Help! son taking abilify and prozac

kc_1309 · 01-11-2005, 02:58 PM

Hi. My son (who is 9 years old) has some symptoms of OCD. He has severe anxiety and has been on prozac for a few months. He also does weird things when he gets excited, like clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. He talks nonstop, and is pretty loud, even with normal conversation. He HAS to get his way, or he cries, and is MEAN. His routine of rolling around on the floor and following me around as if he's glued to my rear end has routed his psych doctor to put him on abilify to see if it would calm him down. She thought thay maybe some of his actions were a result of him thinking he was being "told" to do them. (i guess abilify treats schizophrenia ).

He is only on the smallest dose of Abilify and 30 mg (4mls) of prozac. He has gained a lot of weight, fast...like he has a huge flabby belly and cannot fit into his jeans. Also, he is tired beyond repair. Puts himself to bed after dinner and doesn't get up in the morning. Falls asleep in school too.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice after reading this, or has had any experience with Abilify. I haven't spoken with anyone who has tried it.

Thanks,
Parent in distress

index.html · 01-12-2005, 04:16 AM

You might try posting on the "Obsessions and OCD" board here at Healthboards. They probably have more insight on this than we do...

feelbad · 01-12-2005, 09:02 AM

I don't know much about abilify but I do know about prozac and the other SSRIs that are out there.You really need to look at his use of the prozac and when these symptoms started.My son was started on prozac(and others over a years time) and he started having behavior very similar to what your son is experiencing.After a year from absolute hell with mood swings lots of anger type explosions and his whole personality change from a kind happy and fun loving kid, to a cold uncaring kind of mean kid,he had the last anger explosion and I was forced to place him into the local mental health facility as at that point, I was really actually afraid of my son.It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch this horrid crap happening to my son.well after only one day in there(he was actually in there for three weeks) and the help of a really great psyc doc, he was dxed with what is called bi polar III which was caused solely by the use of the SSRIs we had tried to treat his depression.I knew there was some kind of a connection there as everytime we either raised the dosage of one of these meds or he was switched completely to a new SSRI, it would result(usually two weeks later)in yet another rather angry,manic episode.The type of bi polar that my son has is not actually considered a 'true" bi polar.it is created in reaction to the SSRIs,totally and completely.Do some research on bi polar III and see if the explanation and symptoms are similar to what your son has been having.This could be a possibility.My son was taken off of all SSRIs and will never ever touch one again.He was placed on depakote and has really been doing wonderfully on it and the best thing is that 'my" son is completely back now.laughing,telling his stupid jokes and the warmth is there too.His dog is really happy as he had all but ignored her too.

Just check into this and see what you think.Some of the behavior you are describing really does sound rather manic in nature.good luck,marcia