Aripiprazole is safe and effective. It's used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. But doctors and treating teams in the UK noticed an increase in problem gambling - and these were...
That actually lined up with my experiences, having been on it for quite some time. It's specifically a dopamine antagoinist, so if you want a dopamine rush, gambling will supercede many other...
That actually lined up with my experiences, having been on it for quite some time. It's specifically a dopamine antagoinist, so if you want a dopamine rush, gambling will supercede many other options.
It was great at managing my bipolar mania, when I took it, but I had three other side effects (not including this unknown gambling one) which after several years of treatment I worked with my doctor to transition off. I'm now on low-dose Lamotrigine which is working better for me.
The three symptoms:
Felt dead inside. Like a perpetual numbness of personality, probably the severe reduction in dopamine. It took me a bit to figure out, but that was the reason I'd eventually stop taking the meds and relapsing.
Weight gain...a lot of bipolar drugs do this, and this was better than average, but still annoying. "I'm full" signals never made it to the brain for processing.
Broke-wallet disease. Even with my insurance covering it, it was still quite expensive at over $1 a pill. Both of my other medications now cost less than $3 for a three-month supply.
Absolutely re-enforcing: Work with your doctor, not against them. If you are experiencing debilitating gambling problems, talk with them. It could also be a sign your mania is not as well-managed as previously thought (YMMV).
What an odd thing. I love the idea of "may fix your mood swings, may also make you bet your house on the ponies." Obviously anecdotal but I've never seen anything like that in people I've known on...
the UK reports occurred in patients with and without a prior history of gambling disorder
What an odd thing. I love the idea of "may fix your mood swings, may also make you bet your house on the ponies." Obviously anecdotal but I've never seen anything like that in people I've known on that medication, just seems like such a weird jump.
I am most surprised by: There were 69 reports of this and if all of them note a "marked reduction or total loss of impulses to gamble" it is a very strong correlation.
I am most surprised by:
In the majority of cases, cessation of aripiprazole led to a marked reduction or total loss of impulses to gamble.
There were 69 reports of this and if all of them note a "marked reduction or total loss of impulses to gamble" it is a very strong correlation.
Aripiprazole is safe and effective. It's used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. But doctors and treating teams in the UK noticed an increase in problem gambling - and these were sometimes devastating. Aripiprazole is listed as a risk factor in the RCPsych problem gambling information
This safety notice is welcome.
Don't stop taking meds without speaking to a doctor or your treating team first.
That actually lined up with my experiences, having been on it for quite some time. It's specifically a dopamine antagoinist, so if you want a dopamine rush, gambling will supercede many other options.
It was great at managing my bipolar mania, when I took it, but I had three other side effects (not including this unknown gambling one) which after several years of treatment I worked with my doctor to transition off. I'm now on low-dose Lamotrigine which is working better for me.
The three symptoms:
Absolutely re-enforcing: Work with your doctor, not against them. If you are experiencing debilitating gambling problems, talk with them. It could also be a sign your mania is not as well-managed as previously thought (YMMV).
What an odd thing. I love the idea of "may fix your mood swings, may also make you bet your house on the ponies." Obviously anecdotal but I've never seen anything like that in people I've known on that medication, just seems like such a weird jump.
I am most surprised by:
There were 69 reports of this and if all of them note a "marked reduction or total loss of impulses to gamble" it is a very strong correlation.