I take abilify (aripiprazole) for my bipolar disorder because nothing else works for me. i love it, but i have to take cogentin daily to prevent td spasms. can td become permanent?

TD: Abilify (aripiprazole) can help to prevent akathesia and tardive dystonia (which are not permanent). Tardive dykinesia can be permanent. My patients are very happy with ablify too.

Dystonia: Dystonic reactions (the "spasms" you mention) are more acute than tardive dyskinesia, a chronic disorder which can become permanent. Cogentin can relieve dystonia, and perhaps combat td but not as well. Adjusting antipsychotic medicines to the smallest effective dose that controls psychotic symptoms can be challenging. Abilify (aripiprazole) seems to present less movement issues than other antipsychotics.

Yes: Almost all the dystonias caused by medications are reversible, but "tardive dystonia" is the unusual exception. See the movement disorder center discussion at the university of florida. http://mdc.mbi.ufl.edu/dystonia/tardive-dystonia. As good as Abilify (aripiprazole) is, and better than earlier medications like it, this is a concern that you and your psychiatrist should discuss frankly.

TD: Although rare, especially with newer generation antipsychotics such as abilify, (aripiprazole) td is irreversible.