Re: Digest Number 1803

[Guest guest]

designs wrote:

> Neuro-typical.

> aka " normal "

>

Which, as we all know, is only a setting on the dryer.

Annie, who loves ya annie@...

--

I am here to live out loud. -- Emile Zola

[Guest guest]

lol .

Re: Re: Digest Number 1803

designs wrote:> Neuro-typical.> aka "normal"> Which, as we all know, is only a setting on the dryer. :)Annie, who loves ya annie@...-- I am here to live out loud. -- Emile Zola

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure if it's a need or inability -- my little guy will still be

running as hyper at 9pm as he is at 7am, long after I'm in need of sleep LOL

I've been told both, and maybe it depends on the child. I don't force mine

to sleep during the day, it wouldn't work and would just add to the already

existent anxiety.

Since ds has been taking clonidine (melatonin didn't work) his behaviors

during the day have improved. We had to give it several weeks to build to

efficacy levels, and between the effects of the med itself, and the added

sleep (getting closer to 'normal' sleep hours than ever before), we see

changes during the day.

Donna

Re: Re: Digest Number 1803

>

>>

>>

>> I'm not , but I've learned in the last few months (and I guess

>> since birth, since he was never a 'good' sleeper) that spectrum

>> children have less need for sleep than NT kids.

>>

> I'm curious here. Is this truly a " need for less " sleep or an inability

> to sleep? My DS is always tired. And he sleeps terribly. From everything

> I see with him is that he just can't wind down enough to sleep. I chalk

> his up to anxiety. Our Developmental pediatrician has said that anxiety

> is quite common with AS.

>

> Just food for thought. I too think that trying to force a 5 year old to

> nap is fruitless. But I still think that finding ways to help our

> children sleep more at night is important.

>

> Also, for those who have had trouble with falling asleep, talk with your

> docs about Melatonin. Our son starting taking it a few months ago. It

> helps him fall asleep much faster. Its an OTC Herbal. But double check

> with your docs before trying it. We started out on 1 MG which didn't do

> a thing. But now he's on 3 MGs and it works. He still doesn't sleep all

> night, but he's gone from taking up to an hour or two to fall asleep to

> falling asleep in 10 mins.

>

> Amy C.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,

You mentioned that for 4 yr old is on

Clonidine, my 5 year old has just started on this…have you found it good

and have yo seen any side effect that you have noticed ?

Also what dose is your son on? I relate to everything else that you mentioned

in your post sounds just like my boy

Thanks

Narelle

Geelong, ,

Australia

From:

Autism and Aspergers Treatment [mailto:Autism and Aspergers Treatment ] On Behalf Of Donna B

Sent: Wednesday, 20 April 2005

1:55 AM

To:

Autism and Aspergers Treatment

Subject: Re:

Re: Digest Number 1803

I'm not ,

but I've learned in the last few months (and I guess since

birth, since he was never a 'good' sleeper) that

spectrum children have less

need for sleep than NT kids. They often quit naps

at a very early age, go to

bed later, have a hard time going to sleep, and

wake up often, sometimes

coming fully awake and talking, playing, reading,

watching TV, etc., then

waking early.

My little guy fought sleep in a big way, woke

frequently (talking, fully

awake, etc.) and waking early. He's now on

Clonidine for his behaviors (he's

only 4 so we're not trying anything stronger yet,

if at all) and it's helped

his sleep tremendously, particularly since we

increased the dosage last

week.

Re: Digest Number 1803

>

>

>

> Many children with ASD/PDD need very little

sleep.

>

> ,

>

> I have been lurking here for many months,

only posting once or twice.

> What you said about many ASD/PPD children

needing very little sleep

> intrigues me.

>

> My ASD son, who is almost fourteen, usually

has difficulty settling

> down to sleep at 10:00PM.

>

> It never occured to me that he may not need

to be asleep so early.

>

> Could you elaborate?

>

> Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, can I just jump in about clonidine. I had a foster son that was on it. He had Pdd-nos and ODD. It worked really well. He went from being totally unmanageable at a specialized school to getting a trophy at the end of that school year for his success. They were even transitioning him back to the public schools.

The one thing about it that you should know in case your physician has not informed you, is that it is a beta blocker--- it is used for adults with high blood pressure to lower their blood pressure. You should always get a refill BEFORE you get close to running out of them. They have to be weened off that medication very slowly or they can have a rebound effect of a heart attack.

I found this out because with that child we had a difficult time getting him a psychiatrist after he left the children's hospital. Waiting lists were long. We had one pill left, I phoned a physician and angrily said, "get ready at the E.R. because when he comes off this he may revert to his old behaviors and go bizerk" ---- that doctor said, "psychiatric issues are the least of your worries, his blood pressure can rebound and he could have a heart attack." She got someone to approve a refill for the next month until we were able to get a new psychiatrist for him.

Other than that experience which terrified me, that medicene was a god-send. Nothing else worked with this child.

JaneNarelle Crowe <ncrowe@...> wrote:

Hi Donna,

You mentioned that for 4 yr old is on Clonidine, my 5 year old has just started on this…have you found it good and have yo seen any side effect that you have noticed ?

Also what dose is your son on? I relate to everything else that you mentioned in your post sounds just like my boy

Thanks

Narelle

Geelong, , Australia

From: Autism and Aspergers Treatment [mailto:Autism and Aspergers Treatment ] On Behalf Of Donna BSent: Wednesday, 20 April 2005 1:55 AMAutism and Aspergers Treatment Subject: Re: Re: Digest Number 1803

I'm not , but I've learned in the last few months (and I guess since birth, since he was never a 'good' sleeper) that spectrum children have less need for sleep than NT kids. They often quit naps at a very early age, go to bed later, have a hard time going to sleep, and wake up often, sometimes coming fully awake and talking, playing, reading, watching TV, etc., then waking early.My little guy fought sleep in a big way, woke frequently (talking, fully

awake, etc.) and waking early. He's now on Clonidine for his behaviors (he's only 4 so we're not trying anything stronger yet, if at all) and it's helped his sleep tremendously, particularly since we increased the dosage last week. Re: Digest Number 1803>>> > Many children with ASD/PDD need very little sleep.>> ,>> I have been lurking here for many months, only posting once or twice.> What you said about many ASD/PPD children needing very little sleep> intrigues me.>> My ASD son, who is almost fourteen, usually has difficulty settling> down to sleep at

10:00PM.>> It never occured to me that he may not need to be asleep so early.>> Could you elaborate?>> Thanks.>

[Guest guest]

> For some it just seems they need less sleep, but for others it

> appears to be a case of not liking the sensation of falling asleep

and being

> unable to 'let go'.

It's interesting that you said this. My mom and I took (4 year

old AS)and my 6 year old daughter to Six Flags last weekend. My

daughter's favorite ride is a mini-roller coaster there that

has ridden and doesn't like. While my daughter and I were riding it,

told my mom not to ever get on it because it " makes you feel

like you are falling like when I sleep. " Mom and I both found that

comment really interesting - I didn't realize that's how he felt when

he sleeps.

Stacie

[Guest guest]

Hi, Narelle

My little guy has been on clonidine for about, hmmm, 5.5 weeks now. His tabs are 0.1 mg. He started at 1/4 tab, moved to 1/2 after two weeks, then 3/4 after four weeks. At 1/4 tab, we only saw him fall asleep easier. At 1/2 tab, his finger/ear flicking/picking decreased. And now at 3/4 tab? He falls asleep without fail 30-35 mins after taking the pill, sleeps more soundly (first solid nights of sleep I've had in years!) and he's got more interests in things outside of his Pokemon obsession. He still rages and hurts himself at times, but I am thrilled he's getting more sleep, which has to be contributing to better behavior, and the finger flicking that really stood out and interfered with activities he was in doesn't get in his way anymore.

I haven't seen any side effects, but I am really anal about giving it to him on time daily, and I worry that if he ever got a stomach virus or anything, he'd not be able to take it and what then?

For us, it's been wonderful. It hasn't done quite what we'd hoped, but since it targets so many symptoms autistic children face, it was worth a shot. We won't try the stronger drugs at this age, but he's also begun the special ed preschool program, occupational therapy/speech therapy, and ABA is coming up, so we're encouraged that things are coming together for him.

How long has your son been on Clonidine? Noticing any changes yet? Good luck!!Donna

RE: Re: Digest Number 1803

Hi Donna,

You mentioned that for 4 yr old is on Clonidine, my 5 year old has just started on this…have you found it good and have yo seen any side effect that you have noticed ?

Also what dose is your son on? I relate to everything else that you mentioned in your post sounds just like my boy

Thanks

Narelle

Geelong, , Australia

[Guest guest]

Scary! I knew it could have adverse effects if dosage was missed or there was a gap between refills, but I hadn't heard heart attack.

RE: Re: Digest Number 1803

Hi, can I just jump in about clonidine. I had a foster son that was on it. He had Pdd-nos and ODD. It worked really well. He went from being totally unmanageable at a specialized school to getting a trophy at the end of that school year for his success. They were even transitioning him back to the public schools.

The one thing about it that you should know in case your physician has not informed you, is that it is a beta blocker--- it is used for adults with high blood pressure to lower their blood pressure. You should always get a refill BEFORE you get close to running out of them. They have to be weened off that medication very slowly or they can have a rebound effect of a heart attack.

I found this out because with that child we had a difficult time getting him a psychiatrist after he left the children's hospital. Waiting lists were long. We had one pill left, I phoned a physician and angrily said, "get ready at the E.R. because when he comes off this he may revert to his old behaviors and go bizerk" ---- that doctor said, "psychiatric issues are the least of your worries, his blood pressure can rebound and he could have a heart attack." She got someone to approve a refill for the next month until we were able to get a new psychiatrist for him.

Other than that experience which terrified me, that medicene was a god-send. Nothing else worked with this child.

JaneNarelle Crowe <ncrowe@...> wrote:

Hi Donna,

You mentioned that for 4 yr old is on Clonidine, my 5 year old has just started on this…have you found it good and have yo seen any side effect that you have noticed ?

Also what dose is your son on? I relate to everything else that you mentioned in your post sounds just like my boy

Thanks

Narelle

Geelong, , Australia

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/2005 4:05:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,

SSRI medications writes:

What are the rest caused by and don't tell me genes.

I just told you -- bad diet, smoking, alcohol, lack of certain nutrients.

I'm so sick of all this cancer business -- they keep inculcating us with the

notion that cancer is a NORMAL thing -- it ISN'T! It's MANMADE!!!! Got it?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/2005 4:05:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,

SSRI medications writes:

What are the rest caused by and don't tell me genes.

I just told you -- bad diet, smoking, alcohol, lack of certain nutrients.

I'm so sick of all this cancer business -- they keep inculcating us with the

notion that cancer is a NORMAL thing -- it ISN'T! It's MANMADE!!!! Got it?