NeuroTalk Support Groups - Experience with Abilify??

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Tourette Syndrome (https://www.neurotalk.org/tourette-syndrome/)

- - Experience with Abilify?? (https://www.neurotalk.org/tourette-syndrome/3636-experience-abilify.html)

Cheryl

sure hope we hear from you when you get a chance........and hoping things have stabilised for Luke

having been thru the med roller coaster, I sure can empathise.

(((Cheryl)))

Hi again, all. Luke is finally doing much better. I believe the abrupt decrease in the clonidine kicked him for a bit. But it seems behind him now. The Abilify seems to be helping a lot. He is taking a total of only 4mg right now, and will bump up another 2 mg at the end of the week. He is also using Xanax XR once a day on the mornings he has class for the additional help with his vocal tics. So far no major side effects, just a bit tired and more thirsty than usual. His mood is sooooo much better and I'm grateful for that too! :) FYI Chemar, he has really taken to long soaks in Epsom salt too. Thanks for the idea.

Primary care doc ordered an xray of his neck and upper spine today too. Hopefully that will tell us a little more about the wear and tear on his neck.

Thanks so very much everyone! It is very nice to have a TS family to bounce things off of.

Hugs, Cheryl

Well! I'm really happy to read of such improvement, Cheryl. That's super news.
Take care there,
Lara

that is such good news Cheryl, and I hope things just keep getting better for him!:)
My son also loves his evening Epsom Salts sitz bath and says he definitely sleeps better after one too. ( I add a few drops of lavender oil to help soothe and give that lovely aroma)

Hi, i thought i'd post a quicky about my experiences with ts and being in college. I did the same thing when i turn 18, tossed out all my meds and swore i wouldn't take them ever again. Then i started university, and soon realized with the stress of course work, along with holding down a job, and getting limited sleep due to living in a dorm, my tics were back worse than ever, but i'm very reluctant to go back onto medication full time as im afraid i'd become dependent on the meds and soon lose my ability to supress and control my tics through other means.

Instead i take ativan (lorazapem) when i need it. My doc gives me a 1mg script, but you can break it in half for a .5 dosage as i find its a pretty strong medication. Klonopin (clonazapem) is also another drug in the same family. Both are 'cousins' to valium (diazapem) in the benzo family (anti-anxiety/muscle relaxants). I've found the ativan works best for my tics and helps keep my anxiety down.

Hi Senny:)
I just wanted to welcome you to NeuroTalk!
thanks for sharing your info

we look forward to getting to know you

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke's Mom (Post 24768)

Hi all,
[B][FONT="Century Gothic"]
I believe Chemar mentioned the med Abilify in an earlier thread. The neuro did take Luke off of clonodine and prescribed Abilify instead. But, after three days, I have to say Luke feels terrible. His major motor tics are returning. Plus he is very nauseated, very irritable, angry, shaky, agitated, sweaty, clammy, etc etc etc.

We thought it was the new med, but then I remembered we should have probably tapered down the clonodine even though the dr didn't mention it. Any opinion? Would the quick cut in clondine be the likely culprit or the new Abilify. Anyone here have personal experience with Abilify??

I plan on calling the neuro tomorrow, but thought I'd ask here for ideas first. I'm a pretty strong believer in the shared experience of our families, so I like to ask around. Of course, I also forgot to only fill a partial rx when starting a new med and now we have a ton of them if he goes off!!

The dr did also keep a moderate dose of Xanax until we find the right dosage of the Abilify. But, I have to say, the stuff is amazing for his vocal tics (screaming, coprolalia, grunting...pretty major stuff)! I've never seen anything work well before this. And the combination with clonodine DRASTICALLY cut the motor 'head banging' tic too.

So, here's my next question...is Xanax ever used as a primary med for TS? I understand that it creates dependence. But lots of people with serious illness/injury use major pain meds that create physical dependence, and it's just acknowledged for them and they go about their life with less pain. Would it be appropriate to use on an ongoing basis?? Would the doctor think I was crazy for asking?? Could dependence on a med be worse than Luke giving himself a concussion or permanently damaging his vision??

Please share your insight.
Cheryl

P.S. If you haven't noticed, I do tend to be longwinded! Thanks for indulging me!

hello, i am new here, i just read this and wanted to let you know i just started taking xanax .50mg as needed for my head tics and it really really helps...
i am 27 years old and have had ts since i was in the 5th grade (i am just now realizing that it is collectively considered ts....all i knew is i have always had this head tic and cleared my throat a lot and thought it was from childhood trauma to go along with the trichotillomania i also have from childhood). anyway,
i dont take the xanax on a daily basis, it is only as needed, so i dont think i will have a problem with the normal worries of xanax dependecy, but i dont know about your son b/c i dont know how much he would require.
i only take it when i cant cover mine up. after almost 20 years i've learned how to conceal it until the stress gets to me too bad. that's where my xanax comes in and it works perfectly for me. i havent tried anything for it until just last week...ever...

hope this helped :)

welcome ang728 :)

so glad to hear you have found something that is working well for you.