Because I've spent so much time myself in the mental health system as a patient, I am so leery of getting medications thrown at you. Yes, you need a mood stabilizer and maybe an antipsychotic too if you have bipolar. But the new thing is to medicate EVERY symptom. Being a patient myself I know how CRUMMY you feel all doped up on psychiatric medications. Sure, you may be more compliant. Who wouldn't be when you are half full of drugs? When I see stims for ADHD mixed with mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressents in ONE CHILD I really wonder about the doctor. I have bipolar. It is NOT all about the right medications. I still have bad anxiety at times, but I'd rather have learned how to manage it (as I have as I got older and got some good therapy) than be put on ten medications so that I can't think. I still have slight moodswings (not so bad, but they happen), but I'd rather learn how to manage the smaller swings than to take heavy duty drugs. Our poor kids don't know what's wrong. I know my 15 year old was offered medications for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He is on the autism spectrum and ALL Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) kids are bothered with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) thoughts that can get in the way. He is usually passive, but he said, "No!" That surprised me. He said, "I don't need them. It's ok." I asked why and he said, "I don't like how they make me feel." And that's that.
Get your son a neuropsychologist evaluation. If it turns out that he even needs medication (it turned out that my son didn't) then find a Psychiatrist and ask him about his medications policy--does he try to medicate every symptom or does he take a far-reaching look at the disorder--a combo of one or two medications, therapy, and maybe good nutrition, exercise, routine, sleep. I can't tell you how HORRIBLE so many of those medications made me feel. The medications alone made me want to jump off a cliff. Then, again, when I found the right combination, I felt like I was born as a new person. But getting there was hard, and I still won't overmedicate myself. I don't like the feeling of being drugged. And if you're on five medications, you have got to feel abnormally drugged. JMO--I'll get off my soap box. One more thing--some therapists do more harm than good too. My favs are CBT therapists. They rock