Hi, I am new to posting here, but have lurked for a little while and I have felt so fortunate to have read about others' experiences when going through our own challenges with DS.
We have been dealing with significant behaviour challenges with DS#1 (8yo) periodically since he was about 4. To make a very long story short, within the past two to three years we have realized that anxiety is a primary contributing factor when his behaviours ramp up, and we have tried lots of anxiety strategies at home as well as counselling and a cognitive-behavioral therapy group, but he has not been responsive. He had a major increase in anxiety near the end of the summer and beginning of the school year that resulted in more aggressive behaviour than ever before, and he is now on medication for anxiety. He is taking Sertraline (Zoloft) - increased 2x so now at 75 mg/day, and a tiny dose of Seroquel (12.5 mg 2x/day, which is supposed to have anti-anxiolytic effects at that dosage). Since the latest dosage increase, we have seen a significant decrease in anxiety, better mood, and virtually no behaviour issues. I'm relieved that he has responded well, although I suspect we will still have challenges in the future. We are now trying to proceed with getting CBT in place again in hopes that he will be able to benefit more now, and also trying again to deal with some of the other contributing issues (sensory, misunderstanding social/pragmatics, etc.) so hopefully we will make more lasting progress now that the anxiety is not as severe.
I'm wondering if I should be asking for any specific type of periodic monitoring / blood tests etc. with respect to unwanted effects of the medication. There is a family history of diabetes, blood pressure problems, and liver condition (not alcohol-related, so maybe a genetic component?), so I don't know whether that increases risks or not... The psychiatrist who prescribed did not see a need to do any monitoring, but said the Pediatrician will decide if any monitoring is needed. We see the pediatrician next week, so I guess I just want to know whether I should push to have any kind of testing done, or just accept if the pediatrician says it's not needed. Do any of your kids have any kind of blood testing or other monitoring when on medications like these?
Again, I feel so thankful to have found this site and be able to hear about others' experiences. Sometimes it just feels so isolating to be dealing with these issues on your own, when nobody in your "real life" can really understand.
We have been dealing with significant behaviour challenges with DS#1 (8yo) periodically since he was about 4. To make a very long story short, within the past two to three years we have realized that anxiety is a primary contributing factor when his behaviours ramp up, and we have tried lots of anxiety strategies at home as well as counselling and a cognitive-behavioral therapy group, but he has not been responsive. He had a major increase in anxiety near the end of the summer and beginning of the school year that resulted in more aggressive behaviour than ever before, and he is now on medication for anxiety. He is taking Sertraline (Zoloft) - increased 2x so now at 75 mg/day, and a tiny dose of Seroquel (12.5 mg 2x/day, which is supposed to have anti-anxiolytic effects at that dosage). Since the latest dosage increase, we have seen a significant decrease in anxiety, better mood, and virtually no behaviour issues. I'm relieved that he has responded well, although I suspect we will still have challenges in the future. We are now trying to proceed with getting CBT in place again in hopes that he will be able to benefit more now, and also trying again to deal with some of the other contributing issues (sensory, misunderstanding social/pragmatics, etc.) so hopefully we will make more lasting progress now that the anxiety is not as severe.
I'm wondering if I should be asking for any specific type of periodic monitoring / blood tests etc. with respect to unwanted effects of the medication. There is a family history of diabetes, blood pressure problems, and liver condition (not alcohol-related, so maybe a genetic component?), so I don't know whether that increases risks or not... The psychiatrist who prescribed did not see a need to do any monitoring, but said the Pediatrician will decide if any monitoring is needed. We see the pediatrician next week, so I guess I just want to know whether I should push to have any kind of testing done, or just accept if the pediatrician says it's not needed. Do any of your kids have any kind of blood testing or other monitoring when on medications like these?
Again, I feel so thankful to have found this site and be able to hear about others' experiences. Sometimes it just feels so isolating to be dealing with these issues on your own, when nobody in your "real life" can really understand.