My 14 yr old daughter has always had strong emotions, anxiety, hyperness, trouble focusing on homework and trouble doing it which lead to meltdowns, but things got really bad in 6th grade with a school change and bullying. There was school refusal, HUGE rages, crying, wanting to die, begging for me to help her feel better, and remorse after her rages.
Since last year she is back in her old school with friends again. Was put on Lexapor 15 mg but starting tapering down as the summer went pretty well with irritability (but less so) and very few rages. So she now takes 7.5 mg. But the rages have gotten worse since the start of 9th grade. She has missed days at a time due to anxiety. Homework takes longer than it should and she doesn't focus, and there is lots of homework, and meltdowns result where she gets really mean, maybe even gets physical, and says wants to die. She was first diagnosed with bipolar by a therapist, but her Child Psychologist of the past 1.5 yrs says its all anxiety. We tried Abilify and Lamictal with her previous BiPolar (BP) diagnosis and did not see any improvements. Her new child psychiatric also gave her a clonopin and Xanax but neither help at all with her anxiety. She is currently taking 7.5 mg Lexapro.
Her child psychiatric gave us paper work for her teacher and us to fill out for ADHD since my daughters therapist suggested she may have this. She had a full evaluation in first grade and was diagnosed ADHD but her anxiety was not so huge and school was tolerable so no medications. If she also has ADHD, and she rages when anxiety strikes, which medication might work best for her. I know it's a guessing game but some thoughts of those with experience is appreciated.
Since last year she is back in her old school with friends again. Was put on Lexapor 15 mg but starting tapering down as the summer went pretty well with irritability (but less so) and very few rages. So she now takes 7.5 mg. But the rages have gotten worse since the start of 9th grade. She has missed days at a time due to anxiety. Homework takes longer than it should and she doesn't focus, and there is lots of homework, and meltdowns result where she gets really mean, maybe even gets physical, and says wants to die. She was first diagnosed with bipolar by a therapist, but her Child Psychologist of the past 1.5 yrs says its all anxiety. We tried Abilify and Lamictal with her previous BiPolar (BP) diagnosis and did not see any improvements. Her new child psychiatric also gave her a clonopin and Xanax but neither help at all with her anxiety. She is currently taking 7.5 mg Lexapro.
Her child psychiatric gave us paper work for her teacher and us to fill out for ADHD since my daughters therapist suggested she may have this. She had a full evaluation in first grade and was diagnosed ADHD but her anxiety was not so huge and school was tolerable so no medications. If she also has ADHD, and she rages when anxiety strikes, which medication might work best for her. I know it's a guessing game but some thoughts of those with experience is appreciated.