Zyprexa | ADHD Information

My daughter was on concerta and guanfacine (Tenex). The guanfacine helps with defiance, hyperactivity, calming and sleep issues. My daugter takes it am and pm and after school (when she has a socially challenging activity planned). The combo of a positive reinforcement behavior plan and guanfacine have really curbed the rages. Success in school has also contributed. We are currently trying the guanfacine alone (I do not know if it will be enough long term for school).

My daughter is 11-1/2 years old and recently over the last several months has been having major problems with rebounding especially at night.  So what is happening is the Daytrana patch she takes comes off say - 8:00pm and she takes a Zyprexa for the psychotic behaviors she exhibits from the rebound - major meltdowns, screaming, hitting, throwing things, crying, mood swings, etc.  At 9:00pm she is starving and will eat a full meal.  Now I've noticed that she looks as if she's gained weight and put her on the scale and she has gained 13 lbs in the 2 weeks she has been taking it regularly.    I tried taking the patch off earlier last night and gave her the Zyprexa and she was constantly hungry. 

I'm thinking we need to do something else but I don't know what that "something else" is.  She took Risperdol a year or so ago but this was more when she just wouldn't sleep - before we started having major meltdowns.  When we found the dose that worked her stomach hurt.  So we used Melatonin and that worked for a while to help her sleep but it doesn't help with the meltdowns at all.

If anyone has information on what works for them, I'm open to suggestions.  At this point I am not happy with the side effects of the Zyprexa.  To gain that much weight that quickly is a big "no" in my book.

Thanks

Thanks.  Does your duaghter take the Tenex with the concerta and then what time at night?  Are there are side effects with the Tenex to be concerned with?  Again, thanks for your note.

My daughter was taking 27mg concerta with 2mg guanfacine in the morning (around 7) and 2mg about an hour before bed, with a 1/2mg after school as needed. This week we stopped the concerta as a trial to see if the guanfacine alone is enough. Shire has done studies on guanfacine alone for ADHD and will be doing more studies on ADHD plus defiacnce. Guanfacine is a blood pressure med that needs to be increased and decreased slowly to avoid issues with blood pressure. Here are some articles for your reference:

http://www.depression-guide.com/guanfacine.htm

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-11/pn-sao111606. php

http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/topic/detail/drug/hw164961/ detail.htm

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