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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 44 to 68 of 69. Go back in thread:
Posted by Ritch on May 31, 2003, at 10:24:05
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR?, posted by e503 on May 31, 2003, at 9:37:06
> Ben had been taking buspar and it did seem to help him before. Any thoughts about zoloft/buspar combination?
>
> eliseWell, the first question to ask would be why the Buspar got canned the last time-was it because of the med itself, or was there something that was presumed to be better it was replaced with, etc. I've tried buspirone three different times since it came out. The first was with lithium, to see if I could get off the benzodiazepine I was taking at the time (back in the '80's). The switch didn't work because I have panic and buspirone doesn't address that. The second time was with desipramine to reduce the anxiety the desipramine was causing. That didn't work either-didn't make things worse-it just didn't seem to help. The third time was with Celexa and it definitely helped reduce the "physical" agitation and restlessness of the SSRI. However, I kept increasing the dose and got up to 15mg/day and starting having temper spells, so it got stopped. After it was stopped-I began to definitely have increased anticipitory anxiety and obsessive worrying--so I knew it was helping, but I never restarted at a lower dose. Buspar does seem to have a special synergy with SSRI's for some reason. You could ask his doctor about a possible retrial of buspirone if you don't want to hassle with Abilify (and compounding) again. If I start it again, I want to be very patient and start off at a very low dose, however.
Posted by e503 on May 31, 2003, at 20:25:34
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? » e503, posted by Ritch on May 31, 2003, at 10:24:05
> > Ben had been taking buspar and it did seem to help him before. Any thoughts about zoloft/buspar combination?
> >
> > elise
>
> Well, the first question to ask would be why the Buspar got canned the last time-was it because of the med itself, or was there something that was presumed to be better it was replaced with, etc. I've tried buspirone three different times since it came out. The first was with lithium, to see if I could get off the benzodiazepine I was taking at the time (back in the '80's). The switch didn't work because I have panic and buspirone doesn't address that. The second time was with desipramine to reduce the anxiety the desipramine was causing. That didn't work either-didn't make things worse-it just didn't seem to help. The third time was with Celexa and it definitely helped reduce the "physical" agitation and restlessness of the SSRI. However, I kept increasing the dose and got up to 15mg/day and starting having temper spells, so it got stopped. After it was stopped-I began to definitely have increased anticipitory anxiety and obsessive worrying--so I knew it was helping, but I never restarted at a lower dose. Buspar does seem to have a special synergy with SSRI's for some reason. You could ask his doctor about a possible retrial of buspirone if you don't want to hassle with Abilify (and compounding) again. If I start it again, I want to be very patient and start off at a very low dose, however.I gave ben 5 mg. buspar 2 times today. He was better-didn't have much, if any, agitation and less obsessions. I know it is supposed to take 2 weeks (?) to "kick in", but I believe it did help today. I do think that he is somewhat "flat" and sedate. I am thinking about your comment about decreasing the zoloft to 12.5 instead of 25.....well, I actually am thinking about somehow reducing the zoloft to total 50 mg./day from 75 to see if this helps his "flat" affect, but I am not sure if I should do it yet, or wait a few weeks and see what happens with the buspar. What do you think? He is better, but certainly not as "perky" or fun as he can be! I do think we are closer to "Ben"as I remember him than we have been since February (trileptal, abilify, risperdol, etc.) What do you think?
elise
Posted by Ritch on June 1, 2003, at 10:01:50
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? Scott and Ritch?, posted by e503 on May 31, 2003, at 20:25:34
> > > Ben had been taking buspar and it did seem to help him before. Any thoughts about zoloft/buspar combination?
> > >
> > > elise
> >
> > Well, the first question to ask would be why the Buspar got canned the last time-was it because of the med itself, or was there something that was presumed to be better it was replaced with, etc. I've tried buspirone three different times since it came out. The first was with lithium, to see if I could get off the benzodiazepine I was taking at the time (back in the '80's). The switch didn't work because I have panic and buspirone doesn't address that. The second time was with desipramine to reduce the anxiety the desipramine was causing. That didn't work either-didn't make things worse-it just didn't seem to help. The third time was with Celexa and it definitely helped reduce the "physical" agitation and restlessness of the SSRI. However, I kept increasing the dose and got up to 15mg/day and starting having temper spells, so it got stopped. After it was stopped-I began to definitely have increased anticipitory anxiety and obsessive worrying--so I knew it was helping, but I never restarted at a lower dose. Buspar does seem to have a special synergy with SSRI's for some reason. You could ask his doctor about a possible retrial of buspirone if you don't want to hassle with Abilify (and compounding) again. If I start it again, I want to be very patient and start off at a very low dose, however.
>
> I gave ben 5 mg. buspar 2 times today. He was better-didn't have much, if any, agitation and less obsessions. I know it is supposed to take 2 weeks (?) to "kick in", but I believe it did help today. I do think that he is somewhat "flat" and sedate. I am thinking about your comment about decreasing the zoloft to 12.5 instead of 25.....well, I actually am thinking about somehow reducing the zoloft to total 50 mg./day from 75 to see if this helps his "flat" affect, but I am not sure if I should do it yet, or wait a few weeks and see what happens with the buspar. What do you think? He is better, but certainly not as "perky" or fun as he can be! I do think we are closer to "Ben"as I remember him than we have been since February (trileptal, abilify, risperdol, etc.) What do you think?
> eliseWell, first thing, make sure his doctor knows what you are doing and you get blessed to do so. Second, why did you guys take him off the buspar previously? Were you replacing it with something else? The "perkiness" may have been a mild drug-induced mania or part of his natural cycling pattern. You say he seems more normal now than ever? Now, that you've added buspar back in I would stick with where you are at now for three full weeks and see what happens, IMO. So, his primary diagnosis is autism? Is the bipolar dx just speculative?
Posted by e503 on June 1, 2003, at 10:36:38
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? Scott and Ritch? » e503, posted by Ritch on June 1, 2003, at 10:01:50
> > > > Ben had been taking buspar and it did seem to help him before. Any thoughts about zoloft/buspar combination?
> > > >
> > > > elise
> > >
> > > Well, the first question to ask would be why the Buspar got canned the last time-was it because of the med itself, or was there something that was presumed to be better it was replaced with, etc. I've tried buspirone three different times since it came out. The first was with lithium, to see if I could get off the benzodiazepine I was taking at the time (back in the '80's). The switch didn't work because I have panic and buspirone doesn't address that. The second time was with desipramine to reduce the anxiety the desipramine was causing. That didn't work either-didn't make things worse-it just didn't seem to help. The third time was with Celexa and it definitely helped reduce the "physical" agitation and restlessness of the SSRI. However, I kept increasing the dose and got up to 15mg/day and starting having temper spells, so it got stopped. After it was stopped-I began to definitely have increased anticipitory anxiety and obsessive worrying--so I knew it was helping, but I never restarted at a lower dose. Buspar does seem to have a special synergy with SSRI's for some reason. You could ask his doctor about a possible retrial of buspirone if you don't want to hassle with Abilify (and compounding) again. If I start it again, I want to be very patient and start off at a very low dose, however.
> >
> > I gave ben 5 mg. buspar 2 times today. He was better-didn't have much, if any, agitation and less obsessions. I know it is supposed to take 2 weeks (?) to "kick in", but I believe it did help today. I do think that he is somewhat "flat" and sedate. I am thinking about your comment about decreasing the zoloft to 12.5 instead of 25.....well, I actually am thinking about somehow reducing the zoloft to total 50 mg./day from 75 to see if this helps his "flat" affect, but I am not sure if I should do it yet, or wait a few weeks and see what happens with the buspar. What do you think? He is better, but certainly not as "perky" or fun as he can be! I do think we are closer to "Ben"as I remember him than we have been since February (trileptal, abilify, risperdol, etc.) What do you think?
> > elise
>
> Well, first thing, make sure his doctor knows what you are doing and you get blessed to do so. Second, why did you guys take him off the buspar previously? Were you replacing it with something else? The "perkiness" may have been a mild drug-induced mania or part of his natural cycling pattern. You say he seems more normal now than ever? Now, that you've added buspar back in I would stick with where you are at now for three full weeks and see what happens, IMO. So, his primary diagnosis is autism? Is the bipolar dx just speculative?Yes, Ben's primary diagnosis is autism. As far as bipolar dx, I really don't know for sure. The doc says it's "different", but I am not so sure if it was just some "mania"/agitation induced by some meds. Can you not be bipolar and still get "manic"/agitated by meds? Ben is adopted so we do not know his biological background.
I wouldn't say he is as "normal" as ever....I would say he is "better". Yes, maybe this perkiness could have been hypomania (drug induced). As far as this buspar/zoloft is concerned, it so far seems to be better, but he is quite sedate...almost flat. I am wondering what would happen if I did decrease his zoloft dose.....I thought buspar did not cause sedation. I will call the pdoc tomorrow- but I am wondering what you think about the sedative effect of the two in combo.
elise
Posted by e503 on June 1, 2003, at 10:39:42
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? Scott and Ritch? » e503, posted by Ritch on June 1, 2003, at 10:01:50
Oh yah, the reason we took him off buspar from what I remember was when he was agitated on the trileptal, abilify, zoloft, buspar mix, for some reason the doc thought maybe it was too much serotonin or something like that????? told me to stop it. I don't th ink the doc thinks much of buspar, but I will tell you that I th ink it DEFINITELY makes a difference for Ben when he does take it. I was the one who suggested it when he started it again recently with the other mix, He had been on it previously and it did help.
Posted by Ritch on June 1, 2003, at 14:51:20
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? Scott and Ritch?, posted by e503 on June 1, 2003, at 10:36:38
> > > I gave ben 5 mg. buspar 2 times today. He was better-didn't have much, if any, agitation and less obsessions. I know it is supposed to take 2 weeks (?) to "kick in", but I believe it did help today. I do think that he is somewhat "flat" and sedate. I am thinking about your comment about decreasing the zoloft to 12.5 instead of 25.....well, I actually am thinking about somehow reducing the zoloft to total 50 mg./day from 75 to see if this helps his "flat" affect, but I am not sure if I should do it yet, or wait a few weeks and see what happens with the buspar. What do you think? He is better, but certainly not as "perky" or fun as he can be! I do think we are closer to "Ben"as I remember him than we have been since February (trileptal, abilify, risperdol, etc.) What do you think?
> > > elise
> >
> > Well, first thing, make sure his doctor knows what you are doing and you get blessed to do so. Second, why did you guys take him off the buspar previously? Were you replacing it with something else? The "perkiness" may have been a mild drug-induced mania or part of his natural cycling pattern. You say he seems more normal now than ever? Now, that you've added buspar back in I would stick with where you are at now for three full weeks and see what happens, IMO. So, his primary diagnosis is autism? Is the bipolar dx just speculative?
>
> Yes, Ben's primary diagnosis is autism. As far as bipolar dx, I really don't know for sure. The doc says it's "different", but I am not so sure if it was just some "mania"/agitation induced by some meds. Can you not be bipolar and still get "manic"/agitated by meds? Ben is adopted so we do not know his biological background.
>
> I wouldn't say he is as "normal" as ever....I would say he is "better". Yes, maybe this perkiness could have been hypomania (drug induced). As far as this buspar/zoloft is concerned, it so far seems to be better, but he is quite sedate...almost flat. I am wondering what would happen if I did decrease his zoloft dose.....I thought buspar did not cause sedation. I will call the pdoc tomorrow- but I am wondering what you think about the sedative effect of the two in combo.
> Oh yah, the reason we took him off buspar from what I remember was when he was agitated on the trileptal, abilify, zoloft, buspar mix, for some reason the doc thought maybe it was too much serotonin or something like that????? told me to stop it. I don't th ink the doc thinks much of buspar, but I will tell you that I th ink it DEFINITELY makes a difference for Ben when he does take it. I was the one who suggested it when he started it again recently with the other mix, He had been on it previously and it did help.>elise
Well, he was certainly on quite a few meds there! His doc probably wanted to start eliminating things so he could try to get an idea of what was causing the problem and probably thought Buspar wasn't doing much for him anyhow-so if it got pitched then it would just make things easier to untangle without it in the mix-just a hunch. It could have been helping to trigger a mild serotonin syndrome as well (since Zoloft and to some extent Abilify both inhibit serotonin reuptake). The only thing I've found buspar good for (and only combined with an SSRI) was the thing it is indicated for-generalized anxiety-and that's it. The manufacturer pushed buspar for everything imaginable (aggression associated with mental retardation being one) back in the '90's, before it was about to go off-patent, and I think it may have left pdocs quite skeptical. I think it's utility is simply narrower than what many had thought. Tell us what his pdoc says about the Buspar+Zoloft.
Posted by e503 on June 2, 2003, at 14:43:36
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? Scott and Ritch? » e503, posted by Ritch on June 1, 2003, at 14:51:20
Teachers said ben was a little hyper, noncompliant and self talking a LOT today. COuld the zoloft and buspar combo be causing this? still at 75 mg. zoloft and 10 mg. buspar. He did go to sleep very late last night....but I thought it was possibly because he slept in yesterday. I am not sure. It's a drag because he was MUCH better the last day or so since we added the buspar. Maybe it's just now "kicking in"?
Posted by Ritch on June 2, 2003, at 21:53:58
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? serotonin syndrome?, posted by e503 on June 2, 2003, at 14:43:36
> Teachers said ben was a little hyper, noncompliant and self talking a LOT today. COuld the zoloft and buspar combo be causing this? still at 75 mg. zoloft and 10 mg. buspar. He did go to sleep very late last night....but I thought it was possibly because he slept in yesterday. I am not sure. It's a drag because he was MUCH better the last day or so since we added the buspar. Maybe it's just now "kicking in"?
It is going to be hard to tell for quite awhile just yet-remember he still has Abilify in his system that is washing out. Buspar takes at least ten days to have much of any positive effects. Unfortunately, you will have to wait. Have you talked to his doc yet?
Posted by e503 on June 3, 2003, at 12:54:32
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? serotonin syndrome? » e503, posted by Ritch on June 2, 2003, at 21:53:58
> > Teachers said ben was a little hyper, noncompliant and self talking a LOT today. COuld the zoloft and buspar combo be causing this? still at 75 mg. zoloft and 10 mg. buspar. He did go to sleep very late last night....but I thought it was possibly because he slept in yesterday. I am not sure. It's a drag because he was MUCH better the last day or so since we added the buspar. Maybe it's just now "kicking in"?
>
> It is going to be hard to tell for quite awhile just yet-remember he still has Abilify in his system that is washing out. Buspar takes at least ten days to have much of any positive effects. Unfortunately, you will have to wait. Have you talked to his doc yet?I spoke to the doc this afternoon. He said forget the buspar for now and go UP on the zoloft to 100 mgs. I am really nervous about this. He asked me if the obsessions were better and I told him that yes they were....not as "urgent" as they had been. He said that Ben would not get that "hypomania" that he had on tegretol (darn....that was when he was SOOOOOO good!- class clown!)on zoloft. He mentioned that he wanted to think about adding or trying either strattera or wellbutrin possibly. Will speak to him again soon, I am sure.
What do you think?
Posted by e503 on June 3, 2003, at 19:16:07
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR INCREASE???????, posted by e503 on June 3, 2003, at 12:54:32
> > > Teachers said ben was a little hyper, noncompliant and self talking a LOT today. COuld the zoloft and buspar combo be causing this? still at 75 mg. zoloft and 10 mg. buspar. He did go to sleep very late last night....but I thought it was possibly because he slept in yesterday. I am not sure. It's a drag because he was MUCH better the last day or so since we added the buspar. Maybe it's just now "kicking in"?
> >
> > It is going to be hard to tell for quite awhile just yet-remember he still has Abilify in his system that is washing out. Buspar takes at least ten days to have much of any positive effects. Unfortunately, you will have to wait. Have you talked to his doc yet?
>
> I spoke to the doc this afternoon. He said forget the buspar for now and go UP on the zoloft to 100 mgs. I am really nervous about this. He asked me if the obsessions were better and I told him that yes they were....not as "urgent" as they had been. He said that Ben would not get that "hypomania" that he had on tegretol (darn....that was when he was SOOOOOO good!- class clown!)on zoloft. He mentioned that he wanted to think about adding or trying either strattera or wellbutrin possibly. Will speak to him again soon, I am sure.
>
> What do you think?gave ben 50 mg. zoloft this afternoon after school. He had taken 37.5 mg. this a.m. 3 hours later he is quite happy, but speeding and talking like crazy. He is talking to himself a lot. Could this be from the increase in zoloft already? could it be from the buspar? I am freaking out as I am thinking that he might be hypomanic from the zoloft and it may be getting worse. HELP!
Posted by Ritch on June 3, 2003, at 23:07:28
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR INCREASE?-hypomania? help!, posted by e503 on June 3, 2003, at 19:16:07
> > > > Teachers said ben was a little hyper, noncompliant and self talking a LOT today. COuld the zoloft and buspar combo be causing this? still at 75 mg. zoloft and 10 mg. buspar. He did go to sleep very late last night....but I thought it was possibly because he slept in yesterday. I am not sure. It's a drag because he was MUCH better the last day or so since we added the buspar. Maybe it's just now "kicking in"?
> > >
> > > It is going to be hard to tell for quite awhile just yet-remember he still has Abilify in his system that is washing out. Buspar takes at least ten days to have much of any positive effects. Unfortunately, you will have to wait. Have you talked to his doc yet?
> >
> > I spoke to the doc this afternoon. He said forget the buspar for now and go UP on the zoloft to 100 mgs. I am really nervous about this. He asked me if the obsessions were better and I told him that yes they were....not as "urgent" as they had been. He said that Ben would not get that "hypomania" that he had on tegretol (darn....that was when he was SOOOOOO good!- class clown!)on zoloft. He mentioned that he wanted to think about adding or trying either strattera or wellbutrin possibly. Will speak to him again soon, I am sure.
> >
> > What do you think?
>
> gave ben 50 mg. zoloft this afternoon after school. He had taken 37.5 mg. this a.m. 3 hours later he is quite happy, but speeding and talking like crazy. He is talking to himself a lot. Could this be from the increase in zoloft already? could it be from the buspar? I am freaking out as I am thinking that he might be hypomanic from the zoloft and it may be getting worse. HELP!I'd follow his doctor's instructions and ditch the Buspar and implement the dose change on the Zoloft. Buspirone has triggered manic reactions in people before. I got some nasty irritability on it at "regular" doses. Did his doctor say *why* he wanted to stop the buspirone and to increase the Zoloft?
Posted by e503 on June 4, 2003, at 9:03:46
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR INCREASE?-hypomania? help! » e503, posted by Ritch on June 3, 2003, at 23:07:28
He didn't say why he wanted to ditch the buspar, but he did ask if the zoloft was helping with ben's obsessions, which it has. I'll let you know how today goes.
Posted by e503 on June 4, 2003, at 14:04:00
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR INCREASE?-hypomania? help! » Ritch, posted by e503 on June 4, 2003, at 9:03:46
> He didn't say why he wanted to ditch the buspar, but he did ask if the zoloft was helping with ben's obsessions, which it has. I'll let you know how today goes.
got a call from school that ben was manic. Called the doc. He told me to keep ben at 50 mg./day, and to add 2.5 mg. abilify. I don't get it. Ben did horrible on abilify before - think it caused him agitation at least at a higher dose (hard to tell with the long half life!). The doc wants to keep him on zoloft 50 or 25 mg. cuz ben's obsessions. I don't know. I am getting really crazy with this.....it seems like he is getting too much serotonin (?)
HELP!
Posted by e503 on June 4, 2003, at 18:12:58
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR INCREASE?-hypomania? help!, posted by e503 on June 4, 2003, at 14:04:00
> > He didn't say why he wanted to ditch the buspar, but he did ask if the zoloft was helping with ben's obsessions, which it has. I'll let you know how today goes.
>
> got a call from school that ben was manic. Called the doc. He told me to keep ben at 50 mg./day, and to add 2.5 mg. abilify. I don't get it. Ben did horrible on abilify before - think it caused him agitation at least at a higher dose (hard to tell with the long half life!). The doc wants to keep him on zoloft 50 or 25 mg. cuz ben's obsessions. I don't know. I am getting really crazy with this.....it seems like he is getting too much serotonin (?)
> HELP!
Ben quieted down after we gave him 2.5 mg. abilify, but I just figured out why we gave it up! On another website, a mom was saying that when she gave her child abilify he was on "mission mode". That's exactly what is happening with ben. I couldn't figure out what was going on before, I thought it was obsessions, really urgent obsessions, but it's not, it's MISSION mode! in other words, he HAS to have this thing he is so focused on and goes on and on about it. VERY URGENTLY. So why the heck is abilify causing mission mode and what should I do? It is horrible.
Posted by Ritch on June 5, 2003, at 0:08:59
In reply to ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!!, posted by e503 on June 4, 2003, at 18:12:58
> > > He didn't say why he wanted to ditch the buspar, but he did ask if the zoloft was helping with ben's obsessions, which it has. I'll let you know how today goes.
> >
> > got a call from school that ben was manic. Called the doc. He told me to keep ben at 50 mg./day, and to add 2.5 mg. abilify. I don't get it. Ben did horrible on abilify before - think it caused him agitation at least at a higher dose (hard to tell with the long half life!). The doc wants to keep him on zoloft 50 or 25 mg. cuz ben's obsessions. I don't know. I am getting really crazy with this.....it seems like he is getting too much serotonin (?)
> > HELP!
>
> Ben quieted down after we gave him 2.5 mg. abilify, but I just figured out why we gave it up! On another website, a mom was saying that when she gave her child abilify he was on "mission mode". That's exactly what is happening with ben. I couldn't figure out what was going on before, I thought it was obsessions, really urgent obsessions, but it's not, it's MISSION mode! in other words, he HAS to have this thing he is so focused on and goes on and on about it. VERY URGENTLY. So why the heck is abilify causing mission mode and what should I do? It is horrible.Well.. I've got bipolar disorder with a few autistic traits (according to my pdoc). Ben is autistic and has some bipolar traits-so I am curious and concerned about how he is doing-but I'm not a doctor-I've just got a lot of med experiences-especially weird bipolar reactions to various meds (some of which Ben is taking).
Sooo... he dropped the Zoloft back down and added a *little* Abilify and it did quiet him down? FWIW, SSRI's like Zoloft have made me manic. Zoloft helped with OCD-traits and panic, but I had a lot of sleep disruption with it and did get pretty wiggy at times. The max. I could tolerate was 25mg/day. Did his doctor say anything about further reducing the Zoloft and maybe keeping him on a small dose of Abilify? It sounded like he was doing OK when the Abilify was washing out-but when it washed out more-he started having trouble-it could be that the very low-dose Abilify helps.
Posted by e503 on June 5, 2003, at 9:58:48
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!! » e503, posted by Ritch on June 5, 2003, at 0:08:59
>> > Ben quieted down after we gave him 2.5 mg. abilify, but I just figured out why we gave it up! On another website, a mom was saying that when she gave her child abilify he was on "mission mode". That's exactly what is happening with ben. I couldn't figure out what was going on before, I thought it was obsessions, really urgent obsessions, but it's not, it's MISSION mode! in other words, he HAS to have this thing he is so focused on and goes on and on about it. VERY URGENTLY. So why the heck is abilify causing mission mode and what should I do? It is horrible.
>
> Well.. I've got bipolar disorder with a few autistic traits (according to my pdoc). Ben is autistic and has some bipolar traits-so I am curious and concerned about how he is doing-but I'm not a doctor-I've just got a lot of med experiences-especially weird bipolar reactions to various meds (some of which Ben is taking).
>
> Sooo... he dropped the Zoloft back down and added a *little* Abilify and it did quiet him down? FWIW, SSRI's like Zoloft have made me manic. Zoloft helped with OCD-traits and panic, but I had a lot of sleep disruption with it and did get pretty wiggy at times. The max. I could tolerate was 25mg/day. Did his doctor say anything about further reducing the Zoloft and maybe keeping him on a small dose of Abilify? It sounded like he was doing OK when the Abilify was washing out-but when it washed out more-he started having trouble-it could be that the very low-dose Abilify helps.Yes!! he did say that ben may need only 25 mg. of zoloft------but he did not want to drop it from 75 mg. all at once. Yes-he is thinking 25-50mg. zoloft and SMALL dose abilify. REAL small. He said even starting at 1 mg. if I could get it compounded. But, I gave him 2.5 mg. yesterday and it did quiet him down, almost too much (and this "mission mode") until later in the evening and he was actually quite good. I just want to avoid this "mission mode" stuff. Do you think if I gave him 2.5 mg. every other day I could get a steady state of 1.25 cuz of the long half life?
That's interesting about you being bipolar with some autistic traits - it seems like you react to meds (or at least some of them) like ben does. What meds do you take? Zoloft helped with OCD at 25 mg?
elise
Posted by Ritch on June 5, 2003, at 13:21:12
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!! » Ritch, posted by e503 on June 5, 2003, at 9:58:48
> >> > Ben quieted down after we gave him 2.5 mg. abilify, but I just figured out why we gave it up! On another website, a mom was saying that when she gave her child abilify he was on "mission mode". That's exactly what is happening with ben. I couldn't figure out what was going on before, I thought it was obsessions, really urgent obsessions, but it's not, it's MISSION mode! in other words, he HAS to have this thing he is so focused on and goes on and on about it. VERY URGENTLY. So why the heck is abilify causing mission mode and what should I do? It is horrible.
> >
> > Well.. I've got bipolar disorder with a few autistic traits (according to my pdoc). Ben is autistic and has some bipolar traits-so I am curious and concerned about how he is doing-but I'm not a doctor-I've just got a lot of med experiences-especially weird bipolar reactions to various meds (some of which Ben is taking).
> >
> > Sooo... he dropped the Zoloft back down and added a *little* Abilify and it did quiet him down? FWIW, SSRI's like Zoloft have made me manic. Zoloft helped with OCD-traits and panic, but I had a lot of sleep disruption with it and did get pretty wiggy at times. The max. I could tolerate was 25mg/day. Did his doctor say anything about further reducing the Zoloft and maybe keeping him on a small dose of Abilify? It sounded like he was doing OK when the Abilify was washing out-but when it washed out more-he started having trouble-it could be that the very low-dose Abilify helps.
>
> Yes!! he did say that ben may need only 25 mg. of zoloft------but he did not want to drop it from 75 mg. all at once. Yes-he is thinking 25-50mg. zoloft and SMALL dose abilify. REAL small. He said even starting at 1 mg. if I could get it compounded. But, I gave him 2.5 mg. yesterday and it did quiet him down, almost too much (and this "mission mode") until later in the evening and he was actually quite good. I just want to avoid this "mission mode" stuff. Do you think if I gave him 2.5 mg. every other day I could get a steady state of 1.25 cuz of the long half life?
>
> That's interesting about you being bipolar with some autistic traits - it seems like you react to meds (or at least some of them) like ben does. What meds do you take? Zoloft helped with OCD at 25 mg?
>
> eliseIt's a good idea to back off the Zoloft slowly. If you do it too quickly you may pass an optimum spot and not know it. You ought to ask your doctor about giving the Abilify 2.5mg every other day-that is if you don't want to hassle with the compounding. But it will likely not be as smooth that way and it seems that he (Ben) is touchy with taking a quantity of a med all at once. Meds I take? I'm on Depakote ER 250mg, Klonopin .5mg, and a *tiny* bit of Effexor, with some fishoil and Vitamins. Just about any serotonergic med (like Zoloft) reduces my "task stickiness" and makes things flow smoothly, it isn't really OCD, I'm not sure what the heck it is! It is really more like GAD, I rehearse and ruminate about *outcomes* and I get stuck on certain problems I try to solve-that often are not solvable and often not worthy of trying to solve!, but it is all mental-no rituals, the "problems" switch around a lot-so it's not the "same thing" coming up over and over, and it is just mildy annoying, but it does interfere with things.
Posted by e503 on June 5, 2003, at 15:07:10
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!! » e503, posted by Ritch on June 5, 2003, at 13:21:12
I spoke to the doc again. I think he thinks I am totally nuts when I told him about the "mission mode" of the abilify. Anyways, he said I could give it to Ben every other day if I want. School said today that ben was manic and talking to himself non-stop from 9:30 this a.m. I thought it was interesting that they said from 9:30 on, ....could it be the zoloft (50 mg. this a.m. at 8:00) that is causing it so quickly? I gave him the abilify 2.5 mg. when he came home from school and we will see. THe doc said I could cut the zoloft to 25 mg. tomorrow. Do you think I should try 37.5? I hope to give him the 2.5 abilify every other day once he gets somewhat stable (from the zoloft?). What to do?
Posted by Ritch on June 6, 2003, at 1:03:44
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!! » Ritch, posted by e503 on June 5, 2003, at 15:07:10
> I spoke to the doc again. I think he thinks I am totally nuts when I told him about the "mission mode" of the abilify. Anyways, he said I could give it to Ben every other day if I want. School said today that ben was manic and talking to himself non-stop from 9:30 this a.m. I thought it was interesting that they said from 9:30 on, ....could it be the zoloft (50 mg. this a.m. at 8:00) that is causing it so quickly? I gave him the abilify 2.5 mg. when he came home from school and we will see. THe doc said I could cut the zoloft to 25 mg. tomorrow. Do you think I should try 37.5? I hope to give him the 2.5 abilify every other day once he gets somewhat stable (from the zoloft?). What to do?
I'd follow his instructions and go to 25mg Zoloft and take the 2.5mg Abilify every other day-give that a week or two and see how it trends.
Posted by e503 on June 8, 2003, at 10:53:24
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!! » e503, posted by Ritch on June 6, 2003, at 1:03:44
Hi ritch-
an update on ben. He seems to have "settled down", at least from what we see at home. He is now on 25 mg. zoloft, and we have been giving him 2.5 mg. abilify every other day. He seems to still have a little bit of a "flat" affect, but so far better than last week. We shall see how school goes tomorrow.
elise
Posted by Ritch on June 8, 2003, at 15:39:39
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!! » Ritch, posted by e503 on June 8, 2003, at 10:53:24
> Hi ritch-
> an update on ben. He seems to have "settled down", at least from what we see at home. He is now on 25 mg. zoloft, and we have been giving him 2.5 mg. abilify every other day. He seems to still have a little bit of a "flat" affect, but so far better than last week. We shall see how school goes tomorrow.
> eliseThat sounds good! Hopefully he will stay reasonably stable long enough so you guys don't feel a need to make any med adjustments so you can get a much clearer picture about how he does at those dose levels (it will take a bit of time for his blood levels to re-stabilize, etc.)
Posted by asmomm on September 22, 2003, at 11:57:06
In reply to Re: Zoloft+Abilify-settling down, posted by Ritch on June 8, 2003, at 15:39:39
Hi, I just signed up here today after reading about your problems with zoloft and abilify. My son has aspergers and a bunch of other things too. I just found out today from a friend that her doctor told her that she was never to put zoloft and abilify together. My son is currently taking both and is becoming a nightmare. I don't know quite what to do. He seems to be bipolar although no one wants to say for sure yet. Have you ever talked about this combination with your doctor? If this is true then why are so many doctors prescribing this combination? I'm desperate.
Thanks. asmomm
Posted by sunil on November 19, 2003, at 23:45:59
In reply to abilify/trileptal/zoloft, posted by e503 on May 19, 2003, at 8:08:07
I used to be on Lithium(900mg), Risperidal(1mg), Celexa(20mg) and Wellbutrin(150mg). I switched to abilify(10mg), Trileptal(600mg) and Wellbutrin(150mg). It took me 2 days to adjust and i am already feeling better. There might be a possibility that lack of lithium might cause onset of mania or depression in 6 weeks and so i am watching carefully and adjust the dosage of Abilify, Trileptal and Wellbutrin in case if that happens.
Now i feel that i am able to speak and think clearly. (people sometimes wouldnt understand what i am saying before, ofcourse there is an accent but thats hardly the problem). In addition, i am exercising regularly without motivating myself too hard.
Will keep posted.
Thanks
Sunil> I weaned Ben off of trileptal, which he had been on since february. I realized now that was activated by it, as now he is actually VERY sedate. TOO sedate. So, my question is this: he is taking abilify 10 mg./day - split into an a.m. and p.m. dose (he seems to need this). He has been taking zoloft and buspar for a long time also. About a year or more ago he had a very rough time, and I forget who it was (ritch, maybe???) who helped me figure out what was up. It turned out we had been giving ben his zoloft (75 mg/day) at bedtiime. During the day he was wild. As soon as we switched it to a daytime dose, it calmed him down. SOOOO, now he is taking the abilify, zoloft and buspar in the a.m. and he seems somewhat sedate, not his usual somewhat "perky" (hypomanic?) self. I am wondering if abilify and zoloft interact somehow to cause this sedatedness? Maybe I should try giving him all the zoloft in the p.m.? Ben is autistic and cannot tell me how he feels, although I can tell my looking at him that he is just not "right". Does anyone take this combination?
> thanks,
> elise
> Thanks for all responses.
Posted by dgold on January 7, 2004, at 13:01:48
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT/ABILIFY-MISSION MODE- HELP-!!!!! » e503, posted by Ritch on June 5, 2003, at 13:21:12
First, I was so restless I could not sit still for 2 min. in the same spot. I was a nut case
Second, my body's temperature was totally messed up. I was super hot then super freezing to death.
I quit the drug after a 4 days or so.
I dont recommend this one.
Posted by joe smith2 on January 23, 2004, at 14:08:53
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR INCREASE?-hypomania? help!, posted by e503 on June 4, 2003, at 14:04:00
Hello All,
I just started taking Buspar(already on 8mg gabitril).
I had a few general questions, any help would be appreciated.
Will the vivid nightmares eventually go away with continued use of the Buspar?
I also have OCD(thought process is very obsessive), if the Buspar helps with my anxiety, is it possible that the obsessive thoughts will simmer down.
Thanks so much
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