Kids on Abilify

[happybratpack]

Does anyone have a child using Abilify? If so, what are your opinions?

My 10yo DSD is now on it and has been for a while. She has turned into a zombie and I just hate it for her. Sure, she's not having any of the emotional lows but she's also not having any highs. You honestly can't tell from her reactions even when she's really happy/excited. If she's not stimulated she will get into a zone where she's just staring at nothing, nodding off, etc. If we're in the car over 10 minutes she's usually asleep. It seems like too much medication to me but I'm wondering if this is the "norm" with this drug. I know it hasn't been approved for children for very long at this point. On top of that when she's at the other house she's taking medication to help her fall asleep. She doesn't take that when she's over here, she definitely doesn't need it and is asleep within 10-15 minutes of getting in bed.

She started with half the doseage she's on now, it was determined that it wasn't "doing enough" so it was doubled. Her bio Mom has control of the doseage so we're at a loss at this point, but I'm trying to learn more about the drug and what the "real life" effects are.

Thanks for any help.

 

[tazdev3225]

I don't have any experience with that drug but you can google it and get some answers. You could also try talkg to your pharmacist. They may be able to give you a printout that they give with the prescriptions. As the step-mom you don't have alot of say but from experience there are a lot of drugs out there and it sometimes takes awhile to find the right combinations. We had to try severaL before we found the combinations that didn't make them feel like a zombie. Good luck and get your DH involved.

 

[EdiePA]

It's only approved for use in pediatrics (ages 10 to 17) for bipolar I, manic or mixed. It can be used as the only therapy or as an add-on with lithium or valproate.

Starting dose: 2 mg/day
Target dose: 10mg/day
Max. dose: 30 mg/day

Just wanted to add -- I don't have any first-hand knowledge of its use. I'm just a pharmacist.

 

[happybratpack]

Thanks for the info, I've been reading some articles but there's not a lot of first hand info out there.

Thanks again!

 

[Ohiodislover]

I just attended a seminar on Abilify last month. It was my understanding that it was to be used in conjunction w/ something else. What dose is she on?

 

[Mommy2three]

my son 7 and on abilify, he gets it at night for the same reason and he is not like a zombie during the day.

 

[happybratpack]

I just attended a seminar on Abilify last month. It was my understanding that it was to be used in conjunction w/ something else. What dose is she on?

She's only on the Abilify, 5 mg a day. (well, and the sleeping pills when she's home) She was on half of that for a few weeks before they bumped it up and she does take it at night before bed. She told her Dad she feels "cloudy" during the day. Thanks again...

 

[Ohiodislover]

I would speak w/ the Dr. Maybe the sleeper needs cut back, or maybe bumping it up by that much wasn't the right thing.

 

[lsyorke]

It's only approved for use in pediatrics (ages 10 to 17) for bipolar I, manic or mixed. It can be used as the only therapy or as an add-on with lithium or valproate.

Starting dose: 2 mg/day
Target dose: 10mg/day
Max. dose: 30 mg/day

Just wanted to add -- I don't have any first-hand knowledge of its use. I'm just a pharmacist.

Abilify's "approval" was based on 4 weeks of use extrapolated from adult data. The pediatric population has not been part of any clinical trial, except for the short term 4 week trial of 13-17 year olds. Long term effects have not been investigated in adults, but adult warnings are pretty serious.

I have contact with alot of psychiatric drug users on my website and the side effects of Abilify are commonly reported and few adults continue with it's use.
I, personally, wouldn't allow a child take this drug...the risk/benefit ratio just isn't there.

http://www.rxlist.com/abilify-drug.htm

 

[tamalita]

My son, turning 8 next week, has been taking Abilify for close to 6 weeks now. He started with 2 mg then slowly crept to 5 mg. 5 seems to be the right dose for him. He says he is fine and has not complained. Since we are not in school, I don't know how it will affect him there. I was shocked at the price. We may not be able to continue with it unless we find a discount. So far we have seen no side effects.

I had never browsed the Canadian meds sites until recently. I am reluctant to go that route. Does anyone have experience with those pharmacies?

 

[duckybelle]

My son, who was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, was given this drug when he was about 7 or 8. (He is almost 13 now). The pysch. told me to only give him half, so I did, and, as I do with any new med (my son has allergies), I kept him home from school, and OMG I am so glad I did. He said he was sleepy, but wanted to go to the library. We had only been there 5 minutes when he ran into the bathroom dry heaving. He came out to the desk after he was done and fell asleep against it!! He hadn't eaten much for breakfast, so I thought maybe a light snack would make him feel better. NOPE! He fell asleep at the table, and was a zombie the rest of the day. The doctors response? Just try it for a few more days! Ummmm, NO TY! We took him to another doctor who correctly diagnosed him with ADHD. This drug, as well as the original doctor, still terrify me to this day!

 

[LJC1861]

I work with teens and adults with Autism and severe behavioral challenges in a group home. I have 2 little guys on Abilify and one adult.

I know that Abilify can cause some edginess at lower doses that goes away with the higher doses. In our case, with all 3 they are on 5 mgs and up. My adult on it is still working up to his optimal dose, but the kids have stabilzed at 5 mgs. Both the kids are taking other meds as well.

The Abilify DOES help and both kids are much calmer and more focused on it. It is a medication that does require close monitoring by a physician, and all our guys see our physician once each month to renew the prescription.