Tardive Dyskinesia - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

ladyofkypros · 03-13-2007, 09:38 AM

Anyone had any problems with this while on Abilify? I'm reading up on all the side effects and such and Abilify boast a low risk of this, but I would like actual patients imput. My son is 14, BP, ADHD, OCD and on 5mg Abilify 1x day in AM.

tsohl · 03-13-2007, 10:43 AM

How is your son responding that has you reading all these relatively unknown side effects? Lots and lots of kids are put on abilify and do very well on it. There can be a period of adjustment though.

My 25-year old was on abilify briefly. It caused akathisia and he felt like he was going to jump out of his skin -- he couldn't stand the way it made him feel.

Tsohl

ladyofkypros · 03-13-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsohl

How is your son responding that has you reading all these relatively unknown side effects? Lots and lots of kids are put on abilify and do very well on it. There can be a period of adjustment though.

My 25-year old was on abilify briefly. It caused akathisia and he felt like he was going to jump out of his skin -- he couldn't stand the way it made him feel.

Tsohl

I research any new drug that anyone in the family is prescribed for anything... it's just something I've always done. I don't want to know about some little known side effect 6 months down the road that the doc says, "oh, well that happens in some cases"... I just like to be informed. Anyways, he is slowly doing better, except for the problems with his heart pounding really hard last night, but I'm not sure if that was because I gave him Benadryl a couple hours prior. He did have a lot of complaints about feeling like his legs would not stop moving... he had a hard time explaining it, but from what I gather, it was like his skin was crawling mixed with being extremely antsy. He doesn't seem to be having those symptoms as much now, but he's only been on it for a week. What is akathisia?

tsohl · 03-13-2007, 11:33 AM

Hi,

It is just what you're describing...."an uncomfortable feeling of restlessness or the need to keep moving." The whole class of drugs can cause movement disorder side effects...also known as extrapyramidal side effects (EPS)...most common are Parkinson-type symptoms like mild tremor. But the akathisia is not uncommon...and when it is bad, it really drives the patient crazy. A little at the beginning is common and usually goes away, so hopefully that's what is happening with your son. You're just really uncomfortable with sensations that are hard to describe...but your description sounds like how my son described it.

Tsohl

TwinsPB · 03-21-2007, 03:21 PM

From what I read this occurs more often at higher dosages of anti-psychotics. That said, when ds (at 10) was on Risperdal started developing muscle stiffness in legs. Was put on Cogentin (anti-Parkinson drug). Decided to scrap altogether as he actually developed tics and more aggressive while on Risperdal.