My difficult child has taken Paxil since he was 10 years old. P. doctor #1 prescribed it for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and depression. He also took Clonidine. We tried to take him off of all medications. almost two years ago. But his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) returned and his mood was awful. He ended back on Paxil, eventually at an even higher dose but not clonidine.
P.doctor #2 stated that Paxil would not have been his first choice for difficult child. There was a brief discussion about trying Prozac but when it was clear that difficult child needed to go back on medication P.doctor #2 stuck with the Paxil because it had worked for difficult child. I also think that p.doctor did not want to trial anything new at the time because he was going to be out of the country for several months and he wouldn't be around to follow up.
Anyway Paxil helped difficult child, and his mood improved with an increased dose. My biggest problem with him right now is that he is failing high school. He failed all of his core classes last quarter and two of his electives. Nothing seems to motivate him, not punishments or rewards.
A breif history of difficult child's academic performance: At the beginning of elementary school he was a wonderful student. My only child that did his homework as soon as he got home from school without prompting. He was also my most anxious child-anxious to succeed and do well is probably what fueled him. He was diagnosis'd with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in 5th grade and it all went downhill from there. In middle school he had distinct good and bad cycles. His grades roller coastered all year. He managed to get through it. In high school I see mostly lack of motivation and failing grades.
I know I am grasping at straws here but I was wondering since paxil is more sedating than prozac (according to p.doctor #2)if switching ADs could make a difference. What really got me thinking about this is how Paxil affected me. I took it for about 1 1/2 years for depression. While it helped me cope for awhile, it did make me tired. I tend to have alot of what I call "nervous energy". In my mind I have all of these things to do and I have to do them right now because I am not going to have time to do them later etc. etc. I think my body goes into the fight or flight response-I do get stressed but I also get things done. Paxil zapped me of this energy. I was much more layed back. I didn't stress out about everything but consequently I didn't get as much done either.
I recently viewed difficult child's my space. In his profile he states that he wants to go to college. He wants to own his own business etc..He also admits that he doesn't do well in school because he is not motivated-those are his words.
P.doctor #2 stated that Paxil would not have been his first choice for difficult child. There was a brief discussion about trying Prozac but when it was clear that difficult child needed to go back on medication P.doctor #2 stuck with the Paxil because it had worked for difficult child. I also think that p.doctor did not want to trial anything new at the time because he was going to be out of the country for several months and he wouldn't be around to follow up.
Anyway Paxil helped difficult child, and his mood improved with an increased dose. My biggest problem with him right now is that he is failing high school. He failed all of his core classes last quarter and two of his electives. Nothing seems to motivate him, not punishments or rewards.
A breif history of difficult child's academic performance: At the beginning of elementary school he was a wonderful student. My only child that did his homework as soon as he got home from school without prompting. He was also my most anxious child-anxious to succeed and do well is probably what fueled him. He was diagnosis'd with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in 5th grade and it all went downhill from there. In middle school he had distinct good and bad cycles. His grades roller coastered all year. He managed to get through it. In high school I see mostly lack of motivation and failing grades.
I know I am grasping at straws here but I was wondering since paxil is more sedating than prozac (according to p.doctor #2)if switching ADs could make a difference. What really got me thinking about this is how Paxil affected me. I took it for about 1 1/2 years for depression. While it helped me cope for awhile, it did make me tired. I tend to have alot of what I call "nervous energy". In my mind I have all of these things to do and I have to do them right now because I am not going to have time to do them later etc. etc. I think my body goes into the fight or flight response-I do get stressed but I also get things done. Paxil zapped me of this energy. I was much more layed back. I didn't stress out about everything but consequently I didn't get as much done either.
I recently viewed difficult child's my space. In his profile he states that he wants to go to college. He wants to own his own business etc..He also admits that he doesn't do well in school because he is not motivated-those are his words.