Abilify

[akerswes]

Any thoughts? Opinions? Success stories? Just got prescribed 5mg in the morning an honestly feeling better already.

[akerswes]

I have been told that it works in low doses as an "add-on" or "booster" to your antidepressant. Can any one contest to this?

[panic_down_under]

I have been told that it works in low doses as an "add-on" or "booster" to your antidepressant. Can any one contest to this?

Abilify (aripiprazole) is not much different than the Risperdal (risperidone) you were on, though it is a more potent serotonin 5-HT1a receptor partial agonist. 5-HT1a agonists can boost serotonergic antidepressants a little. But only time will tell if it's more effective than the risperidone.

How much clomipramine are you now on?

[akerswes]

it feels a bit different, maybe that is just placebo. i am now on 200mgs of clomipramine.

[panic_down_under]

i am now on 200mgs of clomipramine.

For how long?

[akerswes]

About a week. Been on clomipramine since June 13.

[panic_down_under]

About a week. Been on clomipramine since June 13.

Okay, so still early days.

[akerswes]

Still early days, yup. I have a random question while I have you, PDU. I do not know if this question violates any rules of this site as I am new, but if it does my apologies in advance. The question is this(which I forgot to ask my doctor): Is it relatively safe to smoke marijuana while on these drugs? I can't seem to find any negative studies when combining marijuana with abilify or marijuana with clomipramine. It helps ease my mind and my OCD. And where I live, we will be having medical marijuana in a few months. I want to try it out.

[panic_down_under]

Is it relatively safe to smoke marijuana while on these drugs?

Marijuana slows the rate at which both Abilify and clomipramine are metabolized, raising plasma levels of both. Given you're at the upper end of clomipramine dose range it could be especially problematic. Expect side-effects to worsen, especially sedation.

But there is an even bigger problem. The psychoactive component in marijuana, delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) causes DNA fragmentation and neuron cell death in, and subsequent shrinkage of, the hippocampus (Weinstein A (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27549374), 2016; Ameri A (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10368032), 1999; Chan GC (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9651215), 1998). Problems with memory and spatial awareness, both mediated by the hippocampus, are frequent side effects of marijuana use. Chronic stress also causes hippocampal atrophy (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC60045/) triggering anxiety disorders and depression. Antidepressants work by stimulating the growth of new hippocampal neurons. While another component of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), protects neurons to some extent, a lot of marijuana now contains very high THC levels and little CBD.

[akerswes]

Thanks PDU. The marijuana in which I would be smoking would be rich in CBD, and in very small amounts, just enough to take the edge off. I find it works similar to a klonopin to me. Maybe I'll hold off, though.