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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by celticmom on March 9, 2005, at 11:21:48
Hi - my DS has been on abilify for about 3 months now. Lately, he has been having a hard time with his school work. Specifically, spelling and language arts. He does have a communication disorder, but never seemed to have a hard time like this before. I don't know if it is truly getting to be too hard for him or if the abilify is giving him "brain fog". I have also noted that his handwriting has gone from bad to worse since he started taking it. He is also on Luvox, but he was on that before without suffering any problems in school.
My question, for those of you who have taken or are taking abilify is can it cause memory problems or "brain fog". Or anything else that could explain his recent behavior? The biggest problem I have is that he really can't articulate to me how he feels. All he'll say is "it's too hard". It breaks my heart.
Posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2005, at 15:06:05
In reply to Abilify side effects, posted by celticmom on March 9, 2005, at 11:21:48
What's his doctor say? Poor thing? Children leave it up to us to make everything all right, and when we can't it makes us feel so guilty. I feel for you. Hope someone else can help with the answer. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by celticmom on March 9, 2005, at 16:42:46
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2005, at 15:06:05
His pdoc said what pdocs always say, "could be". Basically the ball is in my court. He said I could increase to see if that helps or I can decrease to see if that does. *sigh* I wish this was an exact science.
My thought right now that somehow the abilify is doing something to his memory, concentration and/or even vision. His OT today said she noticed that it seemed hard for him to keep his eyes on one spot. That's why I'm wondering if his vision is in question.
I'm guess I'm leaning toward decreasing to a quarter tab (1.25mg) to see if that changes anything.
Posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2005, at 16:59:28
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects, posted by celticmom on March 9, 2005, at 16:42:46
They make it so hard for you. I mean they're the doctor, but you have to make the decision. What you propose sounds reasonable to me. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by sedona on March 9, 2005, at 21:04:17
In reply to Abilify side effects, posted by celticmom on March 9, 2005, at 11:21:48
Hi- I have been taking a small dose of Abilify for a few months along with Cymbalta. Antidepressants, including Cymbalta, have always given me some brain fog, but I did notice an increase in problems when I added Abilify. My main problem is and has been with word finding. I have to say that it does seem to be subsiding somewhat, but it is not totally gone.
Hope that helps some.> Hi - my DS has been on abilify for about 3 months now. Lately, he has been having a hard time with his school work. Specifically, spelling and language arts. He does have a communication disorder, but never seemed to have a hard time like this before. I don't know if it is truly getting to be too hard for him or if the abilify is giving him "brain fog". I have also noted that his handwriting has gone from bad to worse since he started taking it. He is also on Luvox, but he was on that before without suffering any problems in school.
>
> My question, for those of you who have taken or are taking abilify is can it cause memory problems or "brain fog". Or anything else that could explain his recent behavior? The biggest problem I have is that he really can't articulate to me how he feels. All he'll say is "it's too hard". It breaks my heart.
Posted by mike13 on March 9, 2005, at 22:30:25
In reply to Abilify side effects, posted by celticmom on March 9, 2005, at 11:21:48
I can DEFINITELY RELATE, my handwriting has without a doubt worsened when I was prescribed abilify, my ability to articulate my thoughts also seemed impaired, it seemed to cloud up my mind in such a fashion that it would be difficult for me to complete an elaborate point without stoppping, because my mind would be so foggy I just couldn't concetrate and often forget what I was talking about.
Posted by MoparFan91 on March 10, 2005, at 0:25:09
In reply to Abilify side effects, posted by celticmom on March 9, 2005, at 11:21:48
Since he wasn't like this before the Abilify, my guess would point to the abilify causing the brain fog. What dose is he at? Could you ask the doctor to see about lowering the dose? I believe a lower dose would help with the brain fog.
I took Abilify (10mg) myself, and I was in a bit of a daze. It seemed like my thoughts were more blocked. I couldn't generate any 'will' to do things, and my actions were more robotic. I had some other side effects as well.
> Hi - my DS has been on abilify for about 3 months now. Lately, he has been having a hard time with his school work. Specifically, spelling and language arts. He does have a communication disorder, but never seemed to have a hard time like this before. I don't know if it is truly getting to be too hard for him or if the abilify is giving him "brain fog". I have also noted that his handwriting has gone from bad to worse since he started taking it. He is also on Luvox, but he was on that before without suffering any problems in school.
>
> My question, for those of you who have taken or are taking abilify is can it cause memory problems or "brain fog". Or anything else that could explain his recent behavior? The biggest problem I have is that he really can't articulate to me how he feels. All he'll say is "it's too hard". It breaks my heart.
Posted by celticmom on March 10, 2005, at 6:50:07
In reply to Re: Abilify side effects » celticmom, posted by MoparFan91 on March 10, 2005, at 0:25:09
I'm so glad to hear that I may be right about this. I did go ahead and lower his dose last night. He was only on 2.5 mg, but I lowered it to 1.25. He is very sensitive to meds. I also think that the Luvox may be amplifying the abilify like it does with so many other meds and caffeine.
I'll keep you all posted on any progress!
Posted by med_empowered on March 10, 2005, at 8:02:37
In reply to Thanks all for the comments and advice!, posted by celticmom on March 10, 2005, at 6:50:07
Hey! I think decreasing the dose, maybe to the point of completely tapering it, may be the way to go. I've taken Abilify at doses ranging from "therapeutic minimum" (10mgs) to FDA-approved max (30mgs). It was better than the other atypicals-no akathisia, no excess sedation- but there was still that "blocking" sensation that seems to be unique to antipsychotics. Anyway, I also realized that it seemed to be changing my personality..making me more passive, less intellectual, basically dull...so I stopped taking it. I'm glad I did. That said, if you decide to completely stop the abilify, you may want to find a shrink or other doc that has experience in anti-psychotic discontinuation. Just as anti-depressants have their own discontinuation syndromes separate from the underlying disorder that was being treated, so too do anti-psychotics have their own discontinuation syndrome which can rarely include a rebound psychosis. Good luck!
Posted by Patient on March 11, 2005, at 10:17:42
In reply to Thanks all for the comments and advice!, posted by celticmom on March 10, 2005, at 6:50:07
> I'm so glad to hear that I may be right about this. I did go ahead and lower his dose last night. He was only on 2.5 mg, but I lowered it to 1.25. He is very sensitive to meds. I also think that the Luvox may be amplifying the abilify like it does with so many other meds and caffeine.
>
> I'll keep you all posted on any progress!Does he still need to take Luvox? Combining two or more drugs can cause a totally new effect that the one drug by itself may not. I would consider lowering the Luvox dose as well, especially if he is sensitive to med reactions. Slow taper Luvox is the best way to go, since he might encounter withdrawal symptoms from SSRI AD if you drop dose too much at one time. Many SSRI's can cause "brain fog" after a few months being on it. It's one of those side effects that usually don't show up until later. Luvox tends to be on the sedating side.
This is the end of the thread.
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