New Meds Plan

[katiekat]

The psychiatrist agrees that the Depakote is doing nothing for Sean so once he comes back home next week we will start to wean him off of that. She wants to try Risperdal, she feels we really need to get his aggression under control first and foremost and then work on the hyperactivity and impulsiveness. At the appointment today he told her that he has been hitting his sister a lot and also that he took his mothers car keys and tried to start her car!? He also told her that he is worried about starting school because he knows he will hit people there. She also wants to get him off the Atarax and I am willing to give that a try because I really don't like pumping all this stuff into him. So her plan is to get him off both meds he is on now and try the Risperdal and Adderall and see how that works.

[bugsmom]

Its sounds like the doctor has a pretty good plan for you guys. If the Depakoke isn't working, I would think that Risperdal or Abilify would be the next step. You really don't have nothing to lose trying the Risperdal, if it dosen't work, you can just move on.

Josh was on Risperdal for a year and a half, he just stopped in June. I put him on this kicking and screaming because he is not Bi-polar, but was dealing with terrible anxiety due to a cruel teacher, which in turn caused ALOT of anger and aggression. I have to say that it worked very well for him, the only drawback was a huge weight gain. So, if Sean has some room for some weight, it should be ok. But make sure that you really watch what he eats because he could pack it on quick! I know Josh gain 13 pounds the first two months he was on it. It will make Sean very hungry.

Other than the weight gain, it really helped him with his aggression. Josh took a very small dose, 1/2 of .25mg at night, and 1/2 in the morning. It worked well at a time when he had to stop all stims because of the anxiety. Josh does not tolerate stims very well at all, so for us at the time, it was a God send.

The only thing that has me a little concerned is the suggestion of Adderall. I'm sure that it works great for some kids, but from our experience, and a lot of other parents, it can cause some really major emotional side effects. I'm hoping that your starting the Risperdal first and then introducing the stim. Adderall made my Josh NUTS, lots of crying, raging, and aggression. We took him off it immediatly and tried the other stims, which NEVER gave him the reaction that Adderall did.

Good Luck KK...if you have any Risperdal concerns please pm me. I would be happy to help in anyway. As you know, every kid is different and they react differently to meds. Praying that this will be the one that can help Sean. ((((((HUGS))))))

[katiekat]

Thanks for the info Bugsmom. The doctor did mention the same things that you did which could happen with the Adderall. I am happy to hear though that Josh didn't have the same reaction to other stims so that if the Adderall does have a bad effect on Sean I know I still have other possibilities. I am also glad to hear that the Risperdal did help. Hopefully it will just bring his appetite up to normal because he eats next to nothing now. He probably weighs about 35 lbs and he's almost 7. He is very tiny(short too)so a big weight gain would probably not be good but he could afford a little. His anxiety is getting bad with school approaching and he is already saying that he is going to get an "F" in everything, and he feels like he has a lot more problems than he did in kindergarten and he knows he will get in a lot more trouble now that he will be in school a full day. So much worry for a 6 yr old. He was so upset today and I felt so bad for him that I took him to McDonalds and brought him back home with me for a while before I took him back to his mothers-I just had to snap him out of that mood. After a while he was fine but I hope we find something that helps soon.

[misty]

Hmm....I wonder if theres something that could help relieve his fear of school. Has he met his teacher yet? Maybe you could talk to his teacher & see if theres anything that might help him feel more secure there. Hopefully the review type stuff that they do at the beginning of the year will be recognized by him & help him feel like maybe it won't be as bad as he thinks. I wish I could be more help, but I know nothing about the meds. I hope the new ones work well for him though. I think it was great that you took him out for lunch today. Your more stable, nurturing presence did him a world of good, I'm sure!

[katiekat]

He has met his teacher-on the last day of school the kids get to go to the class they will be in the following year and spend the day there. He says that she is nice but I think he is remembering back to last year and knowing that this year he will be there for a full day. I met her also and we went over a lot of things. She has a reputation for being very strict and I know he needs that but I have a feeling myself it is going to be a rough year for all.

[katiekat]

I started lessening the dosage of the Depakote today-giving just one pill 2X a day instead of 2. The psych said she wanted to take him off it anyway so I may as well start the process now. It does nothing anyway so I am eager to try the Risperdal to see if that helps. I will also be dropping off the RX for the Adderal today and I guess I'll give it to him tomorrow. She said if he doesnt react well to it that it will be apparent immeadiately and that if it works for him that will be immeadiate also. I hope so badly something works.

[charliegirl]

I hope you see a vast improvement KK.

[katiekat]

We wont be seeing any improvement until later than I hoped. For some reason the insurance company will not cover the Adderall until they talk to the Dr. who prescribed it. I've never heard of this before. Has anyone?

[bugsmom]

KK...I have never heard of that happening before. Our insurance company has never disputed any type of perscriptions. Do you think it has something to do with Sean heart issues and they are questioning the stims? That's the only thing I could come up with. Keep us updated.

[katiekat]

Still no RX. The psych is only in on Wednesdays. I asked the pharmacist what the deal is and all he could tell me was that the ins co needs prior consent whatever that means. Hopefully tomorrow I can get this taken care of.