The nurse came in to tell me the news. At first I didn’t know what she meant because she doesn’t really speak English, but eventually I worked it out. I asked for a copy of the doctor’s order, but haven’t seen it yet. For that matter I haven’t seen the doctor for several months. I think we’ve totalled four or five visits since the beginning of March.
Abilify is aptly named because it makes me feel more capable. Looking it up I see it is also an antipsychotic and is used to fight schizophrenia. I don’t think I’m a psycho nor a schizo, just clinically depressed, but if this shit works, and it does, I don’t care what it says about me.
What I care about is the effects of quitting it cold turkey. This asshole got lucky when he switched my SRI suddenly, but this isn’t moving to a near equivalent. Given that I’m unlikely to see him soon, any guesses why he’d spring this on me?
They’re depending on me being demented with a family that doesn’t care, like everybody else here. I’m not telling my rabid dog of a daughter with medical power of attorney because she has other things to worry about, though it could be a pleasant coffee break for her.
If you don’t tell your power of attorney, then that would make them correct. They can change your medicine and no one will stop them. You’re opening yourself up to more abuse.
And that’s what this is. Taking someone off cold turkey of a medicine like Abilify, which can cause withdrawal reactions, without a medical emergency or without the patient’s approval is medical abuse. And, even in an emergency you should be informed.
All such drugs, if removed, should be tapered to avoid risks like tardive dyskinesia, a debilitating movement disorder that causes agitation and does not end when the medicine is removed. You do not play around with the antipsychotics that mess with dopamine.
Get her involved, to save yourself. I can’t imagine much on her plate as medical power of attorney that would be worse than knowing her inaction resulted in you being abused or mentally damaged.
I’m having fun watching how inept these people are. This is happening the same week that several people from the State oversight group are spending the week inspecting and talking to residents. I asked the guy I spoke to Monday to come back later when he had more time.
Abilify was dropped because I’m not clinically mentally ill, at least with the hairier conditions it’s intended for. It’s a fair cop. Woulda been nice if they told me before I needed to make a stink.
Spoilered for embarrassment:
I hope this means my impotence will end. But, you say, you aren’t in a relationship! What good would it do you? Prostate maintenance, if nothing else. It’s good to keep it cleaned out, but I haven’t, er, cleaned it but five times since I started Abilify, and all were pathetic.
I bet your pardon! I have been stamped “NOT INSANE” right here. Okay, the “NOT” was done with a Sharpie, but that’s because they could only find the “INSANE” stamp.
**DZ **this still doesn’t sound right. Abilify has many uses. You felt it helped you. There should have been a taper period before making changes. Will they replace it with another med? I think your daughter should keep pushing for answers.
I’m truly happy you’re not insane. But, seriously I hope you don’t suffer much withdrawal symptoms. With your other health issues it could be dangerous. You need to get ahold of your therapists office.
Really. I mean it. Call them.
There’s probably some sort of crackdown on off-label prescribing. In general, I can’t blame them - pharmaceutical companies frequently work with key doctors to promote medications for conditions that they have not been proven to help.
But that sort of crackdown should be focused on new prescriptions. And even if the prescription was completely uncalled for and unnecessary it could still be very dangerous to withdraw you suddenly, and they should know that.
Off-label prescribing is not always a bad a thing. I occasionally take a prescription antihistamine for anxiety. It’s much less harsh and dangerous than other anti-anxiety drugs and it has absolutely no abuse potential. It’s a magic bullet for my particular type of anxiety state but if I take it in a normal state of mind it just makes me a little groggy and really hungry.
This drug has been around for forever and it’s dirt cheap. If I take it instead of Valium it’s a win all around. But doctor just winks and puts down the condition as itchiness.
Oh, Doc or his rep is dropping by tomorrow. I’m still annoyed and wondering if my bitching to the State fixed it, since it’s not as fixed as they might think it is.
Daughter is working two jobs and going to nursing school. I can handle this.
