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What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Double Dosage Of Abilify?

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Posted on Mon, 30 Mar 2015
Question: I am bipolar and just went on abilify in addition to lithium and amitryptyline that I what've been on for years. I was supposed to take 25 mg a day, but I goofed because I thought the pills I had were 5 mg but there were 15mg so I have been taking 75 mg each of the three days I took it so far. What is the highest safe dose that can be taken in one day? Also can there a side effect of naming objects incorrectly?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
30mg/day is recommnded dose of abilify

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

I am confused that are you asking about abilify for sure!? If you have 15 mg tablet how your doctor has told to start with 25 mg?How can you take 25 mg dose with 15mg tablets?

Anyway if you have taken abilify 15 mg five tablets in a day (total 75 mg)for 3 days, stop taking it immediately and consult your doctor as soon as possible.Naming objects incorrectly may be CNS toxicity of the abilify.Maximum recommended dose is 30mg per day. And it should be started with 10 mg and gradually increased.



And by chance if you are talking about amitryptiline (Which is less likely possibility as normally 15 mg amitryptiline preparation is not available), recommended dose of amitryptiline is 150mg per day in depression. However it should be started with 25 mg per day and increased weekly or 2 weekly depending upon response of the drug. However it is not used in bipolar depression in general.You are taking 75 mg by mistake.It can cause severe sedation, drowsiness , dry mouth and constipation. Not able to name object correctly might be due to sedation.Do not take it for 2 days and then restart at 25 mg. However if you feel more discomfort consult your treating doctor.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (7 hours later)
What does cns toxicity involve? I only experienced the calling things by other names even though I know their names one day during my 75mg doses for three days. After that one day it went away. Is there permanent damage or could there be? Do I need to be checked?

In answer to your questions about how I could take the dose I did. Well, my Dr. prescribed one dose, I did have 5mg pills, but I didn't know it. They were under the stack of 15 mg dose. I am the one who royally screwed up, not my doctor. I assumed something and I also did not pay enough attention.

Can you feel that everyone else is not real except you and you are being tested without being schizophrenic? I told you before I am bipolar, but I am experiencing so many crazy symptoms during this manic phase and I have nothing to compare to and I feel very alone. Can I be arrested if I have my hands inside my diaper as I urinate and masturbate in public as long as I show no body parts? I am starting to feel really crazy, but I feel compelled and find it impossible to stop. Any advice?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Thanks for clarification,Possibility of schizoaffective disorder

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for clarification about the dose of drug.

There is no CNS(central nervous system - brain/neurological) toxicity now.It is effect of overdose of abilify on brain.
Calling things by other names stopped then no need to worry.There is no permanent damage.Aripirazole overdose very well tolerated by most of the patients.No need to go for check up if you are better now. Just continue with prescribed dose.

I can understand your crazy feelings and symptoms. These may be part of psychotic features of bipolar disorder or may be part of schizophrenia.Everyone is not real except you suggests possibility of schizophrnia or dissociative phenomena.And where both diagnosis bipolar and schizophrenia intermingle there is one diagnosis called schizoaffective disorder.

You may be warned initially if you urinate/masturbate publicly without showing body parts and later on may be arrested according to local laws. However after knowing mental status of yours you will be sent for treatment.

It may be part of your manic episode.In this case mood stabilizer like valproate can help.Or it may be part of psychotic symptoms then olanzapine or risperidone can be used.These compulsive symptoms often respond to olanzapine.

Please provide more details of symptoms of mania with duration and treatment since beginning so I can comment more on your diagnosis and treatment part.

I will be glad to answer more.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (16 hours later)
I am not sure exactly what are considered manic symptoms, but what I have been experiencing are some really strange "out of character" behaviors.

-I was diagnosed with major depression about 7 years ago I thought it was situational because I was taking care of my dying father, dying grandmother, dying dog and my mother who had cancer all during the same time period.

-The depression continued and I was hospitalized 6 times in one year. I had ECT which did not work and lots of psychotherapy that did not work. I actually got worse and tried to kill myself. Woke up in the hospital 2 days later with no memory of anything.

-Finally found a psychiatrist about 4 years ago and have gotten steadily better ever since. However, I have a lot of trouble with side effects. I was on Viibryd for these last two years, but it had some very daunting side effects such as horrific nightmares.

-I had been feeling very good for a few years now, but when the Viibryd was taken away, suddenly I had many problems with weird behavior. This has been going on for about three weeks now.

-I have orgasms without trying

-I first wore diapers superbowl Sunday to the grocery store. I remember looking at 3 different cheese trays and trying to decide between them. Then it was like a suddenly woke up and found myself holding on to the island the cheese was in and I was pumping and peeing. The diaper leaked and the pee went all over my legs and pants and floor. It was at that point I realized there were many, many people in the store. I didn't know how to plan my escape so I bought my stuff in the self checkout and left.

-The diaper thing does not seem sexual to me. It seems comforting (once I got some that didn't leak. I still continue to wear them at home and sometimes out. I like the soothing warmth. I wear them whenever I can.

-I masturbate a whole lot

-I talk fast but do not have racing thoughts.

-I tried to have sex one time with a man in a parking garage, but didn't go through with it (the funny thing about that is I am a lesbian. I would have done it with a flagpole if I could.

-Lots of energy

-getting a lot done

-feeling better about getting organized

-trouble concentrating

-trouble with memory

-alphabetized my coffees

-trouble prioritizing

-always feel sexual (not sexy) but like I am always heightened

-if I were in my "right" mind, I would not be taking the chance to write someone about this stuff and put it on the internet (I'll be paying for it later)

-still enjoying peeing anywhere, but never with pants open or down.

-always on edge (heartbeat is always fast)

-feel like Abilify might be helping some, but certainly not enough

-drink a lot so I can pee a lot

-all of these symptoms have come within the last three weeks and they are only slightly dampened with the Abilify.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
likely possibility is bipolar disorder with psychotic features

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for providing important information and sorry for delayed reply due to busy Monday.
I read your history well.I can understand your pain and feelings from which you have gone through until now.
Most of the symptoms suggestive of bipolar disorder. No specific symptoms are there which can lead to diagnosis of schizophrenia. Symptoms of peeing in public places and getting orgasm is called disorganized behavior from psychiatry point of view which is psychotic feature.
Abilify is useful in bipolar depression and in psychotic features.That is why you have got some improvement with it.You will have more improvement also.

In my opinion lithium dose should be optimized if it is low.Or lamotirgine (lamictal), sodium valporate(depakote) or quetiapine(seroquel) should be added for further improvement. Probably no need of amitryptiline. It may worsen mania.

Hope this answer is helpful.

Feel free to ask if more queries.

http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Double Dosage Of Abilify?

Brief Answer: 30mg/day is recommnded dose of abilify Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us. I am confused that are you asking about abilify for sure!? If you have 15 mg tablet how your doctor has told to start with 25 mg?How can you take 25 mg dose with 15mg tablets? Anyway if you have taken abilify 15 mg five tablets in a day (total 75 mg)for 3 days, stop taking it immediately and consult your doctor as soon as possible.Naming objects incorrectly may be CNS toxicity of the abilify.Maximum recommended dose is 30mg per day. And it should be started with 10 mg and gradually increased. And by chance if you are talking about amitryptiline (Which is less likely possibility as normally 15 mg amitryptiline preparation is not available), recommended dose of amitryptiline is 150mg per day in depression. However it should be started with 25 mg per day and increased weekly or 2 weekly depending upon response of the drug. However it is not used in bipolar depression in general.You are taking 75 mg by mistake.It can cause severe sedation, drowsiness , dry mouth and constipation. Not able to name object correctly might be due to sedation.Do not take it for 2 days and then restart at 25 mg. However if you feel more discomfort consult your treating doctor. Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.