SHinojosa: Taper my 14 year old son off of Abilify after 9.5 years

[ChessieCat]

44 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

For a drug that is "insoluble" in water, a pharmaceutical liquid to make suspensions might be the best option, see:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3068-pharmaceutical-liquids-to-make-suspensions/

 

 

Well this may be an easier option, if it was me I'd at least try it to see how it goes.

[SHinojosa]

Ok. I just ordered some and will try it out. Should I just switch from the water to the pharmaceutical liquid? 

 

Stephanie Hinojosa 

[ChessieCat]

Only make a small batch at a time.

 

Do not make a dose reduction at the same time.

 

You could do cross over.  This would be a good idea, because there may be a little bit of difference in the dose and/or the absorption into the body.  This way is gentler on the nervous symptom. 

 

Take each of these combinations for 3 to 7 days:  

 

3/4 water mix + 1/4 pharma mix     1/2 + 1/2     1/4 water mix + 3/4 pharma mix

[Cleerity]

Hi Stephanie!  

 

I am also using the OraPlus to titrate Aripiprazole/Abilify by liquid preparation.  

 

I first crush the tablets and then add them to the OraPlus suspension and water (50% each).  I have to stir it well each time before using, but with the stirring, the medication is very well distributed in the liquid preparation.  

 

Very best wishes ... Cleerity

[rupa]

7 hours ago, SHinojosa said:

Ok. I just ordered some and will try it out. Should I just switch from the water to the pharmaceutical liquid? 

 

Stephanie Hinojosa 

The more the water,measurement would be easy,especially at lower doses.

For example,I used 2.5 mg pill dissolved in to 100ml water.

For this I bought 100 ml marked ,small jar at online.

I even bought different measurement syringes.

 

[SHinojosa]

Could you explain a little more what you mean by more water? 

 

Thanks

[rupa]

5 minutes ago, SHinojosa said:

Could you explain a little more what you mean by more water? 

 

Thanks

Please see above,I edited my previous message.

I drop the pill in the 100 ml water every evening,3 hours prior to the dose time.

By that time it dissolves very well,then I pump it with a 20 ml syringe,thourouly.

Then I take required measurement.

[SHinojosa]

Does anyone know if the little tiny particles that swirl around in the apripizole deleted in water is filler or the actual drug? When I give my son his dose each evening there is always more of these tiny particles in the amount left over than what made it into the oral syringe.  I'm afraid if I switch him over to the Ora Plus it will actually be a higher dose and put his nervous system in shock. 

If the little particles are just fillers then I shouldn't have to worry or switch right? 

[Carmie]

Hi Stéphanie,

 

I’m sorry your doctor won’t prescribe the liquid, but doing it yourself is a great option. I’ve been water titrating for years and haven’t had a problem. Sometimes if there are too many bits floating around it might just be the casing.That being said though, you can put the mixture in a jar and shake it really well. I haven’t done that so far, I just stir it really well. I’ve got my 25mg tablet down to 7.5mg. 

 

I’m glad your son is doing well. 

 

Sending hugs🤗

 

 

 

 

[SHinojosa]

Are you taking abilify or aripiprazole?  

[Carmie]

Hi Stéphanie, 

 

No, I’m on Seroquel. Quite a few people on different meds find that they have some floaty bits in their liquid, myself included. Just shake it really well. You sound like you’re doing a great job, and I’m glad your son is doing well. I’ve never used Ora Plus, only water. 💚

[SHinojosa]

I'm thinking now I'm going to stick with water because he's doing really well. We've gone from 10 mg to 7.0 mg since October 1, 2018. Sometimes I worry about things that aren't even a problem. I'd hate to rock the boat when he's doing so well. I'm going to have to stop at 5mg and stay there until fall because my son is going to camp for a month and the camp requires that the medicine be in the original bottles with a prescription and aripiprazole only comes in 2mg, 5mg and 10 mg tablets. 

 

He was on 5 mg since he was 6 so I'm expecting it to be a lot slower and harder once we get below the 5mg mark. Do you agree? 

[Carmie]

You should not taper him any more than 10% a month Stephanie. I can only do 5%. If you taper too quickly or don’t hold long enough it might catch up eventually and he might end up going through terrible waves. 

 

If the formula you’re using now is working well, I personally wouldn’t change it. 

 

Could you please update your signature so we can see the dates you tapered and by how much. Thank you. 💚

[SHinojosa]

I've been using the slide method. I taper 2.5% every week for 4 weeks to 10% then hold for 2 weeks. I am planning on going slower after 5 mg. 

[Carmie]

3 minutes ago, SHinojosa said:

I've been using the slide method. I taper 2.5% every week for 4 weeks to 10% then hold for 2 weeks. I am planning on going slower after 5 mg. 

 

That sounds good Stephanie, 

 

If you find he ends up in bad waves just lower the percentage a bit. 

 

Good idea to go slower later on. Well done!💚

 

 

[SHinojosa]

Thank you for the encouragement. He graduates high school May of 2022. Our goal is to have him medicine free by then so we are in no rush. He has been through so much with the few times I've tried to take him off meds according to the doctors instructions. It has landed him in the psychiatric institutions 3 times before. Each time followed a time I tried to take him off meds too fast. 

[Carmie]

7 minutes ago, SHinojosa said:

Thank you for the encouragement. He graduates high school May of 2022. Our goal is to have him medicine free by then so we are in no rush. He has been through so much with the few times I've tried to take him off meds according to the doctors instructions. It has landed him in the psychiatric institutions 3 times before. Each time followed a time I tried to take him off meds too fast. 

 

I’m sooo glad you’re not listening to the doctors Stephanie,

 

They have put me through absolute torture! I’m glad you’re not rushing. I don’t go according to a calendar, I go according to how my body feels. Please don’t put a date on the tapering, always go according to how your son is feeling. 

 

It must be heartbreaking for you to see what your son is going through. I’m so glad he has such a caring person as yourself in his life.

 

You don’t want him to end up in the psych ward again, they will make matters worse. I’ve been in a psych ward three time because of the meds. At the time though I knew nothing about meds or withdrawals. I thought there was something terribly wrong with me mentally and physically. I had akathisia and I was suicidal. I didn’t want to live anymore. They even gave me a ton of ECT. It was the doctors and pharmaceutical companies that caused the problem in the first place, and then they decided to fry my brain. 

 

My journey started because of chronic pain, I don’t remember the member’s name but someone else’s torture on meds started due to migraines. 

 

My heart goes out to you but we will win this fight. Just go as slow as you possibly can. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, Just try and keep your son out of the psych ward as he’ll end up on more meds and more withdrawals.

 

 

Sending you and your son hugs🤗

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

19 hours ago, SHinojosa said:

I'm thinking now I'm going to stick with water because he's doing really well. We've gone from 10 mg to 7.0 mg since October 1, 2018. Sometimes I worry about things that aren't even a problem. I'd hate to rock the boat when he's doing so well. I'm going to have to stop at 5mg and stay there until fall because my son is going to camp for a month and the camp requires that the medicine be in the original bottles with a prescription and aripiprazole only comes in 2mg, 5mg and 10 mg tablets. 

 

He was on 5 mg since he was 6 so I'm expecting it to be a lot slower and harder once we get below the 5mg mark. Do you agree? 

 

Sounds like you have this well in hand, Stephanie. Don't worry about the particles.

 

Any doctor can prescribe the liquid, it doesn't have to be a psychiatrist.

[SHinojosa]

Hi, 

I have my son tapered to 5 mg and have put him back on a tablet after dissolving a 10 mg tablets in 10 ml of water each night and administering in that form. I started each evening with a new,10 mg tablets and new 10 ml of water. Three nights ago I started giving him a 5mg tablet because he is going to camp and needs,to have a prescription for the nurse to have. I plan on beginning tapering again in the fall.  Do you think I'm doing the right thing just switching to a tablet? I can't think of a better way since splitting the tablets are never consistent so I don't know how much of the water mixture to give him in conjunction with the tablet. 

I have been tapering him from the 10 mg to the 5 mg since November of last year. I didn't just go from 10 to 5 mg....just to clarify. 

 

Thank you, 

Stephanie 

[SHinojosa]

Hi, 

Where can I post so that someone responds? My son is very agitated ll the time. Is this from switching from water with abilify dissolved to a tablet? 

 

Thank you

[ChessieCat]

You have posted in the correct place.  I will bring your post to the attention of the other mods.

[SHinojosa]

Thank you. 

It's been 2 weeks since I switched from water to tablet. I'm afraid if I mess with it more I'll mess him up even worse. 

[Gridley]

15 minutes ago, SHinojosa said:

t's been 2 weeks since I switched from water to tablet. I'm afraid if I mess with it more I'll mess him up even worse. 

 

When switching from liquid to tablet or tablet to liquid, there is often a transition period when the body reacts to the change.  This is because the body absorbs tablets differently from liquid.  This upset usually calms down after a fairly short time.  Please keep us updated on how he's doing.

[SHinojosa]

Thank you! So I should just leave it alone until his body adjusts. Is there any way to know how long this might go on? He goes to camp June 22. Do you think it will be better by then? 

 

Thanks again, 

 

Stephanie 

[Gridley]

1 minute ago, SHinojosa said:

Thank you! So I should just leave it alone until his body adjusts. Is there any way to know how long this might go on? He goes to camp June 22. Do you think it will be better by then? 

 

Thanks again, 

 

Stephanie 

 

Stephanie,

 

Yes, I would leave it alone rather than make any changes.  

 

I wish I could say how long the adjustment will take but I can't.  You have almost a month before camp, so that's good.  Let's just hold steady and see how it goes.  Please keep us updated.

[Eastcoastgirl]

Just wanted to say you sound like an amazing mom! Major props to you for doing this for your son, I don't know many people who would be so understanding or willing to learn like you are. 

[SHinojosa]

Thank you! And thank you for the advice and info. As long as I know it will get better and his system isn't going into shock, I feel a lot better and that I can handle his agitation and moodiness. 

[Altostrata]

Hello, how is your son doing now?

[SHinojosa]

He seems unaffected by my accidently giving him 10 mg instead of 5 mg. I think for 2 doses I gave him the 10 mg tablets and last night gave him the correct dose of 5 mg. So far, I notice nothing different in his demeanor. 

[Altostrata]

I would stay with 5mg, then, and be sure to keep the 10mg tablets in the cupboard.