Does anyone else have a problem with their BiPolar (BP) / Borderline (BPD) kids being VERY sleepy all day? She currently takes Lexapro (20 mg AM), Lamictal (200 mg AM), Abilify (2.5 mg AM), Depakote ER (1250 mg PM)and now Trazadone (50 mg PM).
She had been on Seroquel (75 mg) - at that time she would sleep at least 8 hours per night (very soundly on Seroquel), but then she could barely keep her eyes open all day. While homeschooling, she would frequently sleep 3-4 hours during the day. She was also very difficult to awaken - no more getting up by herself with an alarm and would continually beg to go back to sleep for just a few more minutes. So, at psychiatrist's suggestion (actually pnurse), we tapered off the Seroquel - about 25 mg per 2 weeks. We noticed some increased alertness during the day, but as the dose was lowered, she stopped sleeping well at night. And it may be coincidental, but she had one of her worst suicidal crashes ever on the day following her very last dose of tapered Seroquel.
It is very concerning to us that after nine months of continuous medications - some changes in medication - mostly gradually increasing doses - that she does not seem ANY better - and she is definitely having some side effects such as major weight gain (this in a child who had been nearly anorexic), hand tremor, and sleep disturbances. And of course over the past nine months, she has been hospitalized TEN times - so it is hard to say that there has been any improvement or stabilization. Her diagnosis is slowly drifting from Major Depressive disorder to Bipolar, rapid mood swings to developing Borderline (BPD). And perhaps medications won't really help with Borderline (BPD).
She is currently in the hospital awaiting placement at a PRTF - perhaps with a longer term treatment option there can be more work done with her medications. Do they ever just discontinue everything (when in a safe environment) and start over from scratch? It is challenging with five different medications to monitor their effect on her issues and the potential side effects.
She had been on Seroquel (75 mg) - at that time she would sleep at least 8 hours per night (very soundly on Seroquel), but then she could barely keep her eyes open all day. While homeschooling, she would frequently sleep 3-4 hours during the day. She was also very difficult to awaken - no more getting up by herself with an alarm and would continually beg to go back to sleep for just a few more minutes. So, at psychiatrist's suggestion (actually pnurse), we tapered off the Seroquel - about 25 mg per 2 weeks. We noticed some increased alertness during the day, but as the dose was lowered, she stopped sleeping well at night. And it may be coincidental, but she had one of her worst suicidal crashes ever on the day following her very last dose of tapered Seroquel.
It is very concerning to us that after nine months of continuous medications - some changes in medication - mostly gradually increasing doses - that she does not seem ANY better - and she is definitely having some side effects such as major weight gain (this in a child who had been nearly anorexic), hand tremor, and sleep disturbances. And of course over the past nine months, she has been hospitalized TEN times - so it is hard to say that there has been any improvement or stabilization. Her diagnosis is slowly drifting from Major Depressive disorder to Bipolar, rapid mood swings to developing Borderline (BPD). And perhaps medications won't really help with Borderline (BPD).
She is currently in the hospital awaiting placement at a PRTF - perhaps with a longer term treatment option there can be more work done with her medications. Do they ever just discontinue everything (when in a safe environment) and start over from scratch? It is challenging with five different medications to monitor their effect on her issues and the potential side effects.