Heaves Big Sigh

So I went to my local CVS this evening to buy a pill splitter. It was $7.99 for one that adjusts to the size of the pill.. I figured that was a better option, since the 2mg Abilify tablet is shaped more or less like an oval and a rectangle got married. :P I need to be precise! Then I got home and drug the thing out, and had some empty prescription bottles to put the different sized bits into for later. It was then that I read on the package how you should not split "enteric-coated" pills. Ugh. Was this "enteric-coated"?? (Then I started to recall a previous conversation with Jack's doctor about splitting the Intuniv, and his letting me know how that wasn't a good idea. Seems it's coated, and to split the pill would mean that it would enter the blood stream all at once, instead of being time-released. Well, crap. Isn't this Abilify the same way? I think I read it takes 5-6 hours to take effect).

Aripiprazole is well absorbed after administration of the tablet, with peak plasma concentrations occurring within 3 to 5 hours

"

Reading this forum post on someone on 2mg of Abilify for 5 months (while Jack has only been on it for 2 1/2 months), I'm concerned about the side effects they experienced. (Though I tend to think this person has other issues.. like maybe being afraid of getting off the med? Not sure. Scary either way). The suggestion from the admin is to wean off by10% a month. Um, that would take forever. I don't have the money or time for that.. plus these pills aren't very big, and neither doctors will be likely to prescribe any more.

Ok, now it's the next morning..

I went ahead and cut the Abilify in half. One interesting (but positive) side effect is that Jack slept better last night. (Ok, nevermind.. he says he woke up at 4am). I was hoping, because one of the comments I read on a forum was about how they woke up every morning around 2-3am, while on the Abilify. Much like Jack. He's always had trouble sleeping, but it has been worse for quite a while..

The other thing that has me thinking this morning (aside from letting the school know what is going on in case they see strange behavior, or hear him complaining of not feeling well), would be that neither the regular pediatrician, nor even the stupid psychiatrist, ever suggested taking Strattera. Maybe it's because they didn't want to bother with blood work first? Jack was just tested for Celiac, liver function, and iron/red blood cells. (Not sure if anything else showed up, but aside from the anemia, everything was fine). I did ask for a testing, but you know how doctors can be.. mind of their own and all. :( This thread was certainly enlightening.