Re: Newbie - Intuniv comments

July 29, 2010

We also had a very similar experience with our 20 yo son. We

took him off Abilify and put him on Intuniv – had to slowly come off the

Abilify and slowly go up on the Intuniv. He was a mess for a week or so

(depressed, agitated, angry, etc.) after he was totally switched.

Unfortunately, he was out of state at his grandmother’s and we had to

bring him back home. The doctor decreased his Intuniv and he has evened out. On

a more positive note, he has lost 30 pounds in the last two months. I knew the

Abilify was part of his weight problem but I did not realize how much of an

impact the Abilify was having. He will have blood work done next month and we

are hoping he will no longer need Glucophage and Crestor.

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Lori

Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 11:27 AM

Subject: Re: ( ) Newbie

Just

so you're prepared, what I found with Intuniv - at least at the lower

doses while you're building to the theraputic levels - is that with my

daughter (8 yo) she became MORE agigtated, grouchy and just not nice.

Keep going...it did get better. This is our second time trying

Intuniv. We hurridly tried to get her on during the school year when

things were falling apart in major ways, and with no immediate results (and we

NEEDED immediate results then), we stopped and tried something else after a

couple of weeks (which also didn't work). This time, the doc suggested we

SLOWLY put her on Intuniv - 2 weeks on each of the mg levels. levels.

Right now we are at 2mg daily - and will likely increase to 3mg next

week. Even going on slowly, we noticed increased anger at the 1 mg.

level....but it did get better. Just wanted to share our experience so that you

won't be discouraged if things get harder at first.

-----

Original Message -----

From: or Sandee Culliton

Sent: Wednesday, July 28,

2010 9:57 PM

Subject: Re:

( ) Newbie

My

daughter who is much like the below girls but also Oppositional Defiant and

ADHD was started on Intuniv today. It should take 3-4 weeks to reach an

effective dose, so I will let you know how it works out. I know it is hard for

people who meet her to believe, but she is actually a sweet girl in so many

ways. This year, has been a nightmare, however, and today is an example. She

had a doctor's appointment where I was asking for Intuniv. My doctor is a

wonderful GP, but tends to be long winded and is an Aspie himself. I am

sure. He was trying to convince me that several of the stimulants, which she

has already tried, might be the way to go. About that time she got impatient

and said, " I'm leaving! " and she did. He then suggested that Intuniv

for OD is probably a good choice.. I am just hanging on by my fingernails!

-----

Original Message -----

From: Barbara Pinckney

Aspergers Treatment

Sent: Wednesday, July 28,

2010 11:50 AM

Subject: RE:

( ) Newbie

Welcome, Sonya.

My daughter Liz is 13. We are in the process of getting her evaluated now, but

I have little doubt what the answer will be. You pretty much just described

her!

From: sonya13@...

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:17:39 +1000

Subject: ( ) Newbie

Hi everyone, I have just joined this group, my name is

Sonya and I live in Australia, my 15 ½ year old daughter was diagnosed with

Aspergers a few months ago and we have been working through it ever since. She

is high functioning but as you all know there are still issues, her school work

is suffering because she doesn’t focus on the work she needs to do

because she wants to get back on the computer and watch anime (this is her

obsession), cleanliness is another issue.. constantly nagging her to wear

deodorant, wash her hair etc and she has social problems which break my heart

because she desperately wants to fit in and just can’t. I can’t

wait to talk to other people with similar issues, just feeling not alone is

going to be so helpful! Any hints and tips on maybe controlling the obsession a

bit would be appreciated and what has everyone done about encouraging hygiene?

My daughter is very rarely defiant or angry so I know I

am very lucky in that respect and she is open to helping herself... so there is

hope J

Sonya

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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3036 - Release Date: 07/29/10

02:34:00

July 29, 2010

, did you mean the doctor increased his Intuniv or did he really decrease it? I am trying to be very careful and not get her on something that is not good for her. We had the same experience with Abilify. I thought it was a miracle drug and for about a year she was wonderful. but she did gain weight, then the Abilify didn't seem to work anymore and the doctors increased it.. She put on a bunch of weight and she was already chubby. There was no improvement in her behavior either, so I insisted on DC ing the Abilify and the doctors were not happy about it. Now I asked for Intuniv and reluctantly they gave it to her. This is day 2 and she was very grouchy, so far on 1 mg. I am just leaving her alone and hoping she improves with time.. She has also lost 30 pounds in about 4 months. She was also diagnosed with borderline diabetes while on the Abilify, and I wonder if that was the reason. It is so scary to try to help your kid and not know if you are helping or hurting. Especially when they accuse you of being the reason they are having problems..

( ) Newbie

Hi everyone, I have just joined this group, my name is Sonya and I live in Australia, my 15 ½ year old daughter was diagnosed with Aspergers a few months ago and we have been working through it ever since. She is high functioning but as you all know there are still issues, her school work is suffering because she doesn’t focus on the work she needs to do because she wants to get back on the computer and watch anime (this is her obsession), cleanliness is another issue.. constantly nagging her to wear deodorant, wash her hair etc and she has social problems which break my heart because she desperately wants to fit in and just can’t. I can’t wait to talk to other people with similar issues, just feeling not alone is going to be so helpful! Any hints and tips on maybe controlling the obsession a bit would be appreciated and what has everyone done about encouraging hygiene?

My daughter is very rarely defiant or angry so I know I am very lucky in that respect and she is open to helping herself... so there is hope J

Sonya

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3036 - Release Date: 07/29/10 02:34:00

July 29, 2010

,

We had the exact same problem with Abilify - weight gain - 15 lbs. in 8 months on our 8 year old. She's lost about 10lbs. now being off the abilify for about 3 months. It would have been a greater amount, but she broke her leg in May - the same time we stopped the Abilify - and wasn't very mobile for about 8 weeks. Now that she's up and moving well, it's falling off her! Talk about stress - let me say that I hope none of you experience a leg break with your Aspie...OMG! Glad it's over - I think God was testing me to see if I could find the patience to handle her!

Lori

( ) Newbie

Hi everyone, I have just joined this group, my name is Sonya and I live in Australia, my 15 ½ year old daughter was diagnosed with Aspergers a few months ago and we have been working through it ever since. She is high functioning but as you all know there are still issues, her school work is suffering because she doesn’t focus on the work she needs to do because she wants to get back on the computer and watch anime (this is her obsession), cleanliness is another issue.. constantly nagging her to wear deodorant, wash her hair etc and she has social problems which break my heart because she desperately wants to fit in and just can’t. I can’t wait to talk to other people with similar issues, just feeling not alone is going to be so helpful! Any hints and tips on maybe controlling the obsession a bit would be appreciated and what has everyone done about encouraging hygiene?

My daughter is very rarely defiant or angry so I know I am very lucky in that respect and she is open to helping herself... so there is hope J

Sonya

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3036 - Release Date: 07/29/10 02:34:00

July 29, 2010

Hush! We already have enough testing without breaking anything.......

( ) Newbie

Hi everyone, I have just joined this group, my name is Sonya and I live in Australia, my 15 ½ year old daughter was diagnosed with Aspergers a few months ago and we have been working through it ever since. She is high functioning but as you all know there are still issues, her school work is suffering because she doesn’t focus on the work she needs to do because she wants to get back on the computer and watch anime (this is her obsession), cleanliness is another issue.. constantly nagging her to wear deodorant, wash her hair etc and she has social problems which break my heart because she desperately wants to fit in and just can’t. I can’t wait to talk to other people with similar issues, just feeling not alone is going to be so helpful! Any hints and tips on maybe controlling the obsession a bit would be appreciated and what has everyone done about encouraging hygiene?

My daughter is very rarely defiant or angry so I know I am very lucky in that respect and she is open to helping herself... so there is hope J

Sonya

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3036 - Release Date: 07/29/10 02:34:00

July 29, 2010

The doctor decreased the Intuniv. I believe he was on

3mg and the doctor decreased it to 2mg (he lives with his dad which is why I use

the word “believe” though I know for sure that he decreased it). Abilify

was a great drug for my son but health-wise he needed to be off it. We had

tried Geodon last year in place of Abilify but that was not a good med for him

and he had to go back on the Abilify.

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of or Sandee Culliton

Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 6:43 PM

Subject: Re: ( ) Newbie - Intuniv comments

,

did you mean the doctor increased his Intuniv or did he really decrease it? I

am trying to be very careful and not get her on something that is not good for

her. We had the same experience with Abilify. I thought it was a miracle drug

and for about a year she was wonderful. but she did gain weight, then the

Abilify didn't seem to work anymore and the doctors increased it.. She put on a

bunch of weight and she was already chubby. There was no improvement in her

behavior either, so I insisted on DC ing the Abilify and the doctors were not

happy about it. Now I asked for Intuniv and reluctantly they gave it to her.

This is day 2 and she was very grouchy, so far on 1 mg. I am just leaving her

alone and hoping she improves with time.. She has also lost 30 pounds in about

4 months. She was also diagnosed with borderline diabetes while on the Abilify,

and I wonder if that was the reason. It is so scary to try to help your kid and

not know if you are helping or hurting. Especially when they accuse you of

being the reason they are having problems..

-----

Original Message -----

From: Elgamal

Sent: Thursday, July 29,

2010 7:05 PM

Subject: RE:

( ) Newbie - Intuniv comments

We also had a very similar experience

with our 20 yo son. We took him off Abilify and put him on Intuniv

– had to slowly come off the Abilify and slowly go up on the

Intuniv. He was a mess for a week or so (depressed, agitated, angry,

etc.) after he was totally switched. Unfortunately, he was out of state

at his grandmother’s and we had to bring him back home. The doctor

decreased his Intuniv and he has evened out. On a more positive note, he

has lost 30 pounds in the last two months. I knew the Abilify was part of

his weight problem but I did not realize how much of an impact the Abilify was

having. He will have blood work done next month and we are hoping he will

no longer need Glucophage and Crestor.

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Lori

Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 11:27 AM

Subject: Re: ( ) Newbie

Just so you're prepared, what I found with Intuniv -

at least at the lower doses while you're building to the theraputic levels

- is that with my daughter (8 yo) she became MORE agigtated, grouchy and just

not nice. Keep going...it did get better. This is our second time

trying Intuniv. We hurridly tried to get her on during the school year

when things were falling apart in major ways, and with no immediate results

(and we NEEDED immediate results then), we stopped and tried something else

after a couple of weeks (which also didn't work). This time, the doc

suggested we SLOWLY put her on Intuniv - 2 weeks on each of the mg levels.

levels. Right now we are at 2mg daily - and will likely increase to 3mg

next week. Even going on slowly, we noticed increased anger at the 1 mg.