My 7yo son has been in behavior therapy for 18 months. He has crying fits when he is given bad news or something doesn't go his way. He sometimes throws things but generally is not too violent. He has a hard time taking ownership of his actions and yells. He also says a lot of depressing things about himself.
About 4 months ago his therapists suggested that it was time to see a psychiatrist. After a long wait for an appointment and for someone who took our insurance we finally saw someone a couple of weeks ago. The dr. said that he has ODD, Anxiety and Depression. He was borderline for inattentive ADHD. He was started on 1mg of Intuniv. During his 2nd week he got into his first fist fight and was so depressed and irritable. We bumped him up to 2mg and the first couple of days I was amazed at his lack of tantrums but then by day 3 it all went south. She did a Connors assessment before/after medications and things look worse in the after but his teacher also admitted that he is getting to her and she is losing patience more. His regular therapist says that she is concerned because she has never seen him so depressed. We are 1 week into the 2mg and his psychiatric said that we can ween him off and try something else in a couple of weeks but the "depression" could be sleepiness and may go away. I'm scared to send him to school because of a potential phone call that he has been suspended for fighting again. Should I stick it out and give it another week or is the Intuniv just not the answer? I'm inclined to try Prozac next as I'm beginning to think that the depression was not the secondary diagnosis but maybe the primary one. I'm so new to all of this and am really struggling. Thanks!
About 4 months ago his therapists suggested that it was time to see a psychiatrist. After a long wait for an appointment and for someone who took our insurance we finally saw someone a couple of weeks ago. The dr. said that he has ODD, Anxiety and Depression. He was borderline for inattentive ADHD. He was started on 1mg of Intuniv. During his 2nd week he got into his first fist fight and was so depressed and irritable. We bumped him up to 2mg and the first couple of days I was amazed at his lack of tantrums but then by day 3 it all went south. She did a Connors assessment before/after medications and things look worse in the after but his teacher also admitted that he is getting to her and she is losing patience more. His regular therapist says that she is concerned because she has never seen him so depressed. We are 1 week into the 2mg and his psychiatric said that we can ween him off and try something else in a couple of weeks but the "depression" could be sleepiness and may go away. I'm scared to send him to school because of a potential phone call that he has been suspended for fighting again. Should I stick it out and give it another week or is the Intuniv just not the answer? I'm inclined to try Prozac next as I'm beginning to think that the depression was not the secondary diagnosis but maybe the primary one. I'm so new to all of this and am really struggling. Thanks!