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New Here, son prescribed Risperdal, can't bring myself to give it to him
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 332068" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>What are the problem symptoms? Not that we can diagnose on this site - nobody can diagnose long-distance and we're not medical experts, we're just parents. </p><p></p><p>I would be nervous, though, of a bipolar diagnosis apparently made so readily. Especially at 3 years of age, it is very easy to confuse bipolar with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) in various forms as well as other conditions.</p><p></p><p>Even when you're older, it is easy to confuse it.</p><p></p><p>Your instincts are kicking in, perhaps because you feel that more needs to be explained.</p><p></p><p>I agree with not medicating him until he's been assessed PERSONALLY more thoroughly. A neuropsychologist assessment is definitely a good idea, it is a lifetime investment.</p><p>The problem with any diagnosis made by just looking at FAMILY history, is that our understanding of various medical conditions has changed considerably in recent years. Even when difficult child 3 was diagnosed, that was 12 years ago and ideas have changed since then. So in your son's case, the doctor was hearing diagnoses made about people decades ago and who knows what these people would be diagnosed with, if reassessed today?</p><p></p><p>Regarding the medications - if he's bipolar, I believe a stimulant is risky. However, stims as a rule wash out of your system very quickly so if there is a problem (apart from possible bipolar problems) then you simply stop the medications (no need to wean off) and it's gone.</p><p></p><p>Risperdal - both my boys took that and again, when they stopped we had no problems taking them off it. We did wean off, but it was a fairly quick process (a matter of days) and there were no problems. I guess because for them, there wasn't a lot of change when they took it anyway.</p><p></p><p>So in general I wouldn't worry about those medications in terms of "merry-go-round". As for the young age - difficult child 3 was also 3 years old when we started him on stims. There are a nuber of different stimulants, Concerta is only one although it does seem to get chosen first. In our case, we already had found problems with ritalin for difficult child 1 - he was getting rebound. So he was changed to dexamphetamine just as the younger two were diagnosed as needing a stimulant as well, so the doctor put them all on dex. We get it compounded privately and so far it's been the best option. We did try difficult child 3 on Concerta but it just wasn't as good; plus he was also getting rebound like his brother.</p><p>Then when the therapist expressed concerns about difficult child 3 being on a stimulant when he also has bad anxiety problems, the doctor tried difficult child 3 on Strattera. THAT was a disaster - he became quite manic, quite irrational and violent, within three days. We stopped it, cold. And although it took a couple of days to wash out of his system (any sustained-release medications take longer to wash out) he is now back to his old self.</p><p></p><p>So, long-term issues with medication problems - nope. Starting stimulants young - again, not a problem because in fact if the medications are going to be beneficial, you will get a "WOW!" factor encouraging you. If there is no amazing difference, then you can in all conscience stop those medications.</p><p></p><p>We did cop flak from people for starting difficult child 3 on such medications so young, but we were so delighted by the wonderful improvement in him that we felt confident enough to tell people to go take a flying leap. difficult child 3's language delay was the first and most obvious thing to improve, within a WEEK! For us, it was the WOW! factor which encouraged us to keep on with it.</p><p></p><p>Now, what do you do while you're waiting for a diagnosis? You don't want to try medications, you've made that clear, but there are more things you can do. A lot of us on this site have found a lot of useful direction in "The Explosive Child" by Ross Greene. You take from this book what feels a good fit and leave the rest. But always revisit the book because as things change and your child gets older, different tactics can be tried.</p><p></p><p>There is a sticky thread on this Early Childhood forum which discusses how to adapt this book for younger children. The thread can also give you some advance ideas that can work. It doesn't matter what the diagnosis, these kids often develop similar problems and often the usual parenting techniques, the sort of stuff you'd find in Dr Spock or other parenting books, not only don't work with these kids but can actually make them worse. difficult child 3 was on the point of getting diagnosed with ODD when we began using Explosive Child techniques on him. It turned it around. We still need to keep these techniques to the fore in how we handle difficult child 3 but the improvement is always happening.</p><p></p><p>Welcome to the site, glad you found us.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 332068, member: 1991"] What are the problem symptoms? Not that we can diagnose on this site - nobody can diagnose long-distance and we're not medical experts, we're just parents. I would be nervous, though, of a bipolar diagnosis apparently made so readily. Especially at 3 years of age, it is very easy to confuse bipolar with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) in various forms as well as other conditions. Even when you're older, it is easy to confuse it. Your instincts are kicking in, perhaps because you feel that more needs to be explained. I agree with not medicating him until he's been assessed PERSONALLY more thoroughly. A neuropsychologist assessment is definitely a good idea, it is a lifetime investment. The problem with any diagnosis made by just looking at FAMILY history, is that our understanding of various medical conditions has changed considerably in recent years. Even when difficult child 3 was diagnosed, that was 12 years ago and ideas have changed since then. So in your son's case, the doctor was hearing diagnoses made about people decades ago and who knows what these people would be diagnosed with, if reassessed today? Regarding the medications - if he's bipolar, I believe a stimulant is risky. However, stims as a rule wash out of your system very quickly so if there is a problem (apart from possible bipolar problems) then you simply stop the medications (no need to wean off) and it's gone. Risperdal - both my boys took that and again, when they stopped we had no problems taking them off it. We did wean off, but it was a fairly quick process (a matter of days) and there were no problems. I guess because for them, there wasn't a lot of change when they took it anyway. So in general I wouldn't worry about those medications in terms of "merry-go-round". As for the young age - difficult child 3 was also 3 years old when we started him on stims. There are a nuber of different stimulants, Concerta is only one although it does seem to get chosen first. In our case, we already had found problems with ritalin for difficult child 1 - he was getting rebound. So he was changed to dexamphetamine just as the younger two were diagnosed as needing a stimulant as well, so the doctor put them all on dex. We get it compounded privately and so far it's been the best option. We did try difficult child 3 on Concerta but it just wasn't as good; plus he was also getting rebound like his brother. Then when the therapist expressed concerns about difficult child 3 being on a stimulant when he also has bad anxiety problems, the doctor tried difficult child 3 on Strattera. THAT was a disaster - he became quite manic, quite irrational and violent, within three days. We stopped it, cold. And although it took a couple of days to wash out of his system (any sustained-release medications take longer to wash out) he is now back to his old self. So, long-term issues with medication problems - nope. Starting stimulants young - again, not a problem because in fact if the medications are going to be beneficial, you will get a "WOW!" factor encouraging you. If there is no amazing difference, then you can in all conscience stop those medications. We did cop flak from people for starting difficult child 3 on such medications so young, but we were so delighted by the wonderful improvement in him that we felt confident enough to tell people to go take a flying leap. difficult child 3's language delay was the first and most obvious thing to improve, within a WEEK! For us, it was the WOW! factor which encouraged us to keep on with it. Now, what do you do while you're waiting for a diagnosis? You don't want to try medications, you've made that clear, but there are more things you can do. A lot of us on this site have found a lot of useful direction in "The Explosive Child" by Ross Greene. You take from this book what feels a good fit and leave the rest. But always revisit the book because as things change and your child gets older, different tactics can be tried. There is a sticky thread on this Early Childhood forum which discusses how to adapt this book for younger children. The thread can also give you some advance ideas that can work. It doesn't matter what the diagnosis, these kids often develop similar problems and often the usual parenting techniques, the sort of stuff you'd find in Dr Spock or other parenting books, not only don't work with these kids but can actually make them worse. difficult child 3 was on the point of getting diagnosed with ODD when we began using Explosive Child techniques on him. It turned it around. We still need to keep these techniques to the fore in how we handle difficult child 3 but the improvement is always happening. Welcome to the site, glad you found us. Marg [/QUOTE]
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