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What if all the meds we try bring out negative side-effects?

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Thread : What if all the meds we try bring out negative side-effects?
26 Jan 2008 @ 2:58 PM
this mother	Join Date: Sat 26th Jan 2008 Threads: 1 Posts: 0
What if all the meds we try bring out negative side-effects? My son has Tourettes along with ADD. His doctor has also mentioned an anxiety disorder. I feel like this may simply be the result of our putting pressure on him because we keep trying to convince ourselves that he CAN do certain things if we stay on him. Because of recent events, I have come to feel that I have made things worse instead of better. So, here we are, back at square one. We've tried LOTS of different meds in the past but they bring out tics or extreme irratibility and aggression. We gave up the possibility of meds a few years ago, but then this year of school (7th grade) has been horrible. I get emails from his teachers about how they cue him to task repeatedly and he will not start his work, finish his work, follow instructions. 'In a fog' or 'drugged' is what they say. 'Worse than we've ever seen him' was another comment. We tried a medication his dr. said had the same chemical make-up as the stimulants we'd tried before so that maybe it would help but without the side-effects. It did nothing. We've tried every strategy to help him compensate that we can think of. We've gotten so frustrated that all we do is yell. He told me recently he's sad all the time because I am always mad at him. Our family is falling apart and I don't know what to do. We've been to dr's and counselors and haven't felt like we really got any practical suggestions. My biggest fear is that he will never learn to take care of himself. Quote

Thread : What if all the meds we try bring out negative side-effects?

26 Jan 2008 @ 2:58 PM

this mother

Join Date: Sat 26th Jan 2008
Threads: 1 Posts: 0

What if all the meds we try bring out negative side-effects?

My son has Tourettes along with ADD. His doctor has also mentioned an anxiety disorder. I feel like this may simply be the result of our putting pressure on him because we keep trying to convince ourselves that he CAN do certain things if we stay on him. Because of recent events, I have come to feel that I have made things worse instead of better. So, here we are, back at square one. We've tried LOTS of different meds in the past but they bring out tics or extreme irratibility and aggression. We gave up the possibility of meds a few years ago, but then this year of school (7th grade) has been horrible. I get emails from his teachers about how they cue him to task repeatedly and he will not start his work, finish his work, follow instructions. 'In a fog' or 'drugged' is what they say. 'Worse than we've ever seen him' was another comment. We tried a medication his dr. said had the same chemical make-up as the stimulants we'd tried before so that maybe it would help but without the side-effects. It did nothing. We've tried every strategy to help him compensate that we can think of. We've gotten so frustrated that all we do is yell. He told me recently he's sad all the time because I am always mad at him. Our family is falling apart and I don't know what to do. We've been to dr's and counselors and haven't felt like we really got any practical suggestions. My biggest fear is that he will never learn to take care of himself.

Quote

26 Jan 2008 @ 9:41 PM Reply # 1
Elaine20	Join Date: Sat 10th Nov 2007 Threads: 4 Posts: 210
All the meds causing problems This mother, I am sorry that you are having such a difficult time. Keep in mind that if a child's response to stimulant medication is extreme irritability and aggression, there could be another comorbidity. A stimulant medication can unmask depression in a child or teenager, causing aggression. Untreated anxiety can also make a child more irritable when put on stimulant medication. And if a child has bipolar disorder (which most doctors are not very capable of diagnosing childhood onset bipolar disorder), stimulant medication will make him worse, extremely irritable and aggressive. Recently I met a woman who was having numerous problems with her 11 year old son. He got worse on Ritalin including nightmares, and she was going crazy dealing with him. Also getting calls from the school quite frequently. She was very concerned and beside herself. They had also been to several doctors and psychiatrists but none seemed able to help them. I felt like he might have something else besides ADHD and I urged her to take her son to our doctor (who truly has a gift when it comes to solving difficult cases). It turned out he was indeed bipolar in addition to ADHD. My sister had similar problems with her son years ago. He was also diagnosed with ADHD but medication made him worse. It took 1 to 2 years and several doctors later before they finally received the diagnosis of childhood onset bipolar disorder. He was 8 years old at the time. He is now 18 and doing fine. (He also had ADHD in addition to the bipolar disorder). I would suggest you check out the book "The Bipolar Child" by Demitri Papolos, MD and Janice Papolos. There is a new edition out in paperback that just came out in 2007. My sister said that when she read the book she was amazed at the similarities with her son. Even if he doesn't have it, you will at least rule that out. If you lived in Florida, I would suggest checking out my doctor. Otherwise, see if you can find a child psychiatrist who is very knowledgeable about ADHD and other childhood comorbidities. It never ceases to amaze me how numerous doctors can miss a psychiatric disorder. Unfortunately, people can sometimes go years without receiving the proper diagnosis. My husband had seen quite a few psychiatrists and even been in a mental hospital and wasn't properly diagnosed. What a difference the right diagnosis and corresponding treatment can make. You have to be proactive when it comes to your health, especially mental health. If you live near a university, you may be able to find better professionals who are up to date on the latest info and knowledge. Good luck. I hope you will be able to find an answer soon. Elaine Quote

26 Jan 2008 @ 9:41 PM Reply # 1

Elaine20

Join Date: Sat 10th Nov 2007
Threads: 4 Posts: 210

All the meds causing problems

This mother,

I am sorry that you are having such a difficult time. Keep in mind that if a child's response to stimulant medication is extreme irritability and aggression, there could be another comorbidity. A stimulant medication can unmask depression in a child or teenager, causing aggression. Untreated anxiety can also make a child more irritable when put on stimulant medication. And if a child has bipolar disorder (which most doctors are not very capable of diagnosing childhood onset bipolar disorder), stimulant medication will make him worse, extremely irritable and aggressive.

Recently I met a woman who was having numerous problems with her 11 year old son. He got worse on Ritalin including nightmares, and she was going crazy dealing with him. Also getting calls from the school quite frequently. She was very concerned and beside herself. They had also been to several doctors and psychiatrists but none seemed able to help them. I felt like he might have something else besides ADHD and I urged her to take her son to our doctor (who truly has a gift when it comes to solving difficult cases). It turned out he was indeed bipolar in addition to ADHD. My sister had similar problems with her son years ago. He was also diagnosed with ADHD but medication made him worse. It took 1 to 2 years and several doctors later before they finally received the diagnosis of childhood onset bipolar disorder. He was 8 years old at the time. He is now 18 and doing fine. (He also had ADHD in addition to the bipolar disorder). I would suggest you check out the book "The Bipolar Child" by Demitri Papolos, MD and Janice Papolos. There is a new edition out in paperback that just came out in 2007. My sister said that when she read the book she was amazed at the similarities with her son. Even if he doesn't have it, you will at least rule that out.

If you lived in Florida, I would suggest checking out my doctor. Otherwise, see if you can find a child psychiatrist who is very knowledgeable about ADHD and other childhood comorbidities. It never ceases to amaze me how numerous doctors can miss a psychiatric disorder. Unfortunately, people can sometimes go years without receiving the proper diagnosis. My husband had seen quite a few psychiatrists and even been in a mental hospital and wasn't properly diagnosed. What a difference the right diagnosis and corresponding treatment can make.

You have to be proactive when it comes to your health, especially mental health. If you live near a university, you may be able to find better professionals who are up to date on the latest info and knowledge. Good luck. I hope you will be able to find an answer soon.

Elaine

Quote

28 Jan 2008 @ 12:36 AM Reply # 2
beijin1	Join Date: Mon 28th Jan 2008 Threads: 0 Posts: 1
Elaine I also have problems with my 15 year old son not being able to take stimulants. Where in Florida is your dr located? I would like to see if I can get my son into see him. Thanks alot; Sue Quote

28 Jan 2008 @ 12:36 AM Reply # 2

beijin1

Join Date: Mon 28th Jan 2008
Threads: 0 Posts: 1

Elaine

I also have problems with my 15 year old son not being able to take stimulants. Where in Florida is your dr located? I would like to see if I can get my son into see him. Thanks alot; Sue

Quote

28 Jan 2008 @ 12:29 PM Reply # 3
Elaine20	Join Date: Sat 10th Nov 2007 Threads: 4 Posts: 210
Doctor in Florida Sue, The doctor we use is in Okeechobee, Florida (the northern part of Lake Okeechobee). We live just west of West Palm Beach and it takes us an hour's drive but he is well worth the drive. He really cares about his patients and he likes to deal with complex problems. They don't bother him. In fact, he has treated a lot of patients, who are classified as extremely difficult by mental health professionals, with great success. He knows his ADHD and many of the comorbidities that often accompany it, and keeps up on the latest research. His name is Dr. Leland Heller and he also has a website at www.biologicalunhappiness.com Elaine Quote Last edited by Elaine20 : 28 Jan 2008 @ 12:30 PM. Reason: clerical

28 Jan 2008 @ 12:29 PM Reply # 3

Elaine20

Join Date: Sat 10th Nov 2007
Threads: 4 Posts: 210

Doctor in Florida

Sue,

The doctor we use is in Okeechobee, Florida (the northern part of Lake Okeechobee). We live just west of West Palm Beach and it takes us an hour's drive but he is well worth the drive. He really cares about his patients and he likes to deal with complex problems. They don't bother him. In fact, he has treated a lot of patients, who are classified as extremely difficult by mental health professionals, with great success. He knows his ADHD and many of the comorbidities that often accompany it, and keeps up on the latest research. His name is Dr. Leland Heller and he also has a website at www.biologicalunhappiness.com

Elaine

Quote

Last edited by Elaine20 : 28 Jan 2008 @ 12:30 PM. Reason: clerical

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