Daughter on Abilify

[Heather]

Hi,
I post here from time to time, because my DH and DD are both diagnosed bipolar. CN is my main concern, raising 2 special needs grandkids.
DH is stable on Depacote again, although he temporarily needed add on meds a while back and considered a permanent switch. I stay vigilent, for his signs of excess irritability and mania. Luckily, over the years, he has become open to considering my observations!
DD is happier on Abilify. It is relatively side effect free for her. She seems more solid and relaxed to me. One of her issues was a fear of weight gain. She has bordered on anorexia for 10 years, IMO. Now, even though she has gained some needed weight, she seems relaxed about it and is proud of her muscles. I enjoy her company more and she is making sensible plans. I hope this lasts!
As an aside, I sometimes think I must be the craziest one in the family, trying to get by without medication!:eek:
It's good to have BrainTalk back.
Heather

[Mari]

Hi Heather,
Try posting at the other board:
http://forums.braintalk2.org/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=38

Maybe someone there is familiar with abilify

Mari

[jd3]

I was just given 10mg. abilify. A month's trial didn't do a thing. I am Bipolar II and at the present having problems with depression. Glad to here that it works for someone.:)

[Pamster]

I take abilify for BP II and it helps me most of the time. I also take Elavil for pain and sleep/mood. I think combinations or maybe a higher dose then 10mg to see any notible benefit. Had I not walked up a little higher then that I don't think I would have been as stable over the past few years. It's a good drug for me so far. :)

I don't post on the other board anymore Mari, I am back to OBT. I am so happy to be here, I hope others come back and remind us of what it was that made this place so supportive and compassionate. Us people are what drew us here to Brain Talk. And it's great to be back! :)

*Edit forgot to add*
I think abilify helps with the BP Quality of Life...The racing thoughts and mania get better, if Abilify is going to work for you it just works, and works well. At least that has been my experience with it. :)

[cckids]

My oldest son is on Abilify 5mg and Depakote 500 twice a day. This has made a world of difference. Previously he was on the depakote with 0.5mg of Risperdal 3 times a day and Ativan as needed for agitation. since changing to the abilify, all his manic and psychotic symptoms went away. Plus he's alrady lost 6 of the 12 pounds he gained with the risperdal. He tends to get manic more often than depressed

[Persevering]

Our dau takes a few different medications, but Abilify has been one of the better ones. She had been overweight for many years, but recently went on a successful weight loss program. My guess is that if she exercised she would do even better. IMHO, bipolar is an illness that always requires at least some medication.

[Sally]

My 12 yr old son is BP, mostly manic episodes. Am looking into havind his meds switched from Depakote/Risperdal combo to Abilify. Am hoping this will show a change in moods and anger levels. He's a good kid, and am hoping this will eliminate some side effects and help. Has been a long 4 yrs since he was diagnosed and am still learning. Hoping to gain info and insight from this thread.

[coffeegirl]

Hi!

You are a wonderful person for taking care of everyone in your family! :) Are you also taking time to care for yourself too? That is just as important. Don't forget about you.

I took Abilify for a couple of years. It was not the drug for me but for many others I knew from another forum it was a blessing in disguise. It saved many individuals lives. It is known to be a weight neutral medication but I knew of many people who had either lost or gained weight with it. I was one of the people who gained weight. I gained 35 pounds while I was on it and still need to lose that weight because I'm not in my normal weight range to be healthy.

Speaking of eating disorders, I too can give you some hope. For years, and I mean over 27 years or more I dealt with an eating disorder- both anorexia and bulimia. Finally I found a therapist and a medication that helped. I no longer am with that therapist but have moved on. Still to this day I take the medication. It prevents me from binging. I still at times have body image issues but I don't dwell on it like I did in my younger days. It isn't important to me. I finally have accepted myself for who I am and for how I look. If I would have found the right therapist and treatment in my teens I wouldn't have had the eating disorder for as long as I did. It is frustrating knowing that. But that is life.

I also have BP II with ADHD. Like you my family has a lot of mental health issues. Both of my sons have RAD (reactive attachment disorder) and one also has FAE/ADHD too. The son with ADHD/FAE and I are very similar with personalities and mood swings. We both can be difficult and usually are at the same time. I wonder sometimes how on earth my DH does it in the mornings, which is the hardest/craziest time of day for our family.

It is good to hear your daughter/grandaughter- can't remember, sorry. :o is doing well on the Abilify. She will continue to gain weight and thrive with her mental health in realm of the eating disorder. Go to the Somethingfishy (I think that is the web site) for young girls who have eating disorders. There you might find information that can help you help her and also information that can help you as well.

Take care of yourself!! You are a courageous person! :)

Coffeegirl