To (go to) GP or not to (go to) GP? That is the question

So, I made a thread a while back about my vision problems on Abilify: http://forums.psychcentral.com/bipol...ocus-eyes.html (It's not a very long post.)

The vision problems disappeared shortly after I stopped ABilify, but these problems have resurfaced a few days after restarting the medication.

My pdoc insists this reaction is "not a listed side effect" and that I "need to contact a doctor about this because this is possibly a neurological problem"... and yet, he says I should still be taking it? LOL WTF

Is it worth talking to my GP about this, or is my new pdoc being completely stupid? I mean, why the hell should I be taking this medication if I allegedly "have a neurological condition which interferes with it" ??? Does that mean my pdoc is BS'ing me about the neurological condition? I mean, it doesn't make sense to take medication if you supposedly have an underlying neurological condition that interferes with it. just sayin'

Anything which helps you or makes you feel more safe is a good idea. If you feel your GP could offer more insight, then yes, you should see your GP. If it helps at all, I don't think your PDOC can diagnose a neurological condition based on vision issues alone. However it was presented as a possible problem so it's best to investigate.

I passed out twice while taking Abilify.... I could hear people talking but couldn't respond and tell them I heard them or that I was ok. I fell into and broke my sliding glass door the first time. Second time I was holding my small dog when I passed out and fell hard onto my garage floor. Could have killed us both. My doctors have now put me back on Abilify despite this. What PDOCS consider acceptable side effects and what actually is acceptable to the patient can differ.

Get some testing done to ease your mind. It's okay to tell them you'd rather try a different med.

Best of luck to you.

I would see the gp and get a second opinion from another pdoc.

I would tell the pdoc that you will not take abilify because this side effect is clearly tied to the med since it has happened both times you have tried it. Vision issues are pretty common with meds, even if not really listed as a side effect. If you are concerned about your vision and think it is in any way medically related, I'd bypass a GP and head to an opthamologist (not an optomestrist) to get it checked out. A GP would probably refer you there to start with anyway.

Just because something isn't listed as a side effect doesn't mean it can't be a side effect. My vote, see the GP. And just to be safe set up an appointment with a neurologist. I really dis like docs who say that or that can't be side effects, every person is unique.

Dr. Phelps of psycheducation.org says meds are guilty until proven innocent.

I had double vision on only 2.5 mg of abilify and had to stop it only days in. I also had 2 very nasty falls, probably from blood pressure bottoming out. I wound up in the ER and got a neuro exam and CT there so it was pretty well confirmed it was the med.

I would see the GP and get checked. But also drugs.com's profile of abilify says: More common:
Difficulty with speaking
drooling
loss of balance control
muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
restlessness
shuffling walk
stiffness of the limbs
twisting movements of the body
uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
Less common:
Blurred vision
dizziness
headache
inability to move the eyes
increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
nervousness
pounding in the ears

so I'd find it hard to believe it couldn't cause other visual issues.

My pdoc seemed to think it was a reasonable side effect and that was before we knew that I had severe reactions to APs; it was my first one.

Need I say more?.

It might be the lamictal. I take it and have had intermittent vision problems. They come and go. No big deal.

Hm. That's interesting. I thought it was AbilifEyeballs messing with me. I'll look into Lamictal. Thanks.

That totally sucks! At least you're okay now. Do you feel dizzy/lightheaded still (since you're on it again)?

Honestly, I talked to my pdoc about this today, and he had a specific name for the weird eye movements I described. I can't remember what the hell it was, but it wasn't any of those eye symptoms. I basically said that I can't make smooth eye movements. The eye movements are very rigid. In other words, when I try to follow something with my eyes, my eyes "overshoot" and I can't focus on the object. (Note: this is not blurred vision. I simply and literally cannot point my eyes at an object. I have poor control of my eye movements, so when I try to look at something specifically, I can't! My eyes are looking at something else!)

Also, whenever I move my eyes all the way left or all the way right, I get brain zaps! It's so f***ing weird!

I honestly don't get it, and I don't think I ever will.

I'm wondering if the Abilify is messing with your blood glucose, effecting your vision. Do you ever check your blood glucose?

Please do consult your GP.


WC

Nystagmus? Strabismus?

I ask because I have strabismus (aka "wall-eye") already so am a little more prone to visual side effects since my vision is weird normally. Abilify is the only one that caused severe enough problems that I had to stop though.

Sounds like your pdoc is being stupid. If it's not currently listed side effect then he needs to report it and take you seriously instead of keeping you on it and deflecting you to a GP.

-----thank you. I totally agree. This is malpractice and u need another pdoc. I don't know why these people won't listen.

I had to quit trileptal cold turkey a few weeks ago because of the same thing. I went to urgent care and was sent to the ER for a neurological exam asap. From what I was told, it was a serious side effect and I'm sorry your pdoc took it so lightly!

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I would print out the side effects of lyrica above that is included by the doctor in beyond the rainbow print it out show doc consult with him one last time that you would like to try different med without these vision problems. If rejects, reject him and head straight to an eye doctor. there is a solution to this and you dont have to suffer anymore. a lot of docs just push certain meds for money and insurance reasons. Hopefully he is not one of them but you never know,

I'm not sure if it's blood glucose or not... We never checked it, except for when I first started Abilify. It was fine from what I recall. It was like 75 mg/dL. So I know if my blood sugar decreased, then it's definitely Abilify's fault.

i wonder if Abilify also made my blood pressure drop. I think that's potentially a large contributor

My pdoc said that BP bottoming out can happen with Abilify. I don't know if that was the cause of my vision issues but she thought it was why I had 2 very nasty falls, both when I was just standing up and then suddenly on the ground with huge bruises coming out. I hit a cabinet once and a pile of lumber the 2nd. The ER found nothing though, or told me nothing, the night I got scared enough to go there.

My meds now mess with my BP and actually led to a really bad fall where I tore a bunch of things in my ankle, requiring a pretty extensive surgery. That was because I didn't stand still for a moment before trying to run into my therapist's office because I was late. My fault and stupid but it's hard to remember that you can't just get up and go like usual.

I hope you get to the bottom of this. If you suspect BP you might want to monitor that at home for while before going to the Dr. since BP is known to creep up there.

I have vision issues too. Since taking my medications (including abilify) I have developed Keratoconus - a thinning and bulging of the cornea. I am convinced this is on account of the medication. I see an opthamologist who wonders about this too. At any rate, I believe my eyesight has been affected.

But, I dare not take myself off the medication. My state of mind is more important to me. And thus, I live with a fine increase in my prescription each year and avoid things like driving between dusk to dawn.

I would in fact start with your GP. They can do a basic examination of your eyes and recommend you see either an optometrist or opthamologist accordingly.

Yeah. I think my dizziness was a combination of the the blood pressure drop and vision issues.

Sorry to hear the ER did nothing for you.

I suppose I could go to CVS or one of those pharmacies which have free blood pressure machines, but I'm deathly afraid of them! I've hit the button before and watched how tight those things get. It makes me scared. lol. I'd rather pay $50 to buy one on Amazon, which I could/might do.

Abilify gave me double vision for six months