After taking bupropion for a year, it stopped working, so the doctor changed it to aripiprazole.
If anyone is using this medicine, please let me know how long it takes for it to start working. I cannot use SSRIs or SNRIs because of their strong side effects.
How long does aripiprazole take to kick in?
Question posted by akemi212 on 24 Aug 2022
Last updated on 26 August 2022
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Answers
Hi, akemi!
These two quotes are from online literature and should be helpful:
"You can expect aripiprazole (Abilify) to start working in 1 to 2 weeks, but it may take several weeks until it takes full effect. Some people may see continued improvement on this medication during the first 3 to 4 months of taking it."
"It can take a few days, or sometimes a few weeks, for aripiprazole to start helping you. You may not feel the full to effects of the medication for four to six weeks. It’s hard to be exact as aripiprazole works differently for each person.
If you have seen no change in symptoms after two or three weeks, you should talk to your doctor about your progress."
Best regards and I hope it works quickly for you,
Thank you for your reply. I can't use most serotonin-acting drugs because of the strong side effects. I took bupropion for the first time last year and I am feeling much better. I wish that was the end of it, but I got depressed again this summer, but bupropion didn't work at all and I was pretty depressed. I am off work for 3 weeks now.
I sent an email hoping that it would work quickly. Thank you very much.
If this medicine doesn't work, what other options do I have?
I take bupropion too, a mood stabilizer (lamotrigine - Lamictal), and Vraylar for Bipolar depression. That might be a bit much for you but you might want to consider a mood stabilizer. That's IF the Abilify doesn't do the trick for you...
Are you still taking the bupropion?
Yes, I am still taking it. Is there any point in continuing if it's just not working anymore?
I also have a stomachache, so I am also taking amitriptyline.
Therefore, I cannot go to work because I feel sleepy and tired during the day.
What should I do?
Anyone with a similar experience please give me an advise.
In many cases, aripiprazole boosters the effects of antidepressants so it might be worth it to stay on the bupropion as you see how things go.
Aripiprazole is funny in that for some people it can cause insomnia but for others it may make them sleepy/drowsy... these are very common side effects. How long have you been taking it? Side effects generally resolve within days to a week or two so if you haven't been on it very long you might find that the sleepiness goes away.
It's only the third day. You may think I'm talking about just 3days, but I've been doing my own research for the past two months and find aripiprazole.
Does that mean that aripiprazole by itself is not used or has no meaning?
Does that mean that they are just supporting bupropion?
I saw someone who was using bupropion, and he said that after a few months this drug can't work anymore, so you should take it for a while and then stop for a while.
I don't know what to believe anymore.
Only the amount of the medicine is increasing, and I am having a hard time with the side effects.
Just for the record, I've taken bupropion and aripiprazole for over seven years with no side effects and excellent effectiveness.
Do you trust your doctor? I hope so and I'd say they wouldn't have prescribed it unless they were hopeful that it would help you. I'd follow their advice.
Doing research is admirable but don't believe anything you read on the internet unless it's from a professional source that can be verified.
Related topics
seasonal affective disorder, aripiprazole, bupropion, doctor, medicine
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