Comments on Abilify and Effexor

[Guest guest]

I just had to post a praise! Our house is so much more peaceful

since my 14.5 y.o. daughter switched from Seroquel to Abilify. She

is also on Luvox and a tiny bit of Effexor (more about that one

later). She has been on quite the OCD med roller coaster, and was

hospitalized for OCD related depression 3 times when she was 11. Her

OCD is mainly obsessive. Anyway, since she started on 5 mg. of

Abilify a couple of weeks ago, I'm seeing her smile!! And things

that previously would have caused her to rant and rave (and make the

rest of us miserable!), such as someone copying something from her

website, she is now " handling " . It's been wonderful.

Effexor on the other hand... beware of coming OFF of it too

quickly. They added effexor to her med mix in August to try to help

the worsening depression (during a particularly obsessive time). It

seemed to help a little... we eventually had her up to 150 mg.

However, it started to make her very irritable, and her ticcing was

increasing so the doc suggested her weaning her off of it, stepping

down a pill every 3 days. NOT a good idea to go that fast -- I'd

suggest going down a pill every week or two. Effexor seems to be

almost physically addicting. was so lethargic... had leg

pains... felt ill... something I read a lot about on the web

afterwards. She missed her first class for about 3 weeks during this

time because she was so exhausted (turns out that Effexor is also a

stimulant, so the body misses it when it's taken away. The

pharmacist likened it to quitting smoking.) Anyway, we opted to

leave her on the 1 pill for now, because it was so hard for her to

come off of it. We'll probably take her off during another school

break.

So keep up hope! Different meds really can make a difference!

[Guest guest]

Abilify has really changed my son's quality of life too! It has been the

most amazing medication. We used ALL of them and it was the only one that has

helped. We struggled with my son day in and day out and it was really affecting

our family. He still obsesses over things but not as bad and he is able to

now reason through some of the obsessions. What I have found the Abilify to

help with the most is his ADHD and Tourette symptoms. Having these two things

under control helped his OCD because in stead of dealing with three problems

he is only dealing with one. My son has joined boy scouts and a leadership

committee at school and he is an A and B student and is doing all this on his

on. Before he couldn't do anything with out our help. I do encourage those of

you who have tried medication and it not work, to try this one. I feel like

we have gotten our life back.

Sheree

[Guest guest]

" What I have found the Abilify to

help with the most is his ADHD and Tourette symptoms "

Thanks for that info about Abilify my son also has TS and ADHD and we are trying

to find the right med combo, I might see if it is available here and then talk

to the pdoc in early feb when we go back.

Cheers Jaxx (New Zealand)

[Guest guest]

Jaxx, I hope the Abilify helps your son as much as it has helped my son.. It

truly is amazing! Keep us informed!

[Guest guest]

" Jaxx, I hope the Abilify helps your son as much as it has helped my son.. It

truly is amazing! Keep us informed! "

At this stage not even sure if it is an option, but will discuss it with the

Pdoc, in a few weeks time . - Does it cause much weight gain?? - as my son is

overweight now and can not afford to add on any more weight.

Thanks Jaxx (New Zealand)

[Guest guest]

Just an FYI....with some people Abilify causes huge weight gain. This an

immensely personal and unpredictable process! Tommy has gained more weight on

Abilify than Seroquel, but with a better overall result.

Joye in Southeastern PA

suzstone@... wrote:

Regarding weight gain, I believe it is supposed to cause less weight

gain

than Seroquel and some of the other anti-psychotics. My daughter started

losing a little weight when she switched from seroquel to abilify 3 weeks ago.

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

My daughter is taking Abilify and it's helped immensely. The one

complication has been that her pupils are hugely dilated!!!!

She is finding it hard to read (one of her favorite things to do) or work

on the computer. Anyone else having this side affect?

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Joye

Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 1:16 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Comments on Abilify and Effexor

Just an FYI....with some people Abilify causes huge weight gain. This an

immensely personal and unpredictable process! Tommy has gained more weight

on Abilify than Seroquel, but with a better overall result.

Joye in Southeastern PA

suzstoneaol (DOT) <mailto:suzstone%40aol.com> com wrote:

Regarding weight gain, I believe it is supposed to cause less weight gain

than Seroquel and some of the other anti-psychotics. My daughter started

losing a little weight when she switched from seroquel to abilify 3 weeks

ago.

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

Jaxx,

My son has not shown any weight gain with this medication. We were really

happy about this because he is at the age where appearance is so important. Oh

just to let you know how great he is doing. .. He goes to a pretty good size

middle school and he got STUDENT of the MONTH for his pod. Four of his

teachers voted for him. This is based off of academics and good behavior. We

are

SO PROUD. This is such an amazing thing considering he was struggling in

school before this medication to stay on task and was living in the guidance

office. Only thirteen students out of around 1000 students who got this award

for

the month.

Sheree

[Guest guest]

It is wonderful to hear success stories with Abilify. I am wondering what

dose the kids were on of Abilify that they found success. 5 mg did not help my

daughter at all, so I am just curious what dose people found success with. Kim

In a message dated 1/12/2007 4:17:46 AM Central Standard Time,

hippygal@... writes:

That is fantastic - what a great boost for the self esteem. :).

I will definitely be discussing this med with the pdoc in a couple of weeks

.

[Guest guest]

That is fantastic - what a great boost for the self esteem. :).

I will definitely be discussing this med with the pdoc in a couple of weeks .

Thanks Jaxx (New Zealand)

Re: Comments on Abilify and Effexor

Jaxx,

My son has not shown any weight gain with this medication. We were really

happy about this because he is at the age where appearance is so important. Oh

just to let you know how great he is doing. .. He goes to a pretty good size

middle school and he got STUDENT of the MONTH for his pod. Four of his

teachers voted for him. This is based off of academics and good behavior. We

are

SO PROUD. This is such an amazing thing considering he was struggling in

school before this medication to stay on task and was living in the guidance

office. Only thirteen students out of around 1000 students who got this award

for

the month.

Sheree

[Guest guest]

that is great!! way to go!!

eileen

Quoting Jaxx Brown <hippygal@...>:

> That is fantastic - what a great boost for the self esteem. :).

>

> I will definitely be discussing this med with the pdoc in a couple

> of weeks .

>

> Thanks Jaxx (New Zealand)

>

> Re: Comments on Abilify and Effexor

>

>

> Jaxx,

>

> My son has not shown any weight gain with this medication. We were really

> happy about this because he is at the age where appearance is so

> important. Oh

> just to let you know how great he is doing. .. He goes to a pretty

> good size

> middle school and he got STUDENT of the MONTH for his pod. Four of his

> teachers voted for him. This is based off of academics and good

> behavior. We are

> SO PROUD. This is such an amazing thing considering he was struggling in

> school before this medication to stay on task and was living in

> the guidance

> office. Only thirteen students out of around 1000 students who got

> this award for

> the month.

>

> Sheree

>

>

[Guest guest]

Regarding abilify dosage, my 14 y.o. is on 5 mg. Abilify + 150 Luvox + 37.5

Effexor and doing great since she started right before Christmas. Prior to

the Abilify, was on 200 mg. of Seroquel.

suzanne

[Guest guest]

My son(5) has shown good progress on the abilify-2mg. He has gained 14 lbs in 6

months though. It's ok for him because he was sooo thin earlier. He looks good

now, but , in 6 more months, I don't know!

I think everyone is different with these meds. Abilify is suppossed to be the

most weight neutral of the anti-psychotics. My daughter gained alot from it also

Hugs

Judy

[Guest guest]

, My dd(10) has had this effect with other meds, but not with the

abilify.

Hugs

Judy

Ballard <hlballard@...> wrote:

My daughter is taking Abilify and it's helped immensely. The one

complication has been that her pupils are hugely dilated!!!!

She is finding it hard to read (one of her favorite things to do) or work

on the computer. Anyone else having this side affect?

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Joye

Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 1:16 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Comments on Abilify and Effexor

Just an FYI....with some people Abilify causes huge weight gain. This an

immensely personal and unpredictable process! Tommy has gained more weight

on Abilify than Seroquel, but with a better overall result.

Joye in Southeastern PA

suzstoneaol (DOT) <mailto:suzstone%40aol.com> com wrote:

Regarding weight gain, I believe it is supposed to cause less weight gain

than Seroquel and some of the other anti-psychotics. My daughter started

losing a little weight when she switched from seroquel to abilify 3 weeks

ago.

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

It's just OCD counting etc) interrupting my dd's love for reading - it

stinks!!! not as bad as some I've heard on here but I hate to see that

go - so glad therapy has begun

eileen

Quoting jchabot <jchabot@...>:

> , My dd(10) has had this effect with other meds, but not with

> the abilify.

> Hugs

> Judy

>

> Ballard <hlballard@...> wrote:

> My daughter is taking Abilify and it's helped

> immensely. The one

> complication has been that her pupils are hugely dilated!!!!

>

> She is finding it hard to read (one of her favorite things to do) or work

> on the computer. Anyone else having this side affect?

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Joye

> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 1:16 PM

>

> Subject: Re: Re: Comments on Abilify and Effexor

>

> Just an FYI....with some people Abilify causes huge weight gain. This an

> immensely personal and unpredictable process! Tommy has gained more weight

> on Abilify than Seroquel, but with a better overall result.

>

> Joye in Southeastern PA

>

> suzstoneaol (DOT) <mailto:suzstone%40aol.com> com wrote:

> Regarding weight gain, I believe it is supposed to cause less weight gain

> than Seroquel and some of the other anti-psychotics. My daughter started

> losing a little weight when she switched from seroquel to abilify 3 weeks

> ago.

> Suzanne

>

>