Abilify and Tegretol

[Justneedhelp24]

Question....Is 10 mg of Abilify one time a day and 200 mg of Tegretol two times a day too much for a 17 year old child who weighs approximately 160 and is 6'?  I know they are both mood stabilizers and I'm not sure why there would be a need for both medications.  Can you help?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

ryan has already given you a good factual analysis to help you understand and make your decision.

[Paxiled]

Abilify for a 17 year old?

[RCA759I]

Under the assumption that this combination is being used to treat bipolar disorder, the dosage of both agents is fine. Abilify is approved in those aged 17 and over for this indication. Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is an anticonvulsant that is widely used as a mood stabilizer. Carbamazepine is an inducer of the CYP3A4 liver enzyme pathway, and tends to decrease the plasma level of other agents that are metabolized by this same enzyme (nearly everything is metabolized by the CYP3A4 pathway). Hence, 10 mg of Abilify may appear to be a high dosage at first glance, however, in the presence of Carbamazepine, its plasma level would be reduced by approximately 50%. This is likely the reason why the physician elected to start with a higher dosage - to assure efficacy. The Carbamazepine dosage is very low.

Ryan