Abilify symptoms and conditions

I started taking 5 mg of abilify a few weeks ago. Before that I was taking 2 mg for 3 to 4 months. I also take 400 mg of lamictal and 20 mg of prozac. The prozac was very recently added.

Anyway, I have tried many different medications and apparently my depression is treatment resistant. Abilify has made me a cold, emotionless person. I have not cried in months. It is terrible when you feel so sad inside and you can't even cry. I have also developed a twitch in my eyebrow which is very hard to control. Most recently I have discovered, on my own and with the help of my mother, that I have akathisia. Although I mentioned a lot of symptoms to my doctor before, she claimed it was just anxiety.

But this is so much worse than anxiety. This is extreme anxiety, being unable to sit or stand still, getting anxiety with just the thought of having to sit still, getting urges to kick, feeling terribly restless inside unlike anything I've felt before, feeling like something terrible is about to happen...

I hate this. I don't know what to do. I'm seeing my doctor in a couple days and I'm just wondering what she will do. Will she take me off or will I get something even worse... will this go away..

A week ago I went to my first "psych appointment" in about two years. He was a new doctor, so the "new questions" he asked me brought up some thoughts about my past...medically.

Every time I tell a professional, where they're behind the clipboard & i'm in the chair, how much lamictal & abilify I was on, they look shocked & ask questions.

Simply because everyone thinks it was TOO much for a manic depressive diagnosis.

200mgs of Lamictal & 30mgs of Abilify for about two years.

I am a bright, young, witty girl...or well, I was.
It's not that i'm technically old now, I'm merely twenty..
It's not that i'm dumb, I just can't piece all my jumbled thoughts together anymore....
Word vomit is getting old...
"Brain Farts" are embarrassing...
& I feel like I'M getting old..

Thinking of actually being sixty makes me want to cry, who knows how tired i'll feel then..

Reading these comments make me feel re-assured that it's not "just me"...but I feel like my brain is fried sometimes, ya know? Then 60 seconds later, I'm thinking clearly again...

If it's because of all the medicine I was on, that has shocked so many doctors & therapists at the dose, I'm really glad I came out of that "phase" mentally *****.hah.

Thanks you, to those who were in control when I was under the age of 18. Thanks a lot :)

I initially went to the doctor requesting my ADHD medication and within 10 minutes of talking to this guy he tells me I don't have ADHD and proceeds to tell me I'm bi-polar. I'm 30yrs old and was placed on 80mg/daily 40mg in the a.m. and another 40mg before bedtime. I was on this medication for 2 1/2 days and was taken off of it due to involuntary mouth movements followed by episodes of dystonia (neck, eyes, mouth and hands for hours at a time)...it was almost as if I was having a seizure without swallowing my tongue. I also experienced very blurred vision and now when I'm speaking to someone I feel like my brain went for a walk because sentences don't come out right and I find myself struggling to make rational decisions. I have now been off of it totally for 3 days and I'm still experiencing the blurred vision and I had 20/20 vision prior to taking this drug, The doctor wants me to try Abilify but the side effects of that drug are very similar to Geodon, I'm literally scared to even pick this up from the pharmacy and give it a try. My pupils are very dilated, I don't know how long this is going to last but it's affecting my job (meaning I haven't been to work in a week because I can't see straight. If anyone is experiencing the same issues after being off the medication for a while...can you tell me how long I am to expect this to go on.

Hello, I am 26 and got Mirena about 6 months ago -3 months after my twins were born......It wasn't painful because they say its easier right after childbirth since your cervix not closed all the way yet.....The reason I picked Mirena is because I cant take BC pills because of mood swings, depression, anxiety,etc.. and they say Mirena does not do that since it is a localized hormone rather than in your blood -well after reading all of these post today I am pretty upset.......I just went to the doctor and had increased my lexapro from the 10miligrams that I have been on for 3 years up to 20miligrams and wanted to put me on Abilify.....I didn't start Abilify THANK GOD but am upset to realize that I was actually just starting to feel better from post partum and was told Mirena does not do these things...This is really dangerous -Here I am with my new beautiful family and almost split up a few times dues to my craziness that is comming from Mirena!!!!!! I am starting to feel better after 2 weeks on higher dosage of antidepressants but now know I need to get this thing out-no sexual desires here for a long time-and was clueless as to why!!!

Vasactomy is the way to go but how would I try for the boy when ready???? Maybe save some -freeze it up and end up like OCTO MOM lol

GEEEEEZ!!!!!

Abilify was recently added to my medication of Depakote 250 x3 (i have been on this for 10 yrs), Zoloft 40 mgs (8 years), and Buspar 40 mgs (8 years). I started taking Abilify last Tuesday the 17th of March. The first night I took it I had trouble sleeping..(but i also had some caffeine that night)...for the next few nights I still had trouble sleeping...I also noticed an increase in my pulse, rapid heartbeat...and my blood pressure! This past Saturday, my blood pressure was 141/91 which was my left arm, then my right arm was 138/90. My resting pulse was 90+ with my heart pounding. I went into work today (i work in a doctors office) and had a nurse take my BP and it was 153/95...now my BP is normally 120/60...the lowest its ever been is 90/70. So to have my BP this high is very strange. I called my doctor and she advised me to stop it ASAP and to call her if i have any more problems. I already have a scheduled appointment on 04/01/09.

My husband has been on Lamictal for about 5 weeks now. He was taking Lamictal in combination with Abilify. He feels lousy. He has headaches, stiffness in his neck and a as he puts it "his eyes feel like they are constantly in the staring or bugged out position" His doctor first took him off Lamictal and lowered his Abilify but he still felt lousy and tired. His doctor then took him off Abilify and back on Lamictal. He felt better for about one day. He also says that he feels more anxiety and tension since being on these meds. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I've been on 200 mg Lamictal for 2 months now, after 4 month titration up from 25mg; Going off Lithium 900mg titration to 450mg this week. Since 1st day of lower Lithium, all the common Lamictal symptoms went from mild to extreme. Whole body muscle aches (like 24 hours after a heavy weightlifting workout) worse in neck & back/shoulders/calves, bad headaches, swelling in hands & feet, extreme blurred vision, loss of memory, halted speech while trying to figure out what to say, fuzzy. I called the Clinic to simply ask which NSAID (aspirin? ibuprofen? Excedrin? naproxin?) to use to manage the pain. They all freaked and made me come in for a blood test to check Lithium levels. I explained I wasn't "overly" concerned about it at this point, but just looking for a recommendation, and that they may be over-reacting (even though I did appreciate their concern). I also reminded them that I had just **decreased** Lithium when it happened, so I wasn't having a Lithium Toxic attack (I'm well-versed in that, having been on Lithium for 7 years). It didn't do much good to tell them I thought their diagnosis was a little off. I'll find out the blood test results today, but I'm pretty sure I know what they'll be. They also wanted me to see my PCP since it could be something else. Again, the problem was a ramp-up of existing symptoms the next morning after I lowered Lithium (the only change), so I'm conviced everything centers around that. I think they're a little inexperienced with this med. (Lamictal/Lamotrigine) and if they'd just read this blog they'd probably learn a lot. They had never heard of the muscle ache side effect. Pretty hard to believe after reading all of your comments! My theory is that Lithium was somehow holding back the side-effects of Lamictal and now they're expressing themselves more fully. I haven't read anything like this on any internet discussion, so maybe my body is very different. But maybe my experience will give someone else some insight in a similar situation.
I might also mention something that happened to me I have only seen (kinda) in one other "blog" about follicle (sweat gland) cysts. Yeah, I definitely got the jawline acne starting at the Lamictal 50mg level & increasing at 100mg. But I also got my first ever "cyst" that concerned me and sent me to my dermatologist for the first time in 30 years (I'm 47 and saw the old guy when I had acne at 17!). It started as a blind pimple on my chest the week I increased Lamictal to 200mg (final dose), but didn't go away. It continued to grow (not diminish) over 4 weeks to 3/8 inch round/pink/solid/itchy/burn-when-rubbed. So off to the "Doctor" like my father used to do on a regular basis (I know I'm getting old now) and scalpel/pop/stitch it was out. But it was real, not my imagination or hypocondria, and the timing of its appearance was right when Lamictal changed to full steam. Since acne appears to be a common effect with so many, it seems it's not unreasonable that this occurs occasionally as well to others. Let me be the 2nd to mention it. No "official" verification, but....
I'm not bagging on Lamictal, and have been very hopeful that this would be better than Lithium. It has eliminated the GastroIntestinal problems I had on Lithium, but I am getting discouraged that it has all the brand new symptoms that are discussed in this blog. Your "stuff" is real. I wish the Docs/Nurses/Case Workers would spend 5 minutes checking your comments out. It might bring about a better informed conversation than the shiny Glaxo flyers provide. That is all.

I have to comment on some of the Lamictal "new comers". I've taken Lamictal for 1 1/2 years. For the first 6 months, this was the miracle drug. As months went by, I began all of the same symptoms: fogginess, weight gain, short-term memory loss, NO libido, headaches, and nausea, to name a few. As of this moment, I am weaning off of the Lamictal. HARD to do. This is not a drug that can be "stopped" immediately. On my fifth day of weaning off, I am dizzy, tired, weak, irritable, and have vomitted. Only about 3 days left. I am starting Topomax after. I'm anxious to see if there is any difference. Especially the weight gain part. I went from 120 to 135 in one year. (I run and eat healthy meals.) I will continue to take Effexor, which, in 2 years, has had little or no side effects. My advice to anyone just starting to take Lamictal is to GO SLOWLY. My doctor had my doses increase so rapidly that I didn't really see if the lower doses would have worked. (I take 200mg.) The bottom line is to do what feels right for YOUR body, rather than a specified dosage. Best wishes to you fellow BP-ers!

I have been taking Lamictal since October of 2007. I experienced some of the symptoms (muscle pain in the head and neck) before I started the medication. I have experienced panic attacks since July of 2005. I have had mild heart palpations since I was in my mid 20's (I'm 36 now). I have had what I would consider a below normal energy level since my mid 20's also. Ok so like everyone else I am thinking I'm a hypochondriac! However, I was diagnosed August 28th 2007 with having Lyme’s Disease and also Hyper-Thyroid (same time, same lab-work). Two weeks later I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder (this is one thing I knew I was battling but didn't know how to handle it). My physiatrist started me on Lamictal and I did the standard ramp up to 200mg. I also was started on a 90 day treatment of Dyoxicycline for the Lyme’s and Methimazole for the Hyper-Thyroid. I was very very weak and was only able to stay awake for short periods of time (4 to 5 hours max). Just an fyi, I am not overweight, lazy or unmotivated. I have the physical appearance of perfect health. This, I think works against me as the Dr's seem to think I'm just whining. Mater of fact; my Primary Care Physician never tested me for Lyme’s. I went to an Urgent Care Center which tested me for Lyme’s disease and I came back positive (they also tested my Thyroid levels and found the problem with my THS levels) I told my Dr the results and he insisted I have same test done again. Guess what, new tests, same results.
My symptoms today are very similar to what I have seen posted many times. Muscle pain (entire body, some areas worse than others), heart arrhythmia, racing heartbeat, intense palpitations, nausea, foggy “un-plugged” mind, fatigue, weak muscles, muscle cramping (especially after repetitive motion, such as strumming a guitar), panic attacks (much more severe) and the latest addition to the group, Insomnia. Muscles pain in my head, fore-head, jaw, temple, neck (front and back), shoulders, is terrible to say the least. The pressure in my fore-head (right under my brow) makes me feel like I need to close my eyes or rest (resting does not relieve anything). The front of my neck is so tight at times it feels like my jaw is being pried down. I could go on and on.
On my quest to find out what else is going on with my body I have had 2 Echocardiogram’s on my heart and abdomen, 2Nuclear Stress Tests, blood work out the wa-zoo, MRI of my brain, 2 CT’s of my Head and Neck, Chest X-rays, Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, and all revealing nothing.
Most doctor’s I have encountered seem to want to treat the symptoms, not the problem/disease. I believe I know why; we (the ones who are there for solutions) tell them what the symptoms are (how we feel). We of course are thinking “this will help with a diagnosis of the problem/disease”, when in fact (I feel); the doctor’s thought process stops there. They don't know what’s wrong with you but they do know what your symptoms are so....bingo, let's treat the symptoms. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I’m not saying, “Most doctor’s don’t know what they are doing” or “don’t take your meds”. I am saying you and I are one of the 20 to 30 patients most doctor’s see daily (100+ weekly). They may be caring and good people but they are just as human and fallible as you and I. My advice is this; (and I am taking my own advice) don’t always “pop” into your body what the doctor suggests/prescribes, without doing your own research. Heck most of us won’t buy a car or more importantly, send our kids off to a college with out doing your own research (we just don’t trust those shinny brochures). Your body and your health are worth you doing your own research. Just keep in mind, Pharmaceutical Reps are always at your Dr.’s office (sit in the waiting room for 10 minutes and I’m sure you will see one). Reps are paid to do one thing; encourage (push) the Dr.’s to promote use of the Pharmaceutical Companies drugs.
My wife and I have been doing our own research on Lamictal (after a year of taking this stuff) and the side effects associated with this drug. We have searched through many (many,many) web sites for information and we have talked with pharmacists and Dr’s for opinions. Although I’m am not thoroughly convinced that Lamictal is the cause of all of my symptoms, my wife and I have decided to lower my Lamictal slowly from 200mg to 100mg. I am now taking 150mg daily (three days now) and plan on staying at this level for a total of two weeks before lowering to 100mg. I do fear dropping the dosage to quickly (potential side effects) or lapsing into a mania. To help avoid a manic episode my wife and my immediate family are all “up-to-date” with my course of action. They are on “Red Alert” and have promised to keep a close eye on my behavior patterns and moods. (I don't want to put them through another hyper-mania episode, its much too devastating). I do want so badly to feel healthy and alive again and at this point I am rather frustrated with the Dr.'s ability to help me achieve this goal. Remember it is called “Practicing” Medicine. So now I’m going to practice a little, very carefully and cautiously.
As a foot note; I have recently (past two weeks) been re-tested for Lyme's with a negative response. I am keeping in mind Lyme's test are very inaccurate (still hoping this one is accurate). My thyroid is under control and normal, so.... let's see if dropping below 150mg of Lamictal will eliminate some of these other symptoms. I will keep you posted.
Erik

I lied about when I was taking risperdal. I took it from the end of 6th grade to before I started 11th grade. When I first started to take it, my weight sky rocketed. I went from being 140 to being 200 pounds in the first 6 months. After that, I went from being 200 to being 254 pounds in 10 months and then I reached my highest weight of 262 by March of 2003. It was a constant battle to get the weight off while being on risperdal and I stayed at 262 pounds until I started the 11th grade. That's when I was put on seroquel and taken off of risperdal. I am no longer taking risperdal or seroquel. I am now taking 5mg of Abilify and as of yesterday, I have lost 100 pounds in a year in a half. My weight today is 162. I use to wear a size 22-26 and today I wear a size 12-13/14. I love my new lifestyle of eating right and exercising and I never want to go back to being fat and lazy.

Has anyone developed tartive dyskenisia. It is involuntary body movements. Mine are in the mouth, like I am sucking on my teeth . It is very disturbing and listed as one of the side effects. It can occur in other parts of the body, like tapping.

I am 32 years old, and still have acne. I have been taking it for almost 14 years now. I know that Lamictal causes skin rashes. I asked my neurologist if Lamictal causes acne. He said no. I will never be able to get rid of acne, as long as I keep taking it. I have been seizure-free for over 2.5 years now. Dad won't let me get off of it, and be on primidone only. It's more important to keep driving seizure-free, than to have clear skin.

I've been on Topamax for a few months now........this is the second time. The first time was in 2002-2004. I was up to 400mg for migraines & depression. It was supposed to do double duty. Well, I was stupid, to put it briefly. I couldn't remember anything. I would stop mid sentence because I couldn't think of the word I wanted to use. I lost a lot of weight, too much. I had needed to lose a little....baby weight. But I looked anorexic. So out to buy a new wardrobe. $$$ I lost a ton of hair!!!! So off it I went. The weight came back very fast....too fast I think. My friend says the same thing of her experience. THIS time I'm on 250mg.....no more than that, as per me. I was stupid for a little while, but it seems to have gone away for the most part. My hair is still falling out, so not much longer on this one for me. The reason I went back on it was for the weight loss ( and it does help the migraines). I was on some migraine meds that made me gain 40lbs over a 2 yr period(Abilify,Cymbalta). NOTHING could get off the weight. Not exercise, not diet. I've lost 21 so far, but my progress has slowed because of Wellbutrin...it makes me crave sweets. And my willpower is nil. lol So off the Wellbutrin I go. I also learned my nastiness could be from Topamax. I snap at the kids. Who knows which drug it's from! I also take Singulair. That's a story in itself. That one's gonna go too.

I stopped taking wellbutrin xl 150 mg and lamictal 200 mg 3 days ago cold turkey because there is no way to cut thewelbutrin tablet in half and take it safely. The first day wasn't bad at all. I felt better than I have felt in years and years. Then yesterday I felt okay, but not as good as I did on the first day. Today I woke up feeling like I have the flu. Every single bone, joint and muscle in my body aches. I feel fine one minute and the next minute the room feels like it's spinning and the body aches return. My psychiatrist started me on all of this poison,,, oops, I mean, medications 2 years ago. I had lost a child and had gone into a deep depression which led to severe anorrhexia. He started me out on Lamictal and Lexapro and after a year of awful side effects from the lexapro(especially sexual side effects=no desire at all) he finally switched me to the wellbutrin xl and told me that it would help better than the lexapro. At my last appointment, 1 week ago, I asked him when and if I would ever be able to go off of these meds. And he told me that I am probably a "lifer". He refused to hear anything about my stopping or weaning off of these meds. So, after my 3 minute office visit and prescription refills written out I left the office. I did not take the prescription to the pharmacy because I decided then and there that the only reason he and a lot of other psychs put people on these outrageously priced prescriptions(the lamictal is $140 a month and the wellbutrin xl is $170 and that is for the generic per moth) is because they get HUGE incentives from the pharmaceutical companies to keep us on them. I will not go back on the meds ever again. I am tired of living in a drugged up state. I want to feel alive again like I felt before I ever started taking this crap.

I'm back on Wellbutrin AGAIN for the, I don't know... 4th time. lol I feel less depressed, but noticed I crave sweets like crazy. NOT GOOD. Especially for me. I gained 40 lbs on meds for migraines over 2 yrs. I've lost 21 this yr thanks to lamictal (had to go off..got itchy) and Topamax (making hair fall out and giving me severe acne, and just learned it's why I snap at the kids all the time). so craving sweets is NOT a good side effect, but the doc just looks at me like I'm an ass when I mention it. It's an important side effect darn it. Why don't they want to take us seriously? It's our body, our life! I'm tired of being overweight!!!! So I'm taking charge, I'm telling HER what the game plan is. Unfortunately I have 2 doctors.....one for migraines and one for depression. ARGH! Getting them both to listen isn't going to be easy. I want off Wellbutrin, Topamax and Abilify. I'm starting Lamictal again.....very slowly....maybe no itchiness this time. Wish me luck.

I'm sorry to hear all the bad side effects you all had with lamictal. I was on lamictal for depression for about a month and a half. I started low, 25mg. But when I got up to 100mg I started to itch! No rash, just itch, about a half hour after I took it! I was in denial, of course, because I had been feeling on top of the world! I had a loss of appetite, which I needed due to the fact my migraine meds had me gain 40 lbs over the last 2 yrs and NOTHING would take it off. My energy level had come back....something the Abilify had taken away a year ago....I'm getting off that very soon. I hate it. It takes away mania for bipolar disorder, so they say, but I'm slightly different....borderline bipolar II,so it takes away my personality, my get up and go, my motivation, you name it. I'm only on 5mg. When I was on 10mg, it knocked me out....I'd get the kids to school, come home and sleep, and be in and out like a drug addict all day til it wore off in the afternoon. Anyway.....lamictal.....I'm back on it.........starting at 12.5mg a day, then 12.5mg 2x a day, etc up to about 50 or 75mg, no more than that. It was a great help to me so I'm not going to let myself get those darn itches again. I did notice a little bit of intestinal irritation in the beginning last time, but that was only for a few days. I take Wellbutrin and also take Topamax 250mg.....and have a ton of hair falling out....and acne, so i feel for those of you with those symptoms. And yes, I still get migraines and still am depressed. But life goes on....I have kids to raise. I just cry in the shower and in the car. The best to all of you....good luck with your meds! Keep on trying!

I have Bipolar Disorder and was put on risperdal for 3 weeks. 3 weeks only! I had to be taken off of it. It was an amazing drug that really helped me with what I was going through, but it made me eat like crazy! It felt like I was a wild animal when food came around. I would smell someone elses food and be unable to resist the urge to eat soooo much or think about anything other than their plate. I got so embarrassed by the way I behaved when I was around food that I began to eat in private. They put me on ability now and I feel just as good as when I was on risperdal but now without the food problems.

I have been on geodon for about one year. My dosage have been changed too many times to count. I am presently taking geodon 60mg, lamictal 200mg and lunesta at bedtime. On some nights, I am unable to sleep and I have to get up at 430 am. I am very depressed and I feel that nobody understands what I am going through. I don't know which of my meds are causing which side effects, but I need a change. I am 5ft 7in tall and I now weigh 118# (one year ago I weighed 142#).

Hi all. I just wanted to update what my son has been going through since we discontinued the Singulair. He is SO much happier. I was even able to take him off the Abilify that he took to control his behavior! I see no ill effects like last time we tried to take him off that medicine. He clearly doesn't need it anymore. We have been seeing a major increase in urine incontinence, both at night and during the day. He just can not make it to the bathroom in time. I had done some research on the net about this and I believe it is tied to the discontinuing of the Singulair. He along with others I have read about probably had or have rather, spastic bladder and the Singulair was actually helping that. They are using it to treat interstitial cystitis so I know that there is a link between the bladder and leukotriens.
We went to our pediatrician, who by the way agrees with my findings and all the people who have had problems, she says that it could take up to 6 months for the Singulair to be completely out of the system.
She put my son on ddavp for the bladder issue. So far it has helped a little. Too soon to know for sure.
Hope everyone finds peace in this soon

In response to Concernedcitizen with regard to the additional medications prescribed, we never got that far, but we were close. My son, as I've mentioned on here before (sorry for the repetition, but I think it's important), was about to be diagnosed as bipolar, which would no doubt have led to a whole host of other drugs.

Also, I totally agree with concernedcitizen with regard to not necessarily blaming our doctors. We should expect them to listen to us and take our concerns seriously, though. My son's first pediatricians were dismissive and condescending. We switched doctors and when I handed the new doctors a printout of all the posts from this site (back in 2005), they looked skeptical, but guess what? They READ it. And, my son's primary pediatrician has since told me that he's taken several kids off Singulair based on our story and the posts he read. The research provided her by concernedcitizen is INVALUABLE. If enough doctors see this stuff they'll start to question it and at least look at some of these children differently. Rather than throwing a prescription for Ritalin at them or stuffing them full of wellbutrin/abilify/lithium/klonopin/cymbalta/ they might think, "Hey, this kid's on Singulair...maybe we should try taking him/her off for a while to see what happens."

Finally, I wanted to put it out there that while kids may show mild side effects in the beginning (so mild that they can be dismissed in one way or another) I, personally, believe that with this drug side effects intensify over a period of time. My son, for example, was highly functional on singulair in the beginning and it completely eradicated his asthma and allergy symptoms, so it was great. Over time the side effects were more numerous and increasingly intense. Finally it got to the point where we couldn't dismiss it as bad behavior anymore, it was just completely outrageous behavior and my instinct told me it HAD to be the singulair. So these case studies that look at kids over a 24 week period are useless. In 24 weeks my son was fine. 52 weeks? Totally different child.

Definitely use the info provided on here, it will help not only your child, but other children as well.

This is in answer to concernedcitizen. My son, when he began to have behavior issues, was placed on Tegretol, Wellbutrin, and Abilify. He could not tolerate the Tegretol. So he stopped that. His "depression" seemed better so they took him off the Wellbutrin, he continues to be on the Abilify. We tried to take him off of that once, it wasn't pretty. His anger, frustration, rage, crying, depression, etc all came back....of course he was still taking the Singulair. (little did we know then....) We see his neurologist very soon. I am going to ask about trying again to remove the Abilify. My son is 7. He was started on these meds 4 months after having surgery to remove a cyst in his brain....we thought all the problems were just who he had become after having brain surgery. It was very depressing. I read all of your research with great interest. I had thought it had to be a something in the brain being triggered. My son had a tendency toward these things due to the location of his cyst....we had the "luxury" of knowing he would have behavior problems. So did his doctors.... Now with all the research it would seem someone like my son, who has a cyst in the left temporal lobe (a region that controls behavior) should not have EVER been placed on a medicine like Singulair. At the very least, he should have been taken off that medicine, before being placed on anti-psychotics. Good Grief. Thanks again for all your work. I will be taking some of the literature with me to the Dr. As I am sure others on this board will.
By the way - My son has been off Singulair for 10 days now. He is a very happy boy. Downright giddy. He is annoying his sister to no end. Dad and I are enjoying every blissful minute.

Wow. I can't even express how blown away I am by all of this.My son is 7 and has been on singulair since he was 2. He was moved to the 5 mg last year in March. The only difference between my son and all of your stories is that when he was in kindergarten we discovered a rather large arachnoid cyst in his brain that had to be drained. It was easy to blame some if not all of his behavioral problems on the location of the cyst. It is in the left temperol lobe. Having something in that region of the brain can cause behavior problems. His cyst was also big enough to push on his pituitary gland making him think he needed to use the bathroom all the time. He had a slight case of diabetes insipidus. During all of this he was complaining of headaches, fatigue, leg pain, the boy could not walk from one end of the mall to the other, he would melt down at the slightest provocation and turn into an angry little monster at around diner time. We attributed it to low sodium levels messing with his head, but his blood work never reflected someone who was THAT bad. After his surgery he had some normal depression, but in March, four months after, he became a different person. He was full of rage and anger and almost got kicked out of school. He broke things at home and lashed out at people, he said awful things. He was put on Tegretol, (that made him very sick) and Wellbutrin. Since he couldn't tolerate the tegretol they switched him to abilify. He still takes this. The one time we tried to take him off he went completely nuts again. Same kind of aggressive behavior, lashing out, no self control, crying all the time, very moody, saying things like "nobody loves me." My son is the sweetest person you will ever know. Before all of this, he would melt your heart with his kind words. Now he has been diagnosed with ADD, Aspergers, and has all of one friend at school. I go every day to eat lunch with him so he doesn't have to sit alone. I completely understand that my son will continue to have problems once this medicine is out of his system, because he does have other issues, but this morning the first thing he said to me was, "Mom it's weird, I don't know why but I feel so happy."
He has been off the Singulair for 6 days now. I called his allergist and he was VERY interested in all of this and wants to meet with me. He has always been so heartbroken by how my son has struggled. Don't think all doctors are bad. This one isn't. He is going to help me report all of this. He is really upset too. Of course he is older, been around for ever. I don't know. He cares about his patients. His receptionist said she thought they would be getting a ton of calls about this and I was the only one. Hang in there everyone. Alone we are quite together we are LOUD.

my son is 9 and has been on SINGULAIR since he was about 5 for bad asthma and allergies. he has had trouble in school since he started, we thought it was ADD. he started having constant stomach aches and headaches. we started seeing a counselor because he would say things like "I hate my life" and "I don't want to live anymore" thats when he was 6. he had many other issues like hallucinations, night terrors, bed wetting, anger problems, depression, trouble focusing at school, mood swings, emotional ups and downs, just to name a few. we have been to pediatricians and psychiatrists and no one mentioned ever that it could possibly be the singular. we have added other medications like most parents, for ADD which made him worse. about 1 year ago he was diagnosed with bi-polar and was prescribed Abilify, an anti-psychotic. he has since gotten somewhat better but I never connected the Singulair side effects to his symptoms. (note: bi-polar symptoms in children are strikingly similar to bad side effects of Singulair) maybe he doesn't even have bi-polar! maybe he was more subject to having these side effects because of underlying problems. I have stopped giving him the the Singulair a few days ago but i don't see a significant change, yet. Its a very sad thing that parents like myself have so much trust in our doctors that we give our children these medications before we know anything about them. I myself will never make that mistake again and my prayers go out to all those who have made the same mistakes.

I also am having a difficult time with memory loss. I have a very short term memory. I never used to be this way. Before I started taking Lamictal, I was taking Depakote. I haven't been on Lamictal for that long, so I do not know if my previous medications have caused my memory loss. I also get dizzy sometimes and I'm feeling out of breath lately. Some other medications I've taken are: Zyprexa (which gave me type I diabetes); Abilify; Risperadol; Adavan...the list goes on, unfortunately. I have been taking anti-psychotic drugs since I was 16, and I am 37 years old now. God help me!

I built up to 150mg and was on it for 6 months. I couldn't feel a difference on the medication, but did experience the side effects mentioned above -- blurred vision (had lasik treatment and had to have one eye enhanced as my vision changed so much), dizziness, trouble falling and staying asleep (need to take a pill) and trouble formulating my words. I thought at 39 I was going through menopause. I took myself off of the Lamictal and Abilify last Monday - one week ago, and would really like to know how long these drugs stay in your system. Most recently, my teeth have started to hurt and I feel very shaky.