Re: The Abilify and thoughts of next year.

[Guest guest]

Betty, what is the difference that you think you have been seeing with the

Abilify? Pat K

[Guest guest]

One of the things it is suppose to help is cognitive abilities and that is

what I think we are seeing. He is still not speaking but his aide and I both

agree that he seems to understand more or better. His screaming had went

down a lot also but is slowly creeping back up but I think that is still due

to be frustrated with not being able to communicate.

Betty Ann-61 yo, possibly Bipolar but undx'd, Effexor, Buspar

grandma and guardian to

- 11 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD on Depakote, Adderall, Singular

Evan - 9 yo nonverbal autism on 3 mg Risperdal, 5 mg Abilify stated

3/11/03

- 6 yo- Bipolar/ADHD/PTSD on Tegretol, Adderall, Clonidine .1 mg,

mother to -32 yo, their mom - Bipolar/ADHD on Topamax, Singular

wife to Bob - 71 yo, Effexor and too more many meds to remember

(Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the

faster it goes.)

----- Original Message -----

From: <pkuenstler@...>

> Betty, what is the difference that you think you have been seeing with the

> Abilify? Pat K

[Guest guest]

Help with cognitive ability sounds great! I would love that. Does Evan have

any functional speech? How is his receptive language? Can he sign? Does he

use a picture system? What does he like to do? Pat K

[Guest guest]

It sounds like Evan really has a mind of his own!! I guess he will talk when

he gets ready. I think the Abilify has really made Karac sleepy. My

therapist came downstairs and asked if Karac could have some coke; he was

falling asleep during therapy!! Now, if he'll only go to sleep tonight for

his mother!! LOL. Pat K

[Guest guest]

Evan does not speak, sign or use PECS. Absolutely refuses to. He will use a

couple at school but his main way of communication is to show us what he

wants. he does understand what we tell him. At least what he can show he

understands. I think he understands when I explain why he cannot go to

Sunday School right now. At least he is not screaming when we leave him. He

has spoken a few words but they are getting fewer and farther apart so we do

know that he is not mute. He makes noises all the time. I just pray that

some day what ever is keeping his speech locked up will come unlocked.

Betty Ann-61 yo, possibly Bipolar but undx'd, Effexor, Buspar

grandma and guardian to

- 11 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD on Depakote, Adderall, Singular

Evan - 9 yo nonverbal autism on 3 mg Risperdal, 5 mg Abilify stated

3/11/03

- 6 yo- Bipolar/ADHD/PTSD on Tegretol, Adderall, Clonidine .1 mg,

mother to -32 yo, their mom - Bipolar/ADHD on Topamax, Singular

wife to Bob - 71 yo, Effexor and too more many meds to remember

(Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the

faster it goes.)

Re: The Abilify and thoughts of next year.

> Help with cognitive ability sounds great! I would love that. Does Evan

have

> any functional speech? How is his receptive language? Can he sign? Does

he

> use a picture system? What does he like to do? Pat K

[Guest guest]

Someone was talking about giving their child the Abilify at night because of

that but I am afraid that I might forget to give it to Evan before he gets

to sleep. Nothing puts him asleep once he wakes up.

Betty Ann-61 yo, possibly Bipolar but undx'd, Effexor, Buspar

grandma and guardian to

- 11 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD on Depakote, Adderall, Singular

Evan - 9 yo nonverbal autism on 3 mg Risperdal, 5 mg Abilify stated

3/11/03

- 6 yo- Bipolar/ADHD/PTSD on Tegretol, Adderall, Clonidine .1 mg,

mother to -32 yo, their mom - Bipolar/ADHD on Topamax, Singular

wife to Bob - 71 yo, Effexor and too more many meds to remember

(Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the

faster it goes.)

----- Original Message -----

From: <pkuenstler@...>

> It sounds like Evan really has a mind of his own!! I guess he will talk

when

> he gets ready. I think the Abilify has really made Karac sleepy. My

> therapist came downstairs and asked if Karac could have some coke; he was

> falling asleep during therapy!! Now, if he'll only go to sleep tonight

for

> his mother!! LOL. Pat K

[Guest guest]

I hope that it wasn't the Abilify that made Karac so sleepy, because I can't

work with him that way. His mother said she gave him some Benadryl for the

poison ivy and that probably was what made him so sleepy. Hopefully he won't

be like that today. I guess Evan doesn't have a problem going to sleep. Pat K

[Guest guest]

Evan used to have problems sleeping and I used to give him Melatonin with

magnesium from Kirkland Labs. At first it was without the magnesium but he

would wake up after 4 hours and be on the go again. He was going to be and

sleeping good before he got on the Risperdal but that also can make some

people sleepy. He takes the Risperdal before school and at school and they

rarely have a problem with him being tired.

I am sure that it was the Benadryl that made him sleepy. It does most kids.

Unfortunately some it works just the opposite and they bounce off the wall.

Betty Ann-61 yo, possibly Bipolar but undx'd, Effexor, Buspar

grandma and guardian to

- 11 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD on Depakote, Adderall, Singular

Evan - 9 yo nonverbal autism on 3 mg Risperdal, 5 mg Abilify stated

3/11/03

- 6 yo- Bipolar/ADHD/PTSD on Tegretol, Adderall, Clonidine .1 mg,

mother to -32 yo, their mom - Bipolar/ADHD on Topamax, Singular

wife to Bob - 71 yo, Effexor and too more many meds to remember

(Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the

faster it goes.)

[Guest guest]

Karac was not as sleepy yesterday. I'm not sure yet what I think about the

Abilify. He has stopped the verbal stemming, and he is much calmer, less

hyper. His voice is barely audible even though he still responds. He seems

to be doing ok at school and in therapy, but I haven't seen him smile. I'll

know more when I observe his behavior over the weekend. His poison ivy is

almost well. Is Evan out of school Friday? What does he do to entertain

himself? Pat K

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry Evan was sick. Karac takes .5 mg. of Abilify at about 8:00 at

night. I think I am going to like it. No verbal stimming, no aggression,

and today he was talking better. He was even saying things that had not been

modeled for him. i.e. " I am finished with the scissors. " Tomorrow my 20 year

old grandson is going to come over and we are going to try to take Karac to

see Piglet at the movie. I wouldn't try to take him by myself. I have done

it before, but I have never been able to get him to stay for the entire

movie. His mother tried to take him last week, and she couldn't even get him

to go in. I'm thinking it was because it was not the same theater that I

take him to. Is Evan like that? I hope that Abilify will be helpful to both

Evan and Karac. LOL, Pat K

[Guest guest]

Evan is out of school right now because he had a case of diarhea and I was

told to keep him home until it had been gone for 24 hours. He was very fussy

yesterday afternoon so I am just assuming that he did not feel well. He did

not have a temperature but was crying so much that he felt warm. I gave him

liquid motrin twice and another allergy med and he was better. When Evan is

home he plays by himself, gets on the trampoline or gets his mom or me to

play with him. he likes to be with his brothers but he does not actually

play with them, just by them.

How much Abilify does Karac take? Evan is still on the 5 mg.

Betty Ann-61 yo, possibly Bipolar but undx'd, Effexor, Buspar

grandma and guardian to

- 11 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD on Depakote, Adderall, Singular

Evan - 9 yo nonverbal autism on 3 mg Risperdal, 5 mg Abilify stated

3/11/03

- 6 yo- Bipolar/ADHD/PTSD on Tegretol, Adderall, Clonidine .1 mg,

mother to -32 yo, their mom - Bipolar/ADHD on Topamax, Singular

wife to Bob - 71 yo, Effexor and too more many meds to remember

(Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the

faster it goes.)

[Guest guest]

You are braver than I am. We have not taken Evan to a movie since he was

just a few months old. And then was climbing all over and under the

seat. is absolutely forbidden to go to the movies after his mom put

out a bundle on the tickets and treats only to have him freak out in the

first few minutes of the movie.

Evan is not much of a movie watcher though even at home. His may attaction

has always been the Sing-a-longs. Put one of them on and you have his

attention at least for awhile. He will still sit and watch the Lion King

for awhile but even that he now will get up and leave. He wore out one Lion

King Video once with his mom playing it for him over and over.

Betty Ann-61 yo, possibly Bipolar but undx'd, Effexor, Buspar

grandma and guardian to

- 11 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD on Depakote, Adderall, Singular

Evan - 9 yo nonverbal autism on 3 mg Risperdal, 5 mg Abilify stated

3/11/03

- 6 yo- Bipolar/ADHD/PTSD on Tegretol, Adderall, Clonidine .1 mg,

mother to -32 yo, their mom - Bipolar/ADHD on Topamax, Singular

wife to Bob - 71 yo, Effexor and too more many meds to remember

(Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the

faster it goes.)