Update - 5 year old ADHD/PDD/Anxiety | ADHD Information

Hi,

I wanted to share an update on my son.  I feel like I am getting to see the very best of my son.  Life is much more settled.  For the first time in years, I'm caught up on laundry, house cleaning, phone calls, etc.  This afternoon, my husband and I got to sit on the patio and chat while our son played around with a ball - without relentlessly whining, complaining, or begging us to join him.  All day, he played nicely with his younger brother.  My husband and I have seen glimpses of this over the past few months that we've been trying meds, but nothing this profound.  What a thrill!

A brief background: after two years of behavior modification, exposure therapy, and a sensory diet, my husband and I decided to explore meds for our son.  I  wouldn't describe him as an agitated child, but it had reached a point where his inattentiveness, unsafe choices, mood swings, and excessive energy level disrupted every day life - for him and us.  His psychiatrist prescribed Risperdal (.25/3xday).  It definitely took things down a notch or two, as she promised.  It wasn't the magic bullet, though - as she warned us. It did make it clear that the root of the agitation was his adhd symptoms. 

So, in January we added Ritalin (5mg/2xday) to Risperdal.  At first we saw mild improvement in his ability to focus.  For the first time since the school year started, he was able to do his "homework" (he's in Kindergarten, so it's not particularly demanding) from start to finish.  He was still extremely hyperactive while on Ritalin.  As the month wore on, the  improvement in his focus dropped off.  We bumped up the dosage, but that worsened the hyperactivity. 

In February we switched to Adderall (2.5mg 2xday)and Risperdal.  We decreased the Risperdal dose (only 2xday).  The  first day, he fell asleep in the middle of the day.  After a couple of days, the sedative effect wore off and a focused, relaxed, attentive child who makes age-appropriate choices emerged.  I've actually been able to use behavior modification over the past couple of weeks.  :)  It hasn't  been a perfect transition, though.  During the first week, his face brokeout in a pimply rash.  (That has receded).  Worse,  was sometimes he seemed sad, crying over things he'd normally brush off.  The psychiatrist switched him  to Adderall XR, the extended release  formula, in the hopes that he might not experience the same peaks and valleys. 

As for the Risperdal,  I'd to take him off it altogether.  I do understand why the doctor prescribed it.  My son's adhd is not straight-forward.  He was given a working diagnosis of PDD-NOS by a neuropsychologist and developmental pediatrician.  On the other hand, Risperdal seems to normally be indicated for children who are angry or raging.  Although my son WAS angry and stormy when I brought him to the psychiatrist in December, he's more typically what I'd describe as open to suggestions and interventions, capable  of going with the flow.  The  psychiatrist said that she can wean him off Risperdal, see how he does on the Adderall XR alone. 

It blows me away to think of the knowledge base I've acquired about diagnosis, interventions, and psychiatric drugs!  What a long road.  Thanks for listening, and I hope that sharing my story helps!

 

 

Thanks for the update on your beautiful child. Also, thank you for sharing your knoweledge and demonstrating how once again, effective treatment allows the child quality of life as well as the family unit. It is a long road but when you start to make the right turns, good and positive things really start to happenWhat wonderful news!  It's amazing when it all comes together isn't it? I remember thinking "Wow, this is how parenting is supposed to be!"  When we got the meds right all of the behvior modification we tried before started to actually work.  He was able to listen (I mean really listen) and think before he acted.  I remember thinking "Oh so these parenting techniques actually DO work!" Because they never did before.  Most importantly, my son's true nature was allowed to come out.  He turned into a happy well adjusted boy!  I hope your good fortune continues! All your hard work is paying off 

Awsome! We started the med journey in January, too. I hope and pray that I can write a similar post soon. Best wishes that all continues to go well for your little guy!