Oceans, I agree with you that medication changes should wait until summer vacation. Why risk the end of school when you don't have to? I think I told you that a few weeks ago we tried to make some medication changes for difficult child 1. When he started to spiral down, the psychiatrist pulled back and said he wanted to wait until summer vacation to make any changes. A very sound decision from my perspective.
In terms of different APs, yes, they absolutely can work differently for each patient. Just because Zyprexa works doesn't mean Geodon will. Having said that, however, there is something to be said for trying a medication that may not cause as much weight gain. My easy child has been on Zyprexa since last summer and has gained 20 pounds. We're going to try to wean her off this summer to see how she does without it. If she doesn't do well, my personal preference is to add a mood stabilizer (she's never been on one) instead of going to another AP. But she's different from your difficult child in that she has done well on Prozac.
Hope you're able to convince the psychiatrist of holding off the medication change plan until school ends.
