Misinformed about med

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I had a concern about a PM I rec'vd asking me about Abilify. I take this med and my doc told me it is to quiet manic times. I have a mild bipolar issue. The author of the PM was concerned this drug is a stimulant and that it could cause an issue on a drug test.

My response was that a PDR could be checked for drug category and to talk to a doctor about this. Personally, I am not worried about drug testing, esp. taking only prescribed meds.

Can anyone explain better what Abilify's action is?:nono: I feel very concerned that the PM author is misinformed. Did I do the right thing?

Thanks for any input.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Abilify doesn't have a "category" that it fits into. It's indication is for schizophrenia and mixed bipolar. It is classified as an antipsychotic.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Abilify doesn't have a "category" that it fits into. It's indication is for schizophrenia and mixed bipolar. It is classified as an antipsychotic.

Thanks for the reply. I was aware of the classification, I was mostly concerned with the PM message, I thought it to be strange?????

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Specializes in Trauma acute surgery, surgical ICU, PACU.

Check with your pharmacist - they should be able to give you all kinds of info about the classification, pharmacology, possibilities for drug tests, etc. Although, don't they let you "pass" if you have a valid prescription you are taking anyway? It's not like you are taking illicit meds....

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Doesn't matter if the med spills out in a drug test or not, if the med is prescribed and listed at the time of the test, there is no issue.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Doesn't matter if the med spills out in a drug test or not, if the med is prescribed and listed at the time of the test, there is no issue.

Check with your pharmacist - they should be able to give you all kinds of info about the classification, pharmacology, possibilities for drug tests, etc. Although, don't they let you "pass" if you have a valid prescription you are taking anyway? It's not like you are taking illicit meds....

Dear TazziRN,

That's pretty much how I thought about it. The question itself almost seemed to pose some onstability. Thanks for the reassurance. S.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Thank you all for the reinforcement.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
intro to employment drug testing for employers and human resources ...
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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Tkanks again, good site.

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.
Doesn't matter if the med spills out in a drug test or not, if the med is prescribed and listed at the time of the test, there is no issue.

Tazzi is right. In the places where I have done drug testing for employees that has been the policy.

BTW, Abilify totally improved life for my husband and me! He is bipolar, and thiat med has worked better for him than any other.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Tazzi is right. In the places where I have done drug testing for employees that has been the policy.

BTW, Abilify totally improved life for my husband and me! He is bipolar, and thiat med has worked better for him than any other.

Thanks, this drug is helping me as well. I take a 5mg QD.What shocked me was the content of the PM message. I don't remember who sent it, all of a sudden there it was rambling about stimulants(which knew was way off) and drug testing.

oh well time to move on, maybe he/she/was looking for help and that is why I responded back the way I did. Just wanted to go with my gut and ask ya'll.

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