Abilify Approved for Pediatic Use
Monday November 24, 2008
Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults. In October 2007, the FDA extended its approval to include the treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents aged 13-17. At that point, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., the pharmaceutical company that produces this medication, was granted a priority review of Abilify for the treatment of pediatric patients. In May 2008, the company received FDA approval for the use of this drug with bipolar I disorder, manic or mixed for pediatric (10 to 17 years) patients with bipolar mania.
I know that many people find the rates of pediatric prescriptions to be alarming most especially the psychotropic medications. However, I think it is fantastic progress to actually have a drug tested, reviewed, found safe and approved for use by kids. For far too long, parents have had to weigh the safety of medications against their child’s mental health and functionality. ~ Kimberly
Comments
Abilify is not suitable your young people at all! It doesn’t work at all for schizophrenia patients and has very dangerous side effects!!!
Please don’t use it on young people!!!
Abilify was the one drug that made the greatest change (out of many drugs he tried) in my son’s mood swings. Although he still has mood swings, they are more controlled and his rage is, by far, much better on Abilify. He is now 15 and has been on Abilify for over 4 years.
My 12 yo dtr took abililfy for about 1 and 1/2years. During that time at each and every visit we reported a weight gain of 10 to 30 pounds each time. Also that we have a family history of diabetes. After watching my dtr gain 150lbs, I also noticed syptoms of diabetes. I checked her blood sugar one night when she got up to urinate and found it to be 285. I have diabetes myself. I immediately stopped her abilify and took her to her pediatrician, who happens to be a diabetes specialist. The abilify we think, we’ll never know for sure, caused several exacerbations of mixed episode mania/depression. She had never hallucinated before taking it. I feel very bad that she will now have diabetes for the rest of her life. Abilify was a bad drug for her. She would take it at bedtime and literally 20 minutes later she began feeling hungry. Sometimes she would be up eating 3-4 hours and still not feel satisfied. There are several instances of similar events I have found since. BE VERY CAREFUL!!!
I agree w/ Jackie,
While I have never taken Abilify.I took Zyprexa and being a type 2 diabetic(bipolar 2 as well) was worried at its impact on my diabetes.I gained 20 lbs in just a few months, higher blood sugars and intense fatigue.This class of drugs while amazing come at a cost and the drug companies should be more forthcoming.