I have a 12 year-old boy whose diagnosis at this time, I guess, is mood disorder not otherwise specified. He has always been a very bright child who did well in school with no behavior problems. In elementary school he was often bullied and didn't do too well with having friends, but seemed to get along with most of the kids most of the time while in school. He has always been very sensitive and thin-skinned. Last year, in sixth grade, he blossomed socially and had a lot of friends and was always busy. He always made honor roll and things were going well. Towards the end of the summer, his friend base began to deteriorate. Around the 2nd week of school, the group of "friends" ostracized him. He was devastated and that has led to a severe downward spiral.
He was on fluoxetine over the summer for supposed depression (suggested by his former therapist). It seemed to make him hyper and we finally took him off of it at the end of the summer. When the issue with the friends occurred, he began having extreme irritability and mood swings. The psychiatrist put him on trileptan, but he developed an allergic rash and had to be taken off of that. All this time he has also been getting headaches - sometimes migraines. The moods were getting worse, so the psychiatrist put him on 500mg Depakote. He has been on it for a little over 3 weeks. The headaches have improved a lot, but the moods have not. He has frequent meltdowns that include saying he wants to die, life is not worth living, he can't go on like this, etc. School has become a very difficult place for hime to be, but he behaves himself just fine there. I have made the school officials aware of his problems and I know they are keeping an eye on him.
He has been refusing to see a therapist (wants me to just make all of his problems go away), but I am hopeful that that is about to change. He never clicked with the previous therapist and it turned him off from talking to anyone He doesn't want anyone else to know his problems and is convinced that no one can help him. We have an appointment this afternoon with a new therapist recommended by the psychiatrist and the social worker at his school. My husband and I met him and like him and I hope my son will talk to him. If he does not, I'm afraid we are getting close to having to hospitalize him. He behaves like a 5 year-old, not an intelligent 12 year-old. He is difficult to reason with. When I can't solve his problems, he has a meltdown. These meltdowns can last 1-2 hours and are very exhausting emotionally. He hasn't destroyed anything or hurt anyone, but I know he wants to.
All has gone rapidly downhill in only the past 6-8 weeks.
How long should it take for the Depakote to have an effect? What are others people's experiences? I don't feel we have the time to stop this medication and try yet another. I am fearful that he will eventually follow-through on his threats to harm himself. The only thing the docs say is to take him to the ER. I asked the psychiatrist about adding an antidepressant to the Depakote, but she wants to wait a little longer. She said the Depakote would take at least 3 weeks to start showing gradual improvement.
Keeping my fingers crossed that today may be the start of a turning point. If not, I don't know what to do.
Nessa57
He was on fluoxetine over the summer for supposed depression (suggested by his former therapist). It seemed to make him hyper and we finally took him off of it at the end of the summer. When the issue with the friends occurred, he began having extreme irritability and mood swings. The psychiatrist put him on trileptan, but he developed an allergic rash and had to be taken off of that. All this time he has also been getting headaches - sometimes migraines. The moods were getting worse, so the psychiatrist put him on 500mg Depakote. He has been on it for a little over 3 weeks. The headaches have improved a lot, but the moods have not. He has frequent meltdowns that include saying he wants to die, life is not worth living, he can't go on like this, etc. School has become a very difficult place for hime to be, but he behaves himself just fine there. I have made the school officials aware of his problems and I know they are keeping an eye on him.
He has been refusing to see a therapist (wants me to just make all of his problems go away), but I am hopeful that that is about to change. He never clicked with the previous therapist and it turned him off from talking to anyone He doesn't want anyone else to know his problems and is convinced that no one can help him. We have an appointment this afternoon with a new therapist recommended by the psychiatrist and the social worker at his school. My husband and I met him and like him and I hope my son will talk to him. If he does not, I'm afraid we are getting close to having to hospitalize him. He behaves like a 5 year-old, not an intelligent 12 year-old. He is difficult to reason with. When I can't solve his problems, he has a meltdown. These meltdowns can last 1-2 hours and are very exhausting emotionally. He hasn't destroyed anything or hurt anyone, but I know he wants to.
All has gone rapidly downhill in only the past 6-8 weeks.
How long should it take for the Depakote to have an effect? What are others people's experiences? I don't feel we have the time to stop this medication and try yet another. I am fearful that he will eventually follow-through on his threats to harm himself. The only thing the docs say is to take him to the ER. I asked the psychiatrist about adding an antidepressant to the Depakote, but she wants to wait a little longer. She said the Depakote would take at least 3 weeks to start showing gradual improvement.
Keeping my fingers crossed that today may be the start of a turning point. If not, I don't know what to do.
Nessa57