YES, I TRIED IT WITH 3 OF MY ADHD SONS. IT IS A MOOD STABILEZER. THEY TOOK HALF OF 10 MG AT NIGHT, NEVER HAD ANY SIDE EFFECTS, VERY EXPENSIVE IN MEXICO SO THE DOCTOR SWITCHED TO RISPERDAL 1 MG AT NIGHT. THIS MEDICINE HAS FUNCIONED PERFECTLY WITH THE BOYS.

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Hi guys, first Abilify is not a mood stabilizer, it is an atypical antipsychotic, and therefore it does have some potentially scary side effects which are characteristic of that class of medication. My son, now twelve, has been on Abilify for six years (at between 5-12 mg / day); he is diagnosed with ADHD, mood dysregulation and a non-verbal learning disability. Abilify is the only medication we have tried -- and we have tried them all-- that has any positive effect. He has had some weight gain, but no issues with blood sugar or any of the movement disorders. He also got severe tics with stimulants, and mood stabilizers only seemed to make things worse. In fact, we were looking for Abilify to help more with his mood and reactivity than with his ADHD issues like impulsivity and fidgetiness, but I have to say, my first impression was that Abilify helped as much with the ADHD issues as the mood. Overall, for our son, Abilify has been a lifesaver. There are still issues, but he is much better with than without. By the way, if you try it, start with a low dose and go up gradually, and consider breaking up the dosage into a couple times a day. My son is a fast metabolizer and takes it every four hours (three times a day).

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Our boys use Sertraline (generic of Zoloft) in combination with a long acting form of Methylphenidate (Concerta). The combination helps moodiness and counteracts depression, a separate issue and commonly found with ADD.

Every situation can have a different solution and none provide a smoking gun. I thought our MD was nuts and detached when he encouraged trying the many different meds, until he captured me with the details of the histories and formulations.

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