Need Help In Adjustment of Meds ~ Celexa & Abilify - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

goody2shuz · 03-21-2006, 01:24 PM

Hi, Everyone

I will try not to take up too much space here but my 14 year old daughter is on Celexa & Abilify which she started on 3/5. The Abilify is 5 mg each evening and they just increased her Celexa from 5mg to 10mg and we were instructed to get her to take that each morning and eventually get her up to 20mg. The increase took place on 3/17.

Prior to being increased the p-doc felt that my daughter was way too sedated. Since the increase the sedation is even worse and we have dizziness occurring with some almost black out spells and ringing in the ears after 2 days. The Nurse Practitioner told us to keep a watch on it, increase her fluid intake and assures us that it should level off by the end of the week and has instructed us not to make any further increases. We have also cut out gym for the next 2 weeks.

My daughter called from the nurse this morning with dizziness again accompanied by a stomach ache and headache. Her teachers have been calling me with complaints about her falling asleep in class and her zombie like appearance. I called the NP again and she thinks switching the Celexa to the evening will hopefully improve things.

My question is....when will the meds level off enough and we have our daughter back in an unsedated state???? And how will we know that we have the best/right meds???

It is difficult to even know if they are actually working.....my daughter has cut once again since home (but not before the Celexa was increased) and says that her self injury thoughts have somewhat increased. The NP is aware of this and feels the med still needs a chance to adjust.

I guess I just need some reassurrance from others here of what timeframe we are looking at to see overall improvement......I want my daughter back and just feel as if her entire personality and being that we love is MIA!!! Her teachers and friends are noticing it too.

Thanks all....Goody

cagedbird · 03-21-2006, 10:26 PM

Sounds to me like you need to call her pdoc ASAP! I had this happen to me, dizzyness, ringing in the ear's, too sedated. I'm no pdoc... but sounds to me like an overdoze of meds. She may be med sensetive,and the 20mgs are too high a doze. This treatment by the NP is unreal! Don't let this go on, this is not right,call her PDOC now!

cagedbird

goody2shuz · 03-22-2006, 10:19 AM

Thanks, Cagebird.......her p-doc is away for 3 weeks, I placed a call into the NP and we are to meet with her and another p-doc covering who so happened to see my daughter as an inpatient and we will be discussing a change in meds. My daughter called once again from school saying that her tongue is twitching, her face as well and that she is now not only dizzy but her heart is hurting. Thank God her next dose is due tonight!!!

Thanks so much for your input...my maternal instincts were telling me to do something and you gave me the jumpstart needed. I am nervous about different meds......I don't even like my daughter being on the meds!!! If it weren't for the self injury I would hold off on them!!

Thanks again ~ Goody

Donte · 03-22-2006, 11:06 AM

She shouldn't be increasing in the thoughts of cutting and hurting herself. Sounds to me like she needs an increase in the Abilify or a change altogether. If she is bipolar, the increase in the Celexa will aggravate her symptoms. Good luck.

goody2shuz · 03-22-2006, 11:32 AM

Hi, Donte

Thanks for popping in. As you already know, my daughter is still in the diagnositic phase. The one doctor feels that she fits some of the traits of mild bipolar but is not bipolar exhibiting some of the symptoms.....a colleague who is now following my daughter as an outpatient feels that she has more of a depressive disorder and was attempting to up the Celexa with the hopes of getting her off of the Abilify all together. He is on vacation now and it is obvious that one of these meds is not agreeing with my daughter. The NP thinks it may be the Abilify...without a clear diagnosis I am with you on the use of a SSRI if they are uncertain as to whether or not she is bipolar.

Am I thinking this out right??? Remember...this is all new to me and I am trying to figure out what will be best without seeming as if I am overiding the doctors. Thanks for your input....Goody