Has anyone had a good response with Seroquel with their Aspergers/ADHD child?

Barbara - posted on 01/29/2013

Vyvanse is absolutely the best! My son is hypersensitive to any meds that MAY cause drowsiness...it's a guarantee for us. It's very expensive so make sure you have insurance. Seroquel was a bad one for us too. Good Luck.

Molly - posted on 01/26/2013

Please please don't put your child on seriquel!!! I had a dr give it to me for bi polar!!! 1200 mg a day! I took half and heard voices, was drugged up most of the time, could barely walk. Suddenly had high cholesteal. And it's withdrawl is awful. I went to the hospital and was told people actually sell this in the street because of the hallucinations it gives u. I had to have my stomach pumped. I'm afraid what would have happened if I took the dose she wanted. Don't give to anyone especially a child!!!

Cherie - posted on 11/19/2012

Hello Marie: I just started my 19 year old on Seroquel for the sake of he just started hearing voices. I am not sure where this came from as he has never had such distrubing sympoms from aspergers before. Anyway, the Seroquel has stopped the voices but other strange behaviors has come from it and he eats 24/7. The medications causes sleepness which is good for him but the doctor is positive this is the right medication. My son was on concerta for many years prior to this medication and he was taking depakote as well. Both medications were discontinued prior to starting the Seroquel. I hope this helps. It is very flustrating and overwhelming and I am besides myself with flustration and sadness at this point.

Brandirose - posted on 11/17/2012

800 mg is a HUGE dose. Talk to your doc. I'm seriously knocked out with 100 mg of the stuff. I normally take 50 mg. It doesn't take much for me. My daughter takes the same amount I do and she sleeps well on it. She can take more if she is having a bad day. So can I. Have them start lessening the dose.

Katrina - posted on 11/16/2012

I'd go see another doctor. Or ask your doctor to reassess his medication/dosage. I'd have to agree tha 800mg is ALOT!! If the medication causes outbursts, I'd be questioning whether it's because he can't explain or tolerate how it makes him feel (taking the medication) or if it just doesn't agree with him. The next day after taking Seroquel, I' feel really yuck inside, almost like a hangover, without the headache. If your son feels like that, he may not understand what's going on, nor be able to explain it, which ould easily cause meltowns. Just a suggestion. But all the same, I'd be chatting with your regular doctor that yor son sees. Can't be nice for your son or for you. Hope you get some answers ladies.

Denise - posted on 11/12/2012

I too am new to this site, my son has severe mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy and muscular schlerosis, but it sounds worse than it really is. He has aggressive outbursts and many other aggressive behaviors when on medications. I have not medicated him for a long time, but sometimes his outbursts deem medicating. His doctor has prescribed him on almost 800 mg of Seroquel which to me is down right ridiculous. All it does is knocks him out and I don't want him sleeping his life away....I am just trying to find a medication to calm him down when he has one of his aggressive outburst. Like someone or something has just pissed him off. He throws things, bangs his head and is just mad. The school says they have many issues with him when I give him the medication, but none when he doesn't take it. He only has these outbursts when certain people are around, but I need help and I am at a loss.... any suggestions?

Katrina - posted on 06/15/2012

I was on that myself, many years ago now. If I took it when I was in a hyper state, it would just bring me down to a normal state, but I did feel a little groggy - otherwise no problems. Mostly though, it just made me sleepy, so I had to be completely ready for bed, then take them and get into bed or I'd feel really tired and had trouble moving around - after about 10 minutes or so. My son has Aspergers but is not on medication. Hope you find something that helps

Christine - posted on 06/14/2012

It's been a long time. I took my son off the rispirdal 19 months ago! He blew up like a balloon on it and it stopped working anyway. He takes intuniv- he dropped all that weight and things are okay- not any better or worse than on the rispirdal. He takes 1mg twice a day- for the past 19 months and I don't think I will ever go back tk the other kinds of meds.

Brandirose - posted on 06/14/2012

WOW..contribute to stereotypes about the mentally ill much. My daughter and I BOTH take it. It's been a God-send. People don't usually look something up unless there is a problem. I would encourage you not to tell people not to take certain meds until you do the work to become an M.D.

Patty - posted on 08/13/2010

seroquel will not take away Asperger's nor the quirkiness, unless your child is having severe violent rages or excessive anger/hostility or irritability similar to a mood disorder, I would rethink the seroquel..the anxiety and need for control and some frustration will always be there, seroquel is basically an antipsychotic agent used for mania in bipolar mood disorder..there is NEVER a reduction in Asperger's, it's there for life..my AS son is 13, you see it more, not less as they get older..

Marcella (marcy) - posted on 10/24/2009

ritalin is a terrible drug which wears off too fast and decimates their appetites. Without proper nutrition my kids didn't grow as fast as other children. The doctor finally switched my kids to concerta and it has a slow release formula that controls when the kids get the med in their systems. There is a placebo layer which allows the kids to eat at lunch time. They are able to sleep better at night too. My son had to have risperdal added to his meds. It works amazing, you just have to watch out for some side effects. It lasted two years for my son before they had to change it. Seraquil sucks. It helps him sleep but that's all it does.

Jennifer - posted on 10/23/2009

This drug is horrible and I can't IMAGINE a child taking it! I'm in the process of weaning off of this drug which was prescribed to me in combination with others for my bipolar disorder during a breakdown. I was on 400mg at night and I've slowly worked down to 150mg and counting. I'm still very fat.. never been fat in my life and I hope I can get back down to my normal weight after this. BTW it also shot up my cholesterol (typical) and now I have to take thyroid medication for hypothyroidism and might have to go on cholesterol lowering drug at the age of 36???. Thanks Seroquel!

Samantha - posted on 10/23/2009

hi i know that at one point in my life my dr. wanted me to take seroquel, for my mood swings. well the only thing i saw in me as an adult taking that was that i sleept real good at night and i wanted to eat. well i took my self off of it but please do not do that to ur child have a dr. do it for yall. that kind of meds are for plp who are crazy... like hear voices in their heads crazy. it also took me monthes be4 i could fall asleep by my self. also my child was just dignose with Asperger/adhd.. the only thing she takes is concerta for school.. and when she get home she is pretty much wild and cant understand things. but what im still learning is that the only thing you can do is make sure they look you in the eyes and tell him what he need to do. be stern but also kind. their is nothing out their for are kids. so we can only hang in their.. and i have trouble also all the time. but i just try to take a deep breath and say to my self she is a child and she cant help it . and some times just for fun ,,, all just act like her.. be loud laugh run around act like a kid again.. at that seems to help b/c then after she just want to lay with me and relax. so if i was you i wld deff tell my child dr, to take him/her off of seroquel.

Gina - posted on 10/22/2009

My son has been on Seroquel for about two years now - so far it has proven to be fairly workable in combination with Namenda and Trileptal. We want him off the Serogquel, but when we took him off his mood was worse and he was more defiant. When he is on Seroquel he is cheery and smiles much more. He is on a pretty low dose, 50 mg at night only.

Heather - posted on 10/16/2009

I have a 13 year old son with Asberger's and ADHD- I resisted putting him on medication for a long time, but it became inevitable. We tried non- stimulant meds (Concerta, Straterra) with little success. Right now, he is on Adderall XR, which seems to be helping him. The side effects of Adderall can include weight loss and heart palpitations (among other things) so his doctor monitors him closely. I also keep him on a diet that completely excludes anything bleached (like sugar and flour- we buy the natural cane sugar, and unbleached flour, wheat bread, things like that) and that seems to make a difference as well. I've heard that some parents have had success with a gluten- free diet. I try to keep his medication at as low a dosage as possible. We've been fortunate to find a doctor that understands my concerns with medication, and works with us. Best of luck to you!!

Deborah - posted on 10/15/2009

That medicine was a nightmare with my son! It made him unresponsive and very warm and when the medicine did wear off, he was a total monster (unable to control attitude, actions, responses).

Karen - posted on 10/15/2009

Seroquel did not work well for my son. We went to risperdal, but he gained weight much too quickly. Now he is on abilify and a small dose of zoloft. The doctor tried to take him off the zoloft, with terrible results. We tried numerous medications for the ADD component, but they all either made him anxious, or did nothing at all.

Before medication, my son's anxiety had swelled so much that he couldn't bear to go to school. He has had a long, hard road. Now he is 13 and maturing so much. He still has a long way to go, but I look at where we've been and I'm so proud of him.

If the medication the psychiatrist prescribed is not helping, then I would insist on trying something else. I have been blessed with a wonderful doctor for my son who is willing to make adjustments to find what works, and keeps kids on the lowest dose possible to get the needed results. If your doctor won't work with you, it's time to find another.

Amber - posted on 10/14/2009

I have not tried Seroquel but my son is 16 with Asperger's and we have seen aot of difference with a combination of things. He is on Zoloft for his OCD part and Abilify for the Aspergers part and we have recently finished biofeedback it is a conterversial procedure of retraining the brain but we got amazing results while still keeping his quirky fun behaviors. It has all helped to improve his quality of life. It has definately been trial and error to find the right mix of medications doctor and therapist. It is all overwhelming but as the mom we are the ones who really see and deal with all the childrens behaviors. I wish you the best and am happy to chat if ever you need a sympathetic ear.

Christine - posted on 10/14/2009

My son has aspergers. He does NOT do well with any kind of stimulent medication. We tried Ritilin....and even the 'non stimulating' straterra. Made him CRAZY!!!!! He took Clonidine for a year or so and that helped but then didn't work anymore. He then took Tenex, which was good for about a month...then stopped working, as well as made him urinate a lot. Now we are on Rispirdal. Life is now better. Although he has gained 10 pounds....he is sooo much better. No meds come without possible side effects. Even tylenol. You have to research....trust your doc....and treat the symptoms...not his/her 'label'. It is hard to make these choices....but i realized my son was miserable feeling 'out of control' and in trouble all the time. The meds make him feel better. Good Luck.

Tanya - posted on 10/12/2009

i have two boys now 14 and 11 that are on the autism spectrum. the oldest was put on about 25 different meds with in a year year and a half i now have him on almost all suppliments it took alot of research but he is no longer a zombie. It's worth the time and effort he is starting to transition into public school for the first time since preschool. the 11 year old even though they have the same disorder is so different he has adhd as well was on several different adhd drugs the only one that seems to have any effect is called focalin he is also on alot of suppliments but he hasn't been sick in almost three years with anything(knock on wood).

Jodie - posted on 10/12/2009

Hi, I have 2 boys. 1 has Aspergers and the other has ADHD. I am trying 2 find a different medication from what they are on currently as they dont eat a lot of food when they are on the medication and it does not seem 2 be helping my Aspergers child at all. do u have any feedback u could help me with on Ritalin if you have tried it please.

Bethany - posted on 10/11/2009

i dont know about that one, my kid takes adderall, he goes all day with no appetite, the school is having a field day, hes only 6

Heidi - posted on 10/09/2009

I hate to say this about a med but it was absolutly AWFUL....My sweet loving son was no longer there while on the med and I took him off after 2 weeks of it...What a nightmare.

Cheryl - posted on 10/09/2009

I find that it varies with the child, and I don't believe that any drug really treats Aspergers - maybe some "quirks" but....I have identical twin 13 yo sons - one with aspergers, the other with PDD-NOS. So very different personality wise. One takes concerta - which helps the adhd, but is very introverted. The other got very aggresive on the adhd meds, so he is on prozac - which helps SOME with the anxiety - but still has focusiing problems. Very bright - but because of the focus issues he doesn't retain as much as he could.- which is very frustrating. Iwish there was something else that worked for him... Yea, the "interesting" remarks are always "nice" (?) (I guess better than complaints - lol) but it is very overwhelming/frustrating. I know it saddens me at times (many) that they will never have the relationship with other kids that "normal" kids have - emotionally immature and I am guessing the gap wiill grow. I just hope they can live a semi normal life as adults...Day by day is the only thing I can say. Sadly, I feel better when I see someone else whose childs abilities are less than my kids - i count my blessings then...See if there are any support groups in the school.

Christine - posted on 10/09/2009

I have an aspi son (8) and i spent every day sooo overwhelmed!!! My son takes rispirdal now. NO sleepiness....and he is still quirky. However.....he is easier to transition. He doesn't have those mood swings anymore. He is more predictible. Life for all of us is better. GOod luck.

Christine - posted on 10/09/2009

It is very hard to make the choice to medicate your child. Sometimes however...it is unevitable. We tried a few soft meds for my son (8 with aspergers). Things helped a little....but then stopped or weren't enough. He is on rispirdal now for three months. He has gained 10 pounds. That part is unfortunate. But our lives are better. His life is better. How happy can a child be when he is in trouble ALL the time. I have more of my child now. So....don't write off meds completely. If you find your child needs it....you need to find the right doc as much as the right medication. Good Luck.

Christina - posted on 10/07/2009

my son was on it and all it did was made him in a bad mood at school and at home when he got off of it his attitude got alot better and he was happier. there is no medicne for autism and i found that out, plus seraquel is intended for adults my son was on it when he was 6 and im glad hes off of it.

Kristy - posted on 10/07/2009

My daughter has been on everything you can think of!!! 21/2 yers ago I took her off all meds and I tell you she is 100% better!!! The seroquel is a horrible drug...they give this med to crazy murderers on death row to calm them down!!!! I know a few people with bi-polar disorder that also have to take this med. All it does is sedate your child it does not help with the Aspergers at all!!! All these meds do is mask problems to make it easier for teachers and parents to deal with!!!! Good Luck!!!

Donna - posted on 10/06/2009

NO! IT DIDNT WORK AND IT MAKES THEM GAIN ALOT OF WEIGHT!!! IN A VERY SHORT TIME 2 WEEKS TIME !