SuZir
Well-Known Member
Im sure there is a whole chapter in Successful Parenting for Dummies about how you are not supposed to be almost giddy from relief and pride when your nineteen year old, living on his own, supporting himself, intellectually gifted son is able to handle a doctor appointment appropriately all by himself. However difficult child didnt come with that book and Im still little clueless on those things.
Anyway, difficult child had an appointment with both his teams doctor and his psychiatrist (there are some benefits on being a pro athlete; you dont have to wait for appointments like rest of us ) to discuss the need to medicate his anxiety. difficult child has serious doubts about psychiatric medications and especially didnt want SSRIs and was very worried he would be bullied to have them. difficult child is afraid of side effects of SSRIs and Im worried about possibility of drug induced mania and that leading to onset of bipolar.
difficult child has had high anxiety after summer and a week ago even had a bad and long lasting panic attack that only stopped after he was given diazepam. His teams doctor thought it was high time to try medications because difficult child is having very difficult time dealing with his anxiety and it influences to both his sport performance and his peer relationships. He has a lot on his plate, he feels lots of pressure in many areas on life and that has likely been a cause for heighten anxiety though he has always been prone to it. His psychiatrist also said that starting therapy can be a cause. Trauma therapy tends to be very hard.
But anyway, Im being giddy because difficult child was able to share his worries and apprehensions for psychiatric medications, felt doctors did listen to him and gave him answers he could understand. And most importantly gave him impression that he is on drivers seat on this.
psychiatrist thinks SSRI may be needed in later time, but difficult child doesnt need to try them now, if he doesnt want to. Her choices for difficult child would be either Lexapro or Celexa. She wasnt too worried about mania, because according to her, drug induced mania with antidepressants happens most often with patients, who are already experiencing deep, often rather sudden, bipolar type depression to begin with. She also didnt think difficult child has too big genetic risk, because neither of his parents have bipolar even though there are bipolar people in my family tree. Also difficult child not suffering depression points to low risk.
But because of difficult child not wanting SSRIs at least now, she recommended him trying BuSpar first. Apparently it should have low side effect profile, it shouldnt be addictive and if it works, it is a really good drug. Con is that for many it doesnt work too well on its own but then again works well with SSRI. difficult child has a phone appointment with her next week to discuss it more after he has few days time to think if he is willing to try it.
difficult child was also prescribed Atarax to be taken as needed and he promised to try one Saturday night. Apparently it helps with sleep and can reduce anxiety, but many feel drowsy and lazy even next day and sleep longer after taking it. But then again it depends on person and some dont feel drowsy at all even though for most it makes them sleepy half an hour after taking it. It is antihistamine and shouldnt be too habit forming though some people feel they can not get sleep without it after taking it long time. If used every day it also may stop working for anxiety and sleep and only continues to work as antihistamine. But difficult child is not told to use it every day anyway. Depending how it affects him he is supposed to take it after a bad day to prevent it continuing with bad night and even worse next day. If it makes him drowsy next day he should only take it before day off or at least day without a game. I think difficult child has had Atarax before, many moons ago when he was little and had a terrible case of chicken box, all itchy and unable to sleep. If I remember correctly, it didnt make him too drowsy after good night sleep then.
The benzo team doctor has added to teams medicine cabinet (difficult child hated diazepam) is Xanax. For me that is scary, but doctors dont think it is a risk at all. They are not prescribed for difficult child but if he has a new panic attack, teams medical staff will give him one. And if he wants to, he can get one pill at the time with him if he needs one at home. And if he ends up needing them more than couple a month they will change it to something less addictive. But they feel that Xanax is best for rare panic attacks and addiction is not a threat when not used too often.
Anyway, difficult child had an appointment with both his teams doctor and his psychiatrist (there are some benefits on being a pro athlete; you dont have to wait for appointments like rest of us ) to discuss the need to medicate his anxiety. difficult child has serious doubts about psychiatric medications and especially didnt want SSRIs and was very worried he would be bullied to have them. difficult child is afraid of side effects of SSRIs and Im worried about possibility of drug induced mania and that leading to onset of bipolar.
difficult child has had high anxiety after summer and a week ago even had a bad and long lasting panic attack that only stopped after he was given diazepam. His teams doctor thought it was high time to try medications because difficult child is having very difficult time dealing with his anxiety and it influences to both his sport performance and his peer relationships. He has a lot on his plate, he feels lots of pressure in many areas on life and that has likely been a cause for heighten anxiety though he has always been prone to it. His psychiatrist also said that starting therapy can be a cause. Trauma therapy tends to be very hard.
But anyway, Im being giddy because difficult child was able to share his worries and apprehensions for psychiatric medications, felt doctors did listen to him and gave him answers he could understand. And most importantly gave him impression that he is on drivers seat on this.
psychiatrist thinks SSRI may be needed in later time, but difficult child doesnt need to try them now, if he doesnt want to. Her choices for difficult child would be either Lexapro or Celexa. She wasnt too worried about mania, because according to her, drug induced mania with antidepressants happens most often with patients, who are already experiencing deep, often rather sudden, bipolar type depression to begin with. She also didnt think difficult child has too big genetic risk, because neither of his parents have bipolar even though there are bipolar people in my family tree. Also difficult child not suffering depression points to low risk.
But because of difficult child not wanting SSRIs at least now, she recommended him trying BuSpar first. Apparently it should have low side effect profile, it shouldnt be addictive and if it works, it is a really good drug. Con is that for many it doesnt work too well on its own but then again works well with SSRI. difficult child has a phone appointment with her next week to discuss it more after he has few days time to think if he is willing to try it.
difficult child was also prescribed Atarax to be taken as needed and he promised to try one Saturday night. Apparently it helps with sleep and can reduce anxiety, but many feel drowsy and lazy even next day and sleep longer after taking it. But then again it depends on person and some dont feel drowsy at all even though for most it makes them sleepy half an hour after taking it. It is antihistamine and shouldnt be too habit forming though some people feel they can not get sleep without it after taking it long time. If used every day it also may stop working for anxiety and sleep and only continues to work as antihistamine. But difficult child is not told to use it every day anyway. Depending how it affects him he is supposed to take it after a bad day to prevent it continuing with bad night and even worse next day. If it makes him drowsy next day he should only take it before day off or at least day without a game. I think difficult child has had Atarax before, many moons ago when he was little and had a terrible case of chicken box, all itchy and unable to sleep. If I remember correctly, it didnt make him too drowsy after good night sleep then.
The benzo team doctor has added to teams medicine cabinet (difficult child hated diazepam) is Xanax. For me that is scary, but doctors dont think it is a risk at all. They are not prescribed for difficult child but if he has a new panic attack, teams medical staff will give him one. And if he wants to, he can get one pill at the time with him if he needs one at home. And if he ends up needing them more than couple a month they will change it to something less addictive. But they feel that Xanax is best for rare panic attacks and addiction is not a threat when not used too often.