HELP US! MEDICATION FOR ASPERGERS CHILD

Mimi - posted on 10/09/2011

Respidol seems to be the choice to calm children with ASD. How ever it did not agree with my daughter and she was taken off the meds immediately. She is now 19 and is on Prozac ( OCD and anti depressant) and clonazipam as needed for really bad days. I doubt they will give a seven yr old these meds but I don't know for sure. OCD and anxiety seems to accompany kids with autism, unfortunately.

Emily - posted on 10/09/2011

Nameda is a savior for our 5 year old son. It has helped him focus in school and at home, plus we have less fights and meltdowns from him.

Renee - posted on 11/05/2010

i deal with this with my 11 year old daughter she has been in parkwood behavioral hospital 3 times within 4 months and i cant find anything to work.i know where your coming from.because she really acts out at school and some at home when she doesnt egt her way.

Shelly - posted on 10/12/2010

Nicole pretty much has it nailed, especially the first part of her post. I take Wellbutrin, but it is mostly for depression. I've been drugged over and over and over by well-meaning parents and doctors, but it doesn't work anywhere near as well as a solid routine does.

Bridgette - posted on 10/07/2010

I am also goin the path of ocupational theraphy and a psychologist and am about to attempt eliminating his diet, medication's are/would be a LAST resort for me.

Bridgette - posted on 10/07/2010

WOW, Im a single mum and this is EXACTLY where I am at, my youngest is constantly at his grandparents for his safety and my sanity but it also tears my heart out, I am so grateful to find this post

Jennifer - posted on 02/15/2010

Have you tried occupational therapy? My son has had O/T for almost 3 years now, and we have been taught techniques to nip the bad behavior.

Grainne - posted on 02/11/2010

My son is 10 yrs and I have him going to play therapy once a week, where he feels safe and can play and talk about what he wants or what is upsetting him. It relaxes him and makes him feel very special. The therapist is trained to work with children and learn through play. I find he is not as aggressive as he was, he is sharing more and caring more. and hav found that when he is getting upset he can verbally tell me what is going on with him.
I will prob keep this going for a couple of years, to help him through his teenage years, as they are so traumatic.
I hav not felt the need (maybe once when he was having tough time in school / esp his attention and concentration v. poor), but the school seem to be coping and so is he for the moment.
How about massage therapy once a week.? something to think about. I also found that the swimming pool was great place to bring him as he would be so relaxed when he came out.
good luck, you hav your hands full but you will cope and laugh later on...

Kelly - posted on 02/09/2010

Routine, routine, routine! Found the OASIS guide to Aperger very helpful also. Routines are verrrrrrrrry important to our children; also, sensory integration disorder may be contributing and learning his language patterns will lessen frustration for all. We found some lessoning of the behaviors by going gluten free; anger and rage more in control when maintaining a casein/milk free diet. Gluten and casein are metabolized differently by many of our kids. Today we have many options at the local supermarkets - not difficult to maintain, but it is a commitment worth making if you and your family obtain a level of peace. Quiet place of his control can also be helpful. Medicines are trial and error, you may ramp up the very behaviors you are trying to tamp down. GOOD LUCK!

Sara - posted on 02/09/2010

Thats great that those supplements work for your sons I tried that with my son it didnt do anything for him. My son did gain weight with the risperdal but I keep him active. I also make him eat healthy foods because he will eat all day if I let him. You have to do whats right for the kids in my case its presciption drugs in your its natural supplements

Tanya - posted on 02/09/2010

i wouldn't recommend risperdal, my soon gained wieght at an alarming rate due to this drug, he is on geodone for any rage/anger issues and it seems to help with out any other side effects. do some research on supplements, i have two boys with autism to varying degrees both take supplements rather then meds(folic acid, DMG, melatonin, omega 3's) they are much healier then they were when they were on prescribtions to control their symptoms.

Sara - posted on 02/08/2010

My son is also 7 he is on Resperadall/for his mood its for autistic children. He is also on Meditate whichn is for hiss anxeity and ADHD. He cant take anything in the Prozact family makes him wild and very physical. My son had those same issues about year and 1/2 ago. Its no fun at all U think your alone but your not it took me awhile to figure this out. My son is in a very good place now. We still have days where he is off but Im pretty good at knowing hi trigger points. We also have to monitor his meds with his dr. Every 6 months we have to go get a med check. My son has been on all sorts of meds its trial and error. Not fun when 1 drug doesnt work or u have to give it a week to kick in. Long road but Im glad he is on meds now our he wouldnt be able to function in school

Patti - posted on 02/08/2010

I do agree with the vitamins, but I would go isotonic!! you drink these vitamins on an empty stomach and receive 90-95% of the vitamin!! Both of my kids have bin on these since birth.

Kelly - posted on 02/07/2010

We had my daughter on Risperidal for 2 years with very little improvement. There was also a huge weight gain for her on it. I debated her doctors over and over saying I wanted her off. She was over sedated and lost most of her personality. Finally a few months ago I literally threatened the doctor with lawyers and malpractice for putting her health in danger (she gained 73 lbs in those 2 years). He finally agreed and took her off...we are now trying other meds that really seem to be working. Her anxiety is gone she is already losing the weight and she has become much more social.
I would advise anyone thinking of trying risperidal on their children to really research the drug. Not only is weight gain an issue...there is also a law suit pending because its been found to cause breast growth in boys. There is also a condition (my daughter suffered from this too) called galacteria. This is basically fluid leaking from the breast tissue. Imagine a young boy or girl having to deal with that on top of aspergers or any other issues.

Julie - posted on 02/06/2010

I'm surprised to hear so many kids have been put on risperidal. I take a very similar medication for anxiety - and I can tell you this - these are medications of absolute total last resort - and I don't even see why anyone would consider it for a child ever.
Risperidal is a major tranquilliser - generally used as an antipsychotic to treat schizophrenia. It has some extreme nasty side effects.

I'm guessing most of you are from the USA, because last time I checked (which admittedly was more than a year ago), Risperidal was only approved for schizophrenia and bipolar mania in Australia and wasn't approved for use in children.

I mean seriously... I would not put any child on this medication unless they were suffering severe psychoses - and even then I would be reluctant.

I mean, I know what an aggressive child is like - my daughter is becoming more aggressive as she gets older. But I would never put her on risperidal EVER.

I have seen what it can do to an adult (I have had several friends and a housemate on Risperidal and it's not pretty).

I also know what the similar medication I take can do - it can cause spasms, massive weight gain, hypersomnia and many other nasty things. And risperidal has all those as side effects too.

I wouldn't put any child on that sort of medication - I wouldn't take a similar medication myself if I hadn't tried every other class of medication for my anxiety first (eg all the dozens of antidepressents/anxiety drugs, the minor tranquillisers eg valium).

People are too quick to throw medications at autistic spectrum disorder (and ADHD etc too). Don't get me wrong... I'm not against medications in general - I'm a nurse and trained as a psychologist before that. I just think too many people throw medication at a problem that can be solved with behavioural interventions and natural therapies.

Kelly - posted on 02/06/2010

I tried the vitamins but they were still not enough for my daughter. Her doctor has been trying different meds. Its a trial and error thing to find the right med at the right dose or right combination of meds. She is currently taking mood stabilizers which have helped her greatly. The anxiety she had actually would stop her from being able to function and this is just about gone now. Just become very educated on any meds the doctors may want to prescribe and any possible side effects.
From what I have learned...Aspergers does not necessarily present alone..In many cases it comes with add/adhd, bipolar disorder etc. So I had spent many hours learning all I can about each other possible diagnosis to figure make sure we are treating her correctly.

Nicole - posted on 02/05/2010

ok i know i have posted befor about meds to many people are telling you to artificiall numb the symptoms the side effects are not worth it three days ago i started my boy who is nine diagnosed with adhd aspergers odd pdd ocd on gaba and spectrum dha with plant based omega threes plus no apple gluten and minimize milk within the three days of the gaba and spectrum product he was able to get himself up in the morning get his own clothes on look for the bus and get himself on the bus he has not sworn hit tor was defient he has followed me directions and hasnt needed redirection try gaba google it and go to wikepedia it helps kids who are changing from adolecenthood to adault hood aka puburty it helps regrow and stimulate brain cells i dont know but this has been a miracle for me he has never gotten himself ready befor or been responsive to me

Bonnie - posted on 02/05/2010

My son was put on the rispiradone and it put him in hospital, he was so lethargic that he was asleap nearly all day, then he woke up and his nose was bleeding and he couldn't breath, saliva was just pouring from his mouth, it was so horrible, i'm definatly avoiding any medication after that happened. I have had alot of success with all the early intervension programs, visuals, routines, I find its much better to control his behavour with a very strict predictable routine, now he is setteling into school great and much better with his little sisters

Angela - posted on 02/04/2010

My son is almost 17 now. He was diagnosed with Aspergers when he was four. He has been on many different medications over the years, but the one that worked the best and for the longest time was Prozac. There are many different things that you can try. I would consult with your son's doctor.

Ana - posted on 02/04/2010

My son is 4 years ols with Autism. whes he was 2 they sid he is a tipical authistc child and now accept that he still doesn't talk, they can't believe the progress. We started DAN - Defeat authism now program and bioresonace and we went through hell (financially and psychologically - but it was worth it - today strangers don't even notice there is something different abot him. We decited to first clean him from toxins (with gluten lactose and sugar diet - as suggested by DAN doctor and bioresonance specialist and some aditives) and it worked. now we can begin with social classes, as he is more willing to cooperate, more calm (he was extremely hiperactive) and willing to comunicate with others.



I hope i helped a little.

Kylie - posted on 02/04/2010

Did he get ABA therapy at all when he was younger? I did see that a doctor at Yale recently did a study on Risperdal for children with autism and is supposed to help with anxiety and behaviors. They did recommend giving it even though there are some side effects that occured for some children. I believe they say it is good to use the medication in conjunction with ABA therapy because it helps the child be able to get the most out of the therapy. I believe the doctors name is Fred Volcner or Volcmar. I can get the correct name and spelling if you would like. I would ask my pediatrician about it. It is a new study so a regular pediatrician may not feel comfortable prescribing it. Maybe try a physicologist (not sure if spelled right!). Good luck!

Sharon - posted on 02/04/2010

My son has aspergers also and has been prescribed rispiradol for his agression. We find it works very well. Side effects can be an increase in weight. There are also medications available for anxiety but I dont know the names. Your doctor should be able to give you some help on this. I hope this helps.Sharon

Natasha - posted on 02/04/2010

Hi Chantelle, my son is 8, was diagnosed with high functioning autism but his symptoms are more like aspergers. He has had multiple (around 20 in 2 years) school suspensions for violence, usually hitting with or without props and kicking. It didn't really matter who it was either. It could be a teacher or a kid or us. We found what worked for our son was cutting out certain artificial colours, preservatives and flavours, as well as going Gluten Free and Dairy Free. A lot of kids get improvements just from dropping the artificial additives but for us we needed to go the whole hog and cut out a certain fruit and veg too. It's a really strict diet but it works. We boost the effects with plain epsom salts baths every couple of days, as well as acidophilus tablets (like inner health plus) with breakfast and dinner. If you're interested, have a look at www.fedup.com.au. Sue Dengate talks about the 'FAILSAFE' diet which is what we're on. Hope you find what works for you. Natasha

Mimi - posted on 02/02/2010

clondine is being used on my daughter for nightime sleep. She has had stuggles since the 4th grade with anxiety etc. We did not get an answer until she was close to 16 that she had Aspergers. I was curious since you said the clondine was used during the day.

Lisa - posted on 02/02/2010

Hi Chantelle, I really feel your pain. One of the things we have done is strip all chocolate and food dyes from his diet. He has issues still, but they are not as intense. He's dramatically improved. We haven't added anything to his diet, just stripped away. Several friends have done the same and we have had tremendous success.

Sarah - posted on 02/02/2010

Hi I have a daughter who is 14 and she was diagnosed at 7 with ASD. She also has anxiety. Her paediatrician prescribed her Alti-Desipramine ...the same medication Temple Grandin takes and she was noticiably calmer within a week and by the months end she was finally smiling and generally a much happier child. She is in a modified program at school and is flourishing and has friends.I am not saying you should do this but it has worked for my daughter.

Sarah - posted on 02/01/2010

I would try to look at the problem as needing to rebalance the chemicals in his body which are causing this behaviour pattern. I found this book really helpful: Gut and Psychology syndrome by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, gives fantastic explanations as to why children with learning disabilities like aspergers behave they way they do and how you can make a difference. Have a look at the reviews on Amazon and see what you think. In the meantime I have found homeopathy invaluable with helping my children with behavioral problems, my life would be so much harder without it, finding the right one is key. Best of luck. x

Kelly - posted on 01/31/2010

My son is turning 11 and has been diagnosed with Aspergers. He was always known as the naughty boy at school. once he was diagnosed I started reading and trying almost anything I could get my hands on. The best solutions that work wonderfully for him is structure. We have white boards up in many places around the house with scheduals and time lines. This gives him the ability to do his jobs without being asked and feeling responsable. Playing games on Playstation for more that 45min he will start showing anger, but have found no problems with the WII playstation as he has to move and his brain responds better. But the best thing for him was making him go on a wheat free diet. We live in a remote area so need to make things ourselves. Spelt bread for lunch, wheat free flour is a great replacement for regular flour and they still get cakes and biscuits. Cant taste the difference. If you buy ready prepared it tastes like cardboard. Make it yourself and the whole family get rewarded. I must say it did take 6 weeks to get it out of his system and a little learning on my part but so well worth it. Preservatives that are in the 200 range (200-299) are known to cause anger in children that are prone to anger problems. I have found this to be true. My son no longer has the naughty boy tag and we have a calm house. What every mother wants. Keep strong. Keep persisting. My son has no drugs because I found what works for him. I hope you can find the same.

Tammy - posted on 01/31/2010

Chantelle,

I totally understand. I have 5 biological boys, ages 14-9 years old, with PDD-NOS that have now been diagnosed asperger's. I thought I would go crazy with all the hitting, scratching, and biting. As soon as Risperdal was approved by the FDA for autism (and it is the only drug actually approved) our doctor put one son on it. It was an amazing change!! After a week, I phoned the doctor and begged for the rest of the boys be put on it. It is a new life now. I carry Risperdal with me for break through behaviors. When the medicinne wears off, you will know it!!! Meltdowns after meltddowns until the next dose. It was after the medicine that the boys were able to be taught social skills and ABA was able to work. I was on my own for 12 years teaching my own children. I put them into a school for autism and peer role models. They just picked up bad behaviors from other students and the staff. I am home schoolin again.

Karen - posted on 01/30/2010

My son is 10, we did the medication thing and it made things worse in a different way, he had so many side effects, couldnt sleep so they put him on a med for sleep. He lost his appetite and guess what they gave him a pill for that. He started to pull his hair out and guess what, yet again another drug. then due to the interactions of the drugs we had to take him for an EKG. after going back to his pediatrician and finding out that one of the drugs was not fda approved for a child under the age of 10 he was 6 or 7 at the time, he hasnt had another pill. quit them all that day. Yes its a challenge and the melt downs and anxiety issues are sometimes unexpected, most aspie moms know when to expect a meltdown, but sometimes you cant. We take things day by day and yes he and his younger sister fight but what siblings dont? He would NEVER intentionally hurt her but still we have to remind him that he is bigger than she is and sometimes that is all it takes sometimes they have to go their rooms, because she likes to fret him too. Basically what I am saying dint be so quick to jump on the medication bandwagon, sometimes it does more harm than good. There really is no med for aspergers only for the symptoms and there is no telling what the med may do to your child, maybe we just had a bad exp. but he was also misdiagnosed up until about a year ago. So I just deal with the problems when they arise and as an aspie mom my biggest job other than being a mom is also being the support person my my baby, and he has taught me so much he is such a blessing. Good Luck and keep praying, that always helps.

Bobbie - posted on 01/30/2010

my daughter was on risperidol adn it worked better then most the other things they had her on it truely helped her with her aggression and her sleeping because she used to stay up all nite. It was one of the better medicines she has been on I hope it works well for you good luck and prayers to you.

Miranda - posted on 01/30/2010

Maybe he might need a place in your house he can go to where he won't be bothered by his siblings. Even if you just place a blanket in a corner on the floor with a few books, or even sit him down with some relaxing music.
Time out to relax is what I use on my 6 year old son who also has 2 younger siblings!

Elanor - posted on 01/30/2010

Hi
I know how you feel!!! My son is 4.5 and only really in the last year started having 'meltdowns' And is now going through diagnoses.
His bad behaviour co-incided with him starting to eat wheat (until then it really upset his tummy) Over the past 2 weeks I have put him back on a wheat free diet, and his behaviour has improved 10 fold!!! he even came home from school with a good behaviour certificate! :D
A lot of ASD mums swear by wheat free and milk free diets. It's got to be worth a go.
We bake bread, and cakes - but shops are getting better at stocking wheat free stuff.
If you did a food diary, and had a symathetic doctor they may even give you a prescription for wheat free foods if his behaviour improved>

Samantha - posted on 01/29/2010

Hi Chantelle My son is now 10 and we have had the same problems that you have talked about. My son is Aspergers,ODD,ADHD, and Anxiety disorder.
We are now trialing Rispiridone 0.5mg a day but weekend I have been using 1mg a day cause he doesnt cope very well with not having the structure of school and having two other siblings things dont always revolve around him as much as he needs it too.
we also use concerta of an evening to help him settle for the night as it is important for them to have the best sleep possible, but before this he found it very hard to fall asleep and if he woke during the night would be awake for lengthy periods, and waking the rest of the house.
It is all trial and error with these kids but if one thing doesnt work for you then dont give up always keep trying one day something will click.
As your child grows you may have to swap or increase meds every couple of yrs.
Psychologists and mental health units are also benificial as it give you someone else to talk to that understands what you are going through and it gives your son someone that he might just open upto a little to understand him a little more.
Good Luck

Rheanna - posted on 01/29/2010

I am wondering how to get an actual diagnosis for Asperger's syndrome. My daughter is diagnosed with Bi polar 1, sensory integration disorder, & ptsd. She is currently on lithium & seroquel. This is a fairly new combo of meds;however it seems to be working moderately well. We are still seeing obvious trouble behaviors here at home, as well as at school. It seems as if we are more equiped to deal w her here than the school is. My daughter is 13 & suspended again.She has an iep;however sometimes it feels like special ed. is a crock. Just needed to vent.Sorry I couldnt be more help to your dilhema.

Lori - posted on 01/29/2010

i notice alot of posts are from those with younger children (preteen) my son was diagnosed at age 16 with asp. all thru school he had the dx of add or adhd and was treated with many meds for these conditions. when he hit puberty we noticed that the meds actually were doing him more harm than good. we triede therapy and that seemed to cause more anxiety than he had before going. we found a wonderful one on one therapist who did not keep him inside a closed room. instead she took him to coffee shops or to the mall and helped him to profile other people and understand what others body language was saying. we also saw a wonderful neurologist who was the one to dx the asp. he did NEUROFEEDBACK. that was an answer to prayer. it works on the brain (noninvasive) they can actually work on focus, anxiety, sleep,etc. my son is in his second semester in college and doing well both academically and socially. please all of you watch your kids very close when they hit puberty. the meds will need to be changed so heads up. (my son was suicidal)

may God bless each of you as you continue to do what is best for your children. i am open to anyone who wants more details on the neuro feedback it was a miracle in our lives.

Yvette - posted on 01/29/2010

He sounds like my son was at his age. His high anxiety levels and what seems to be OCD behavior. My son is now 12. Look into sensory intergration therapy. It helped my son learn how to calm himself. We had a spinner in school from prekindergarden till 3rd grade. Be consistent and use the same tools at home as in school. Use the same verbage too. We tried meds and he had a severe reation to adderal!! So I committed myself to handle this problem without medicine. Try changing his diet too. My son was sensitive to red dye, caffiene, and sugar. My son also responded to Social Stories(google Carol Gray). We found if you use a social story to let him know in advance about a change in his routine. He will resond to the situation more appropriately. Good luck and I will say a prayer for your family:)

April - posted on 01/29/2010

Hi. My son is 8 and is diagnosed as PDD-NOS - a mild form of Autism. In addition he suffers from emotional issues - at age 2 had such violent outbursts he broke our cats leg by throwing him across a flight of stairs into a way. We started mental health therapy and were blessed to get a therapist that totally understood our little guy - he has sensory integration issues, as well as physical disabilities and neurological issues. A long story short - we went to various specialist's in 2 states and were advised to institutionalize him - but his therapist told us she felt he could be helped but to be aware it would be 2 steps forward and sometimes backwards. He is now 8 years old - fully integrated into 2nd grade and functions wonderfully - all with a combination of good therapist, ot, pt, speech therapy and a great psychiatrist treating him with medications (which required alot of trial and error to get the right combination). Our pediatrician is great and we really love him but he told us he was not specialized in these areas and it would be better for a psychiatrist to handle these medication issues. Best of luck to you and yours! PS - Routine, routine, routine - works wonders and is a necessity!

Danielle - posted on 01/28/2010

one thing you might want to talk to your Dr about is Amantadine... it has done wonders for my 8 yr old son... he has been on so many meds and like stated earlier it is a trial and error... every child will react differently to different meds. Xavier was in a residential treatment facility for quiet some time and that seems to be a really good medication for him... not very many doctors like giving it though... i will warn that risperdol has a very serious side effect of tardive dyskinsia... it is a servere involuntary mussle movement disorder... he was DX with it at 5yrs old after being on risperdol for an extended period of time and he still struggles to controll his body... it almost cost him his life... but there are risks with any medicine.. my son has many DXs and i have 2 younger boys and he was very violent not only towards himself but to his brothers as well that is why we choose to medicate him... you do what you feel is right... NEVER let anyone tell you you are a bad parent because you are doing what you feel is best for you family... - that is what i have learned... **HUGS**

Angie - posted on 01/28/2010

Hi! I am the mother of a 9 year old with Aspergers. Over the past two years we have seen so much progress with his behavior. He too was very tempermental and angry all the time. We had him tested for food allergies in Kindergarten and discovered that he had many food allergies. Dairy, soy, beef, citrus, eggs and wheat to name a few. We tried a gluten free diet as of last year along with vitamin therapy and some other homeopathic regimens. We also got him into counseling with a licensed therapist. By the end of second grade the change was tremendous. The counselor was able to provide some coping skills for him to use. The change in diet helped with the hyperactivity. He also has some sensory issues which affect what foods he will try due to texture and smell. Although we are not perfect with the gluten free all the time, we try our best. I have avoided any medications because I am not convinced in our case, that they would be the best solution for our son. I feel very strongly that extra vitamin supplements, especially in the B family have helped his mood and concentration level. I try to read everything I can get my hands on and will continue to do so in hopes of finding other resources that will help get him through his teens. Good luck on your quest and don't give up. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

Cindy - posted on 01/28/2010

My almost 7 year old son has been on Risperdal for close to 2 years now and it has worked great for him. Risperdal is a mood stabilizer and is approved for treatment of children with Autism. It's major side effect is weight gain. I would talk to your doctor about a referal to a child psychiatrist. There are other medications out there but they are NOT a cure-all. The other thing that could be causing the behaviors is your pregnancy. That is a HUGE change and he could be acting out in response to what is going on at home.

Rene' - posted on 01/28/2010

Has he done occupational therapy it really helped my daughter.

Selina - posted on 01/27/2010

I have an 8-yr old with AS. Try the "Brainiums" vitamins from Amway Global. They seem to help. I have not gone into any other biomedical interventions since my son is somewhat manageable. He does need help with focus and anxiety which I believe have improved since being on these.

Carman - posted on 01/27/2010

My 10 yr. old has aspergers, generalized anxiety disorder, ADHD and clinical depression, and 1 older and 1 youger brother, trust me I feel your frustration. To start stable routines and consistency everyday will help ease the anxiety. Make each day as predictable as possible and prepare him as much as possible for any changes in the routine. It will seem utterly boring to you maybe but it allows these kiddos to be able to function with a lower stress level making successes more possible. As far as meds....each child is different. Originally my son was on Prozac, Concerta, Risperadal. Individually they helped but collectively they did more damage. Currently my son is taking Abilify and Guanfacine - Abilify to help with the unstable emotional state and depression that goes hand in hand with aspergers and Guanfacine to reduce the overstimulation. Continue with social skills, try behavioral management and also individual outpatient therapy. Try seeing if your inrance has classes for parents and siblings of children with aspergers especially as your two younger ones get older it was very helpful for my oldest to understand what his brother was going through and why he did the things he did. Whatever you do don't rely solely on meds.....they don't solve the problem but they do assist in allowing your child to be who they are more easily.

Carolyn - posted on 01/27/2010

Concerta is a wonderful medication. My youngest son is 7 and on it. He's not aggressive, or non-compliant, or argumentative anymore since being on it. I wish you the best of luck.

Laurie - posted on 01/27/2010

Does your son get enough of a sensory diet on a daily basis? My son is much calmer when he has had lots of sensory input. An OT can be very helpful. Very clear boundaries that are consistently enforced is also helpful. A picture schedule may help with the anxiety issue. If you find that many of the melt-downs occur in the evening, he may be tired & more incapable of controlling himself. Our doctor recommended using Melatonin shortly before bedtime to settle him down to an earlier bed time. I would also recommend the book "No More Meltdowns" by Jed Baker. It gives lots of insight into the patterns and possible causes of melt-downs.

Sherrie - posted on 01/27/2010

my reply is january 27th i must have pushed wrong button or don't know how to work this witch is probley right

Sherrie - posted on 01/27/2010

Hi my son is 16 we didn't find out till he was 10 that he had aspergers every always told me that it was just behavioral. He's always picking on my other kids also (15,7) You need to get help now the older they get the worse it gets. I don't know if your son is in school but when mine has a bad day at school it makes it worse. He's on risperdall.05mg 4 times a day sometimes more depending on his mood,trileptal 300mg 1 aday and klopin 0.5 1/2 tab morning and a full at night lamtical 200 mg 1 a day and I have also gotten therphy and it seems to help. You will probley have to take him to a psychiatrist to really help him because the other docs really don't know how to treat it my son was on probley 10 drugs before I took him to the psychiatrist and he gets bio-feed back and now theres this home bio-feed back machine called the alpha-stem but you need a doc. permission. This was hard on my first marrage and we got a divorce when my son was 1 so hang in there I know it's hard especially when he picks on the other ones. Read, read read I know your probly getting tired of hearing that but they have new stuff out there all the time. He also has a touch of bi-polar. My mom tells me when I get frustrated If god didn't think you couldn't handle it he wouldn't have given him to you.Beleive me I know how you feel You feel like your walking on egg shells wondering whats going to happen next and when they get to be teenagers it just gets worse. I'm not on here much so if you would like to e-mail me it's sharebear1994@hotmail.com, or sherrie.matthies@yahoo.com I don't know how to chat on here very well so if you do please send an E-mail and we can chat some more if you have a bad day.

Betty - posted on 01/27/2010

Mrs. McKenzie no one can tell you what is right for your child, no one knows him better than you. Between my sister and my self we have 7 children, 6 boys 1 girl ages range from 13 down to 5 four of the boys have been diagnosed with anything from epilepsy, ADHD, ADD, Aspergers, MID and GOD knows what else the best thing I can tell you do to is try what ever it is you might think is best to start with one and go to the next if that one does not work, it is always a trial and error when dealing with meds, I know we have tried everything on my oldest son and some people may think I am crazy but you just have to try and try again to find out what works best for their body chemistry. There is no one child alike so they all have to have different things.... and if your son does not have an IEP get him one asap that will be your key to getting him the help he needs in school, I really do not care for social skills classes because they are a waist of time for some people, but if you find the right teach that he connects with then he needs to be with that teacher because that is one key factor in his learning... My oldest son is the 7th grade and he is in a self contained class where he is with the same people everyday, all day and that has truly helped him, the funny thing is he was not going out for P.E. and one day he was out for a walk with his class and saw the P.E. coach and just walked up to this strange man and started talking to him and my son just does not talk to anyone, so between his teacher and I we found a way to put him in that coaches class during the day and ever since then he have been doing so much better at school, just because he gets to go to coaches class, so if your child makes that kind of connection with one certain person then be mindful of it. also as far as the siblings go we find a way for the to separate when they get home from school most of the time they are together but on the weekends some of them go to granny and grandpas to spend the night friends house what ever just so they all can be away from each other just for a little while and have their own space... I really hope some of this has helped you because I did not have anyone to tell me anything when I had my oldest at 18 years old and we have had to learn the hard way so if you just ever need to talk, cry or just get info give me a shout and I will see what I can do... by the way if you really like your kids pediatrician then that would be the first person I would talk to!!!!!! hope all is well and gets better....

Marlene - posted on 01/26/2010

fluoxetine is generic for prozac- my son is on it for depression. be very aware of him. prozac (our psychiatrist told us) is not always the best for young children and can constantly have to be changed as far as dosage. Prozac can have negative affects on anyone. look for further aggression or depression with this one.