Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
I've charted all the stims he has taken for nearly 3 years
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="LittleDudesMom" data-source="post: 380273" data-attributes="member: 805"><p>Jules,</p><p></p><p>You will probably find as many differing opinions regarding what we think you should do at this point as stims your son has tried! Each of our children is very different. I will try, as much as possible, to briefly tell you my son's story.</p><p></p><p>He was always a little high-strung, a little more aggressive than the typical boy. He was also a typical case of adhd! The addition of stims made a huge difference in his impulsivity and ability to focus in school - even his handwriting improved. After a successful 1st grade year on concerta, we saw his ability to focus lesson a few months into 2nd grade. The doctor upped the dose from, if I remember concerta dosing correctly, 18 mg to 27 mg. Almost immediately we saw his aggitation and frustration increase which led to some pretty aggressive behavior (if you read the side effects on the stimulant rx, increased aggitation and anxiety are there). That in turn led to a lot of calling attention to him in school, the beginnings of some negative feelings about himself, his comparing himself to his peers, his feelings his teacher didn't like him, and some pretty serious melt downs at school.</p><p></p><p>His therapist suggested a psychiatrist because she felt he might be suffering from "situational depression". The psychiatrist agreed and my son was rx'd a low dose of remeron (30 mg) which he started slowly (7.5 mg for two weeks, then 15, then 30). This helped immensely! Within 2 weeks I saw an "eveness" about my son. Now, this is not to say that he still didn't have issues, but they decreased in severity and were less often.</p><p></p><p>Fast forward about a year and a half to the second half of 3rd grade. We saw some increase in frustration and anxiety (which we actually were able to pinpoint some causality by the end of the school year to learning disabilities that were not apparent in the lower grades). His psychiatrist suggested we add a very small amount (nontheraputic) of seroquel. Our psychiatrist said it had been very successful for some of his patients, especially adhd boys, who had "short fuses". 4th and 5th grade, while not perfect or typical, improved.</p><p></p><p>By the beginning of middle school he was off both the remeron and the seroquel and, we are in the 3rd week of high school with his only medication being 30mg of vyvanse. My son is, and always will be, a difficult child. He struggles every day to stay focused, to remain calm, etc., in school.</p><p></p><p>Now, I tell you this story to show you that our kids are all different. Many times a small dose of an antidepressant helps these kids. Other times, it doesn't. My son was evaluated, on my dime, at our local teaching hospital's pediatric mood disorder clinic and no present or emerging mood disorder was apparent. You just never know.</p><p></p><p>You are right to be a little fearful of all the medications. We all are. But very often we have to outweigh the risks associated with a medication to the benefits experienced by our children. If a medication is able to give our kids a more typical experience or improve the quality of their social interactions, or remove the strain from the family, it very often is worth it. Only you can speak to what is right for your situation.</p><p></p><p>You need to have a good psychiatrist (not a pediadoc) that you have confidence in that allows you to be a partner in your son's treatment and then, as your son grows, your son taking the partnership role.</p><p></p><p>Sharon</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="LittleDudesMom, post: 380273, member: 805"] Jules, You will probably find as many differing opinions regarding what we think you should do at this point as stims your son has tried! Each of our children is very different. I will try, as much as possible, to briefly tell you my son's story. He was always a little high-strung, a little more aggressive than the typical boy. He was also a typical case of adhd! The addition of stims made a huge difference in his impulsivity and ability to focus in school - even his handwriting improved. After a successful 1st grade year on concerta, we saw his ability to focus lesson a few months into 2nd grade. The doctor upped the dose from, if I remember concerta dosing correctly, 18 mg to 27 mg. Almost immediately we saw his aggitation and frustration increase which led to some pretty aggressive behavior (if you read the side effects on the stimulant rx, increased aggitation and anxiety are there). That in turn led to a lot of calling attention to him in school, the beginnings of some negative feelings about himself, his comparing himself to his peers, his feelings his teacher didn't like him, and some pretty serious melt downs at school. His therapist suggested a psychiatrist because she felt he might be suffering from "situational depression". The psychiatrist agreed and my son was rx'd a low dose of remeron (30 mg) which he started slowly (7.5 mg for two weeks, then 15, then 30). This helped immensely! Within 2 weeks I saw an "eveness" about my son. Now, this is not to say that he still didn't have issues, but they decreased in severity and were less often. Fast forward about a year and a half to the second half of 3rd grade. We saw some increase in frustration and anxiety (which we actually were able to pinpoint some causality by the end of the school year to learning disabilities that were not apparent in the lower grades). His psychiatrist suggested we add a very small amount (nontheraputic) of seroquel. Our psychiatrist said it had been very successful for some of his patients, especially adhd boys, who had "short fuses". 4th and 5th grade, while not perfect or typical, improved. By the beginning of middle school he was off both the remeron and the seroquel and, we are in the 3rd week of high school with his only medication being 30mg of vyvanse. My son is, and always will be, a difficult child. He struggles every day to stay focused, to remain calm, etc., in school. Now, I tell you this story to show you that our kids are all different. Many times a small dose of an antidepressant helps these kids. Other times, it doesn't. My son was evaluated, on my dime, at our local teaching hospital's pediatric mood disorder clinic and no present or emerging mood disorder was apparent. You just never know. You are right to be a little fearful of all the medications. We all are. But very often we have to outweigh the risks associated with a medication to the benefits experienced by our children. If a medication is able to give our kids a more typical experience or improve the quality of their social interactions, or remove the strain from the family, it very often is worth it. Only you can speak to what is right for your situation. You need to have a good psychiatrist (not a pediadoc) that you have confidence in that allows you to be a partner in your son's treatment and then, as your son grows, your son taking the partnership role. Sharon [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
I've charted all the stims he has taken for nearly 3 years
Top