My 17 yr dd has been given 'sample' of ablify by a regular general physician. The dr thinks my dd has bi polar. I do not agree. She is living with grandparents so I didn't know about this at the time so I could not refuse the med or the diagnosis.

Within 3 days of taking med she had fast heart beat, dizziness, VERY sleepy. SHe took this med for about a week, then dr. told her to stop taking it.
Dr. also said it will take 3-5 days to completely get out of her system.

But, she has gotten WORSE! The 5th day will be tomorrow (Friday). The only symptom she has now is being VERY SLEEPY, even a LOT worse than before.

What should we do? Is this serious? I wish the grandmother didn't agree to this. I would not have, I do not see bi polar symptoms as I have it myself and my father.

One reason dr. diagnosed this is because me and my father have this. I KNOW this is NOT the only reason that should be used to diagnose this. It could or could not be true.

Is a regular dr. qualified to make bi polar diagnosis? My daughter was telling dr. she was feeling really anxious about school beginning, worried about making friends, and I think this is all she told the dr.

So I believe the dr. made the bi polar diagnosis on these symptoms plus me and my father having this.

Are these symptoms REAL symptoms of bi polar? I would think the problems over school would be normal for any kid?? I was this way as a kid, too!

PLEASE HELP !!

The only doctor who is really qualified to diagnose BP is a board certified psychiatrist. I don't blame you for being upset Abilify is a strong med and shouldn't be given to anyone unless there is certainty that they are truly Bipolar.

Now I am not going to dismiss this as a possibility but I would highly recommend that you set up an appointment with an adolescent psychiatrist and if at all possible go with your daughter to that appointment. If you don't mind my asking, why weren't you with your daughter when she went to the doctor to begin with??? On one hand your mom must have experience with knowing the signs and symptoms of BP especially since you and your dad both have it but still it is only right that your daughter be properly evaluated and diagnosed.

It is good that your daughter is off the med....sometimes the med will stay in your system for a while. Abilify is one of those meds that needs to be given slowly and I have a feeling that the doctor gave her some sample packs that are much too high to start out with. I believe that my daughter received a quarter of a 5 mg pill or a dose of 1.25mgs to start. I don't know how much your daughter was started on but you may want to check that out.

If she continues with the symptoms I would advise your parents to bring her to the ER....Abilify does cause dangerous irregular heartbeats and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Please keep us posted.

((((HUGS)))) ~ Goody:angel: :wave:

Hello Sisymay,

Goody has mentioned most of the points I was going to bring up. I too highly recommend that your daughter be evaluated by a psychiatrist if it is warranted. Of course it is normal to feel anxious at the beginning of a new school year. And of course, the doctor is aware th BP has hereditary components to it, so he must have jumped to the conclusion that your daughter might very well also have bipolar disorder.

Abilify is a very strong medication and many people react adversely to it. I too feel it was irresponsible for the doc to give it to your daughter with so little evidence that she actually needs it.

My guess is that she will feel better in a couple days. But of course, if there is any question with the irregular heartbeat, she should seek medical help.

Please keep posting with questions and comments. This is a great place to come for information and advice!!

xxTsohl

I gather the grandparents are not your mom and dad??

Thank you SO much for your replies! I forgot to add that she started out at a low dose for 1 week and then increased the next week. And, she was and still is having fast heart rate, around 125 a minute. I'm not sure if the heartbeat is irregular, though.

We are trying HARD to see a phychiatrist but everyone of them in the area around for about 50 miles (we are calling all of them on our insurance list of the pschs they cover) and ALL of them are saying they can't see her until Oct or Nov. The earliest appt we can make is Oct. 11.

The psych we made this appt with told us to call the dr who prescribed this med and ask what to do. I told him we DID do this and he said to call YOU to make an appt. Then they psych said 'well you will have to call the prescribing dr. back and ask what to do now.'

So we are waiting for a call from the prescribing dr.

As for why I was not with her, she is living with her fathers parents 2 hours away from me. I know that people automatically think the parents are bad in this situation, but believe me the situation here has been ongoing her whole life and it's not about being bad parents. I really believe I have done right by her and it was just a desperate situation.

Anyway, She went to the dr who prescribed the meds for a totally unrelated reason. To get a pap test done. But the dr. started asking Q's about how she was doing, feeling, etc.

She told the dr. she was feeling nervous and couldnt' sleep when school started cause she was worried about school, friends, etc. But since then she has been FINE now. Then my dd said I have bi polar along with my father. I dont' know WHY she told the dr. this.

Anyway, the dr said 'well maybe you have this too' and give the sample!

I WISH I was there, I would have refused everything. The dr. should have told the grandparent to go to psych in the first place. I didn't know all this happened until later, and she was already taking the med.

The dr. who prescribed said it will take 3-5 days for med to get out of her system, and tomorrow is the 5th day. But instead of her getting better, she is getting WORSE! Grandmother told me she could not stay awake at school.

I know the grandmother doesn't understand all this and was trusting the doctor. She didn't say anything to doctor about seeing a psych, I guess she didn't know.

I am thinking we are going to have to take her to ER, but we just don't have the money. I dont' know what to do. We have a PPO ins. and have to meet a deductible and pay full price before ins will cover anything.

I am going to call hospital and ask about payment plan, or if we have to pay all up front. I knwo when we had HMO with co pay, we had to pay this up front before ER would even see us.

I dont' think the heartbeat is irregular, just fast. I'm going to tell grandmother to have dr check to make sure.

Thanks everyone for your help!!

I think a walk in clinic or urgent care center may be able to do an EKG and accept a PPO....perhaps that is something to be considered. An EKG will pick up any heart irregularities and the such. Your daughter shouldn't be getting worse after 5 days of being off the med. Put a call into your insurance and see what your options would be.

Nobody is here to pass judgement...my oldest daughter went to live with my brother for a while and that doesn't mean that I am a bad parent nor are you so please don't worry about that. I only asked so that I would see if you still had legal say in her health care is all and didn't know if the grandparents had legal guardianship.

Anyway...I would take the appointment in October with the pdoc....you can always cancel it if you find another one quicker and also ask them to put your daughter on a waiting list if something should open up quicker.

I hope that things improve for your daughter. Keep us posted.

(((HUGS))) ~ Goody:angel: :wave:

Thanks again! She has been living with them almost 2 yrs. I agreed for them to have temporary guardianship. But judge told me I still have full custody and I still have all my rights. BUT, no one will do anything with me about her, they say they have to deal with the guardians. School, doctors, everyone.
I am very involved in everyhting about her still, the grandparents usually ask me waht I want to be done in every situation.

I do have the insurance for her, not the grandparents so I have to deal with all the ins. stuff. I'm glad I do.

She is on a waiting list for the psych. AFter school today she's going to see the prescribing dr. to see what she's suppose to do since the appt with the psych is so far away.

SHERRY