So disgusted right now, need to vent.... Options

[dizneenut]

So our 10 yo hasn't been sleeping but is so tired. He was recently in the hospital for a few days where they did NOTHING to his adderall that he's been on the same dose of 30 mg daily for nearly 2 years. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) Instead, they said he has an anxiety disorder so they gave him Lexapro to take care of that. Ok, so that's starting to work, but still...now today he went to the dr and they gave him ANOTHER anti-depressant for the evening to help him sleep. He's also been scratching a lot lately which now he has scabs from scratching SO much. So they put him on an antibiotic and skin cream (which made him itch more) because they said they ASSUMED it was an outbreak of something.

Now today, the dr said that he's also OCD as well and will probably need another med for that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif)

No one is listening to us and there are no more doctors around for us to visit nor will our insurance cover it if we go somewhere else. I've been reading up on this like crazy and am seeing that too high of a dose of dderall can cause OCD behavior, insomnia (which we knew), and anxiety disorders. So I do NOT understand why they won't just try to lower his adderall dosage to 20 mg per day and not have to put him on more meds????

He's also on Tenex to help with the side effects from adderall which seemed to help for a long time until things got bad now again. That's why I am guessing with his hormones/chemicals changing going through growth spurts, he may have to just have his adderall lowered, stay on the tenex and then we'll be fine. I also mentioned that I'd like to get him off ALL his meds after school's out, starting with the adderall gradually. They didn't like that idea. My thing is...how will we know if he still NEEDS them (or that high of a dosage) if they won't change anything???

Thanks ladies for letting me vent - I'm just unbelievably frustrated and angry right now with the drs that don't seem to want to help our son at all in any way besides throwing more meds into his system.

[momtoJEB]

Nicolelm908, that is just awful! My son took adderal only for a short time as it made him extremely aggressive. Now he takes Metadate CD and we haven't had any negative side effects. Well yet anyway! He also takes Risperdal and other meds for allergies & itching. I feel for you because the runaround is such a dreadfully DRAINING thing!

[nicolelm908]

That's horrible. I think you need to do what's best for your child and if you think he shouldn't be on all those meds. you should take him off (gradually). Have you shown any of the research you've done to the doctor, so (s)he can see what you are talking about?

I'd tell the doctor (s)he needs to find a new way to help your son instead of putting him on so many meds. If he doesn't listen threaten the doctor with a lawsuit, you may not actually have one, but it should make him start listening.

I hope things get better soon. Keep us updated.

[Tammyjh]

I think the hospital experience is pretty typical.....unfortunately. When my dd was in, they didnt' want to touch her meds and just focused on trying to send her home. I also know other families that had similar experiences. We've also had the problem with not being listened to(for almost 15 yrs.) and its very aggravating.

I would tell the dr. that I want him to wean him off the adderall and either give him a med. break or try something else. We're on a med break with dd right now and have been for a few months. We basically see no changes in behavior on or off meds. So, if there isn't a noticeable change, I prefer to keep her off.

Keep researching and push the dr. if you have to. The other alternative is to find someoene else...we've done that quite a bit.
Good luck!!

[dizneenut]

Thank you ladies :) I have so many papers printed out right now for our appointment next week with the doc. You can bet I will be going through each and everything I found about these meds. They just made me feel like I'd be a horrible mom if I took him off meds that he needs...but honestly, we don't know if he needs them!

[my2babies9806]

My son Tanner will be 10 next month, and we had him on Adderall originally, but after 4 months we had to take him off bc he became soooo agressive and violent. He made it up to 20mg and that was that. He was also on all kinds of other meds, but the Adderall really overshadowed anything else. Now he's on 72mg of Concerta, 5mg of Abilify in the morning and 2.5mg in the afternoon, and 200mg of Seroquel at night. This is FINALLY our magic combo after over 3 years of changing meds and doses. He's also FINALLY in Special Ed and has an IEP after 3 years of fighting for the proper testing (whole different story...UGH). I'm sorry you have to endure all this. Unfortunately, doctors tend not to take ADHD and it's accompanying issues very seriously. They either wanna over medicate or not give anything at all. It really is a constant struggle. I hope things get better soon. Do what I did...be VERY vocal and show all your research and do not let them dismiss you. No one knows your child like you do. Don't let them act like they do. Good luck!!

[my2babies9806]

Any new updates? How have things been going? My son's Abilify was just raised to 10mg in the am and 5mg at 4pm. I'm sorry you were having such a rough time. I hope things are getting better.

[dizneenut]

Any new updates? How have things been going? My son's Abilify was just raised to 10mg in the am and 5mg at 4pm. I'm sorry you were having such a rough time. I hope things are getting better.

Yep :) I have posted a few update posts on the forum. He's down to 5mg of Adderall twice a day, .5mg Tenex twice a day, 5mg Lexapro in the morning, and 25mg Elavil at bedtime. Once we get the Adderall at the perfect amount, we're working getting off the Lexapro, then Elavil. Slowly, but surely we're getting somewhere!
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[lovemyboysandabb...]

I'm glad they are finally starting to adjust his meds!! :)