg of levothroxine.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You may gradually reduce it.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through. I am a psychiatrist and I will help you out of it.
You are already taking abilify on alternate days and that is a low dosage. Still further you may take half of tablet of abilify every other day i.e. 5mg on alternate day for 7 days and then you can stop it.
However you have not mentioned why were you on abilify. In case if the same was started to you for some reason of psychosis, then you should not withdraw it without informing your treating psychiatrist.
Further you should continue your effexor, ritalin and levothyroxine as your were taking before.

Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2770 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
How To Wean Off Abilify?

hello, thanks for your query, abilify is an antipsychotic drug used in schizophrenia. bipolar disorders. you are on this drug since several years.stopping this medication can have serious withdrawal symptoms. it should be gradual withdrawal done by your psychiatrist,after seeing your status.kindly visit your psychiatrist.all d best. take care.