ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression?

Kathleen - posted on 06/08/2012

Dear Ashley,
Your child has classic PANDAS symptoms. Look at the website pandasnetwork.org. Please check this out. You may really be on the wrong path with these drugs. Your child may have a hidden infection that is affecting behavior. Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, OCD, ADHD, are commonly symptoms of this condition. My son had it, and now he is fine thanks to a tonsillectomy and LOTS of antibiotics to clean out the bugs. We are also on a GFCF diet. He is all better now!
Best,
Kathleen

Kathleen - posted on 06/08/2012

Dear Lorrie,
I BEG OF YOU to read the book Saving Sammy by Beth Maloney, and go straight to your pediatrician to have a blood test taken that measures your sons antibody level to Strep A. The tests are ASO, Anti-Dnase B, and Streptozyme. It might also be beneficial to check for Mychoplasma. These are not expensive tests, and your son might just need antibiotics to get back on track, and NOT psychotropic drugs while his brain is still developing. Please please look into PANDAS. It sounds like a classic case. My son had it, and he is better now, thanks to a tonsillectomy and Zithromax. Best, Kathleen

Ashley - posted on 06/07/2012

I am a mother of one boy. He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 4. My son is now 8. He started on concerta and then to Vyvanse. The Vyvanse was fine until we couldnt afford it anymore. Now hes getting suspended from school, suicidal thoughts, and out of control. His teacher said she has been teaching for 15 years and has never seen a child so angry, wanting to crawl out of his skin. He has extremely high anxiety,anger,and compulsive behavior. What type of medication or other ideas other than medication does anyone think that works? He will be seen soon for an overall assessment on his behavior and i wanted to have some sort of medications in mind that would help with all his symptoms.We will be getting new insurance soon and an appt. too. Does anyone have any ideas?

Kathleen - posted on 08/07/2011

Please look into PANDAS. I think it might be the answer for your child! Here is a letter I wrote to a mother here on the site.

The absolute FIRST THING I would do is to have your child thoroughly checked for strep, using a blood test. There is a condition out there that most people in the medical community are unaware (or in denial) of called PANDAS. That stands for pediatric autoimmune neurological disorder associated with strep. I really really hope you will heed this message, because it could be an explanation and it could prevent you from giving your child medications that will simply mask the problems, but not solve the root of them, which may be due to STREP A. My oldest son (who is currently 9) had this condition, and he is completely cured now due to antibiotics. It sounds weird, but just like with Rheumatic Fever, one's antibodies go nuts, but with PANDAS instead of attacking the joints and heart valve, for some reason the antibodies go up to the basil ganglia and affect learning or behavior. More boys than girls have this reaction, and every kid has different symptoms, which can look like some or all of the following: tics, anger issues or emotional instability, anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, ODD, fine motor problems leading to sloppy handwriting, problems with math...that is all I can think of right now. The key question is: HAS YOUR CHILD ALWAYS been this way, since birth, or did it start at a particular time (like when he or she was exposed to strep, probably unbeknownst to anyone)? My son had had chronic strep with NO SYMPTOMS, and when we had his tonsils removed, all of the strep was hidden deep inside, where antibiotics cannot reach. Check out the website saving sammy.net. Best of luck on your journey. Here is a list of doctors who treat PANDAS: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=23... I will pray for you and your child, and I hope you get this message. I am sorry for your suffering, when it feels like you are "losing" your child, but there is hope out there. Our son also had suicidal thoughts, and we had no idea where they had come from. This is also common with PANDAS. (A child may feel that way because he or she cannot control their bad behavior.) All of our son's behavior issues are completely gone now, with his antibiotic treatment. Check out a PANDAS doctor and maybe they can help! The few specialists who are really into this say that they are certain that there are many many kids out there who have been misdiagnosed as having ADHD and other conditions, but that they are really PANDAS kids. Your case sounds classic. Try to find a specialist. Check out the book Saving Sammy.
Sincerely, Mommo

Kelly - posted on 08/09/2010

no. my son is 9 and he has all the same problems and he is taking a new medication that helps all his problems that means depression,anxitey,and adhd.I never heard of a chid taking prozac adults yes cause i used to take it and it made me really sick.So maybe i could suggest what my son takes it is called intuniv.you could look it up and find out the information on it.

Sandy - posted on 08/09/2010

Two of my boys are ADHD and have anxeity. They are both taking concerta and citalopram. It has worked great and with therapy for both of them (16&8yrs old) they are learning relaxation and calming techniques so they can deal with the anx. better. It has been life changing for all of us.

Lorrie - posted on 08/08/2010

well, we took Austin in to see a psychologist and he is being tested for a PDD, He is on concerta in the morning and ritalin in the afternoon and he is also having issues of not sleeping which he goes in for a sleep study next week. My poor little guy is going through so much I feel so bad for him..

Yvonne - posted on 08/01/2010

Six does seem young!! But, I have three boys with ADHD...two take meds for depression and anxiety. One started Zoloft in 4th grade, the other in 5th/6th grade. Alot of other things occur concurrently/frequently with ADHD, among them depression, anxiety and learning differences....BUT, I would make sure he's seeing a very good psychiatrist who can follow him, his meds, and see him regularly to make sure things are going well. Most pediatrician would not even THINK about administering these types of meds to children, they aren't as qualified or up to date on the side effects of the drugs, and interactions.....hope this helps....

Joni - posted on 07/29/2010

Hi! My son acted way younger then his actual age. he can go from topic to topic in a blink of the eye. we could be talking about science and then out of the blue he will make a comment about spongebob.. just an example. He meds help when he takes them lol.. Zoloft seems to help a lot. He still has mood swings but they are not so bad. Socially he has no friends.. but he does fine not having any.. I know that sounds weird..

Paula - posted on 07/29/2010

Hi I hear you I have a daughter that is 9 years old. She was diagnosed with ADHD when she was about 3 along at the time with a sleeping disorder. Now she is also diagnosed with anixety and depression. Her doc told me that these two can run hand in hand with ADHD. So she is now on concerta and Zolf and is doing better with the mood swings. Socially though she is not changing and just curious does your child tell alot of stories that are like off the charts?? But yes the medican did help her with it she worries so much and this calms her.

Joni - posted on 07/26/2010

My Son has ADHD, Anxiety disorder and depression. We see a specialist for all this meds and we have just started to go to see a counselor but don't make it there very often. He is 12 and we have pulled him out of school and we are virtually online schooling our 2 older boys. He is on concerta and he takes a very high dose. Seeing a specialist will help with all the meds questions you have. and to get a proper diagnose too

Dawn - posted on 07/21/2010

You can also try switching his ADHD meds. Our son had the same reactions to Vyvanse. I insisted the Dr. put him back on a Ritalin family medicine (he's been on meds for 7 years). He only agreed if we also went to a psychologist for Depression. The summer with the psychologist was GREAT for his social skills, but the Depression went away within 2 weeks of switching to Concerta. I'd try that as a first line before adding the Prozac. You'll know within a week or two if the Concerta had anything to do with it.

Rebekki - posted on 07/18/2010

My son has been on Prozac since he was about 7, and he is now 11. We started im on it fr reactie depresson, he doesn't have depresson all the time. He get ornery when we try to raise the dose, so we have kept him at 10mg. I couldn't deal with his moodiness when we tried raising it to 20mg. That is the only side effect that he has had with that particular medication. We just changed from Prozac because I don't think it is helping much any more because his anxiety is getting the best of him lately.

My son has Aspergers on top of the ADHD so that is his social problem. I suggest getting your son in some sort of counseling, it has helped me and my son so much I can't even tell you. I think it is important for the children to have some outside perspective andhelp, even if it through the school counselor.

KELLY - posted on 07/18/2010

Was this the child's pediatrician or a psychiatrist? If it was the regular doc i would take him to a doctor that specializes in this ,such as a psychiatrist. They are much more verse in this kinda stuff and would know the best medication your son should be on.