Re: Sleeping Medications

[Guest guest]

hi anne,

my son is on 30mg. of lexapro which has helped him alot to reduce anxiety, we keep a daily written schedule that we write out together i use a fill in the blank schedule (i xerox lots of copies of the same form) that we fill in together the night before and address areas of anxiety he tends to get anxious about his meals so we fill out meals the night before (eg. fries and a hot dog) in addition to a basic schedule of his activities (eg. school, mall, etc.) they use written schedules in school as well, as well as written social stories for issues that may be anxiety producing having things in writing is a key to reduce anxiety for many kids i can tell my son something 10 times to calm his nerves, but seeing it in writing seems to make it more real for him hope this helps

karen

Sleeping Medications

Hi.Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI withseizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantoninwhen they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then ourPsychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. Itworks wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people withhigh blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up alittle so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow theirblood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer needthe medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause alittle drowiness and it helps them as well. We no longer haveproblems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter hashigh anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events thatwon't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted alot of meds to help her calm down with her "worries" but to no avail.It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing abehavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one whomay have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find outwhat has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.Thanks,Anne Enk Plainfield

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Anne.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@...

Sleeping Medications

Hi.Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI withseizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantoninwhen they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then ourPsychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. Itworks wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people withhigh blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up alittle so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow theirblood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer needthe medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause alittle drowiness and it helps them as well. We no longer haveproblems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter hashigh anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events thatwon't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted alot of meds to help her calm down with her "worries" but to no avail.It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing abehavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one whomay have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find outwhat has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.Thanks,Anne Enk Plainfield

[Guest guest]

,

WOW! Thanks a lot for the info. I also believe in the written word vs. memory. I will try this tomorrow afternoon. Does your son carry the list around or do you keep it centralized so he knows where to look it he starts getting anxious?

Anne

Sleeping Medications

Hi.Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI withseizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantoninwhen they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then ourPsychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. Itworks wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people withhigh blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up alittle so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow theirblood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer needthe medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause alittle drowiness and it helps them as well. We no longer haveproblems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter hashigh anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events thatwon't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted alot of meds to help her calm down with her "worries" but to no avail.It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing abehavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one whomay have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find outwhat has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.Thanks,Anne Enk Plainfield

[Guest guest]

hi anne,

adam brings his schedule to school despite the fact that it is his home schedule and he has a different school schedule i think that gives the staff at school an opportunity to talk to him about what is on it it is a very simple schedule and take less than a minute to fill out that is fine for his purposes but each child may be different i think it is important to use the same form everyday if adam is nervous about something several days ahead, such as a field trip or family party, and is asking lots of questions about it, i often will write out his schedule for that day even though it may be several days ahead then if he asks questions, i tell him to check his schedule i hope this helps let me know if you have any other questions

karen

Sleeping Medications

Hi.Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI withseizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantoninwhen they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then ourPsychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. Itworks wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people withhigh blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up alittle so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow theirblood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer needthe medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause alittle drowiness and it helps them as well. We no longer haveproblems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter hashigh anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events thatwon't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted alot of meds to help her calm down with her "worries" but to no avail.It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing abehavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one whomay have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find outwhat has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.Thanks,Anne Enk Plainfield

[Guest guest]

Hi, Have you noticed any side affects with the lexapro? My 23 year old son is very anxious, and has had a couple of anxiety attacks, we haven't had much luck with meds, because of his reactions to them. Now he's taking Remeron at night 45 mg which helps him sleep (which is a problem also) but it doesn't seem to address his anxiety during the day. He is also going to therapy. KayAnne Enk <raskles1@...> wrote: , WOW! Thanks a lot for the info. I also believe in the written word vs. memory. I will try this tomorrow afternoon. Does your son carry the list around or do you keep it centralized so he knows where to look it he starts getting anxious? Anne Sleeping Medications Hi.Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI withseizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantoninwhen they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then ourPsychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. Itworks wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people withhigh blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up alittle so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow theirblood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer needthe medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause alittle drowiness and it helps them as well. We

no longer haveproblems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter hashigh anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events thatwon't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted alot of meds to help her calm down with her "worries" but to no avail.It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing abehavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one whomay have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find outwhat has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.Thanks,Anne Enk Plainfield

[Guest guest]

My daughter was on lexapro and risperdol. They were a very bad

combination for her.

> ,

>

> WOW! Thanks a lot for the info. I also believe in the written

word vs. memory. I will try this tomorrow afternoon. Does your son

carry the list around or do you keep it centralized so he knows where

to look it he starts getting anxious?

>

> Anne

> Sleeping Medications

>

>

> Hi.

>

> Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI

with

> seizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantonin

> when they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then our

> Psychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. It

> works wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people with

> high blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up a

> little so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow

their

> blood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer need

> the medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause a

> little drowiness and it helps them as well. We no longer have

> problems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.

>

> Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter has

> high anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events

that

> won't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted a

> lot of meds to help her calm down with her " worries " but to no

avail.

> It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing a

> behavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one

who

> may have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find out

> what has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Anne Enk Plainfield

>

[Guest guest]

lexapro has helped adam's general mood and ability to tolerate everything he is on a high dose ( i think typrical adults who take it for anxiety are usually on 10 mg) but i think our doctor felt it is a relatively safe drug he was previously on zyprexa, but she wanted him off that because long term use can possibly lead to diabetis and other issues we have seen a very nice change in adam's general mood and ability to tolerate since starting lexapro we have noticed no side effects just to be clear, it is not a sleep medication, we use it for anxiety relief all individuals are different, but it may be worth asking your doctor about it

karen

Sleeping Medications

Hi.Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI withseizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantoninwhen they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then ourPsychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. Itworks wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people withhigh blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up alittle so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow theirblood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer needthe medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause alittle drowiness and it helps them as well. We no longer haveproblems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter hashigh anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events thatwon't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted alot of meds to help her calm down with her "worries" but to no avail.It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing abehavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one whomay have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find outwhat has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.Thanks,Anne Enk Plainfield

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks SO MUCH for the idea. I have already e-mailed her teacher about this and she is excited to see the schedule so she can use it for school as well. She is also very interested

in our group IPADDUNITE...I do have to say that all of my girl's teachers have been OUTSTANDING. We live on the North side of Plainfield but my daughters go to middle school on the south side as it is the only school that has the FBI (what an acronym)

Function Based Instruction program.

However next school year they will be at the new middle school that is much closer to us. It is not our home school but it is only 4 to 5 miles from home. One of their teachers and several aides will teach their as well which is good for transitioning for most of these students.

Thanks again for your kind help!

Anne

Sleeping Medications

Hi.Just putting in my 2 cents, I have 2 special needs daughters (MMI withseizures). They are 13 1/2 and 12 yrs old. We first used Melantoninwhen they were much younger. Did nothing for them. Then ourPsychiatrist put them on Clonidine 1mg then increased to 2 mg. Itworks wonderfully. The medication is really for use in people withhigh blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels to open them up alittle so as to slow down the blood flow. For kids it helps slow theirblood flow down and makes them sleepy. My daughters no longer needthe medicine. They are on Trileptal and Lamictal which can cause alittle drowiness and it helps them as well. We no longer haveproblems with them waking up so much during the middle of the night.Now I have a question for any one out there. My younger daughter hashigh anxiety and perseverates over the littlest things or events thatwon't be happening for several months. We seem to have exhausted alot of meds to help her calm down with her "worries" but to no avail.It even happens at school but not as much . I am planning on doing abehavior-modification chart but still wanted to hear from any one whomay have a child/adult that has the same problem so as to find outwhat has been successful for you whether medication or other venue.Thanks,Anne Enk Plainfield

[Guest guest]

My 19 yr old son is on lexapro (20mg) with no side effects. He is an Aspie with PDD. It's helped him a lot. kk elmore <kelmore@...> wrote: Hi, Have you noticed any side affects with the lexapro?

[Guest guest]

We've NOT used sleeping meds with Russ for any length of time, though we have tried meds for other things--some have knocked him out for DAYS and some have had the opposite affect--NOT GOOD.

Several of my friends with kids the around the age of Russ SWEAR by mellitonian (sp?). We've done lots of behavior things and...lately, we've gone another route.

Russ is able to make microwave instant coffee and we have a special "half and half" mixture Chuck calls Mama Marie's Special Blend--and around 3 pm, we cut him off and bring out the decaf--he'll make himself cup after cup if we don't watch him. Also, we try--VERY HARD to have regular hours for him. This has been hard lately because one of his brothers moved back home in January and he is still on "college time"--which means he doesn't go to bed until 1 am or 2 am. Russ thinks if Greg is up, he should be up! So, Greg keeps an eye on him if he's up but has wised up and goes to his room and surfs the web and reads after 11 pm--even Greg has figured out having Russ rockin' and rollin' at 3 am is not good! Russ does enjoy his Spanish Soaps at 2 am, though.

Everything after dinner around here is geared to put Russ in sleepy time mode. If we have coffee, it's decaf. If we have the TV on, it's at lowered volume. The kids friends come over on weekends and respect our "system" for the most part--and they do include Russ in whatever crappy movie they rent and junk food they bring over--my youngest's best friend brings over a 6 pack of decaf pop just for Russ--aren't they good kids?!?!

Sleep problems for those with autism are always an issue--for whatever reason. I have actually been at conferences for sleep issues for those specifically with autism--and they have been helpful, for the most part. It is certainly something that is very prevalent in this population.

Marie

[Guest guest]

My son was (briefly) on Lexapro a couple of years ago.

Very bad move. He became impulsive to the point of

recklessness (tried to grab my car keys, in the car,

while the car was moving!). He's been on Depakote,

originally for seizure control, since he was 3 1/2

(he's now almost 13). Can't speak for anyone else, but

for us it's been almost miraculous, especially for

calming him, keeping his mood even and mostly

eliminating OCD behaviors. Don't know about it's

effect on sleep problems. He almost always sleeps

through the nights, it's getting him out of bed in the

morning that's hard!

________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

Just another 2 cents...

My daughter was on Depakote for seizure control and mood stabilizer for years. We stopped it for about 1 and 1/2 years back in 2002 as the level was sub- therapeutic

for her and her seizures were stopped. Then in March of 2004 we started her back on it because she was non stop seizing while sleeping...In May 2004 she was hospitalized with Depakote induced Pancreatitis. Very rare and very ill. She was in for a long 2 weeks in step down ICU. I guess anything can happen to different people. We all just need to be on watch to make sure nothing seems to be out of line with our loved ones

Thanks,

Anne

Re: Sleeping Medications

My son was (briefly) on Lexapro a couple of years ago.Very bad move. He became impulsive to the point ofrecklessness (tried to grab my car keys, in the car,while the car was moving!). He's been on Depakote,originally for seizure control, since he was 3 1/2(he's now almost 13). Can't speak for anyone else, butfor us it's been almost miraculous, especially forcalming him, keeping his mood even and mostlyeliminating OCD behaviors. Don't know about it'seffect on sleep problems. He almost always sleepsthrough the nights, it's getting him out of bed in themorning that's hard!__________________________________________________________The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.http://searchmarketing./arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php

[Guest guest]

Noah has been on MANY different medications.

Lexapro was not right for him...he had some tremors and became very sweaty and red-faced/flushed...weird reactions...after having been on it for a number of months.

We are having better results with Cymbalta (he is on 60 mg)...he still has cycles of OCD but his cognitive abilities are improved, especially language, following direction, etc...

Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@...

Re: Sleeping Medications

My son was (briefly) on Lexapro a couple of years ago.Very bad move. He became impulsive to the point ofrecklessness (tried to grab my car keys, in the car,while the car was moving!). He's been on Depakote,originally for seizure control, since he was 3 1/2(he's now almost 13). Can't speak for anyone else, butfor us it's been almost miraculous, especially forcalming him, keeping his mood even and mostlyeliminating OCD behaviors. Don't know about it'seffect on sleep problems. He almost always sleepsthrough the nights, it's getting him out of bed in themorning that's hard!__________________________________________________________The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.http://searchmarketing./arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Anne for that important reminder.

All of the medications, herbal preparations and seemingly benign vitamins have some potential risks and side effects. Many of our children cannot tell us if they are not feeling well. Our gut feelings and observations are critically important. I am glad your daughter recovered from her illness.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@...

Re: Sleeping Medications

My son was (briefly) on Lexapro a couple of years ago.Very bad move. He became impulsive to the point ofrecklessness (tried to grab my car keys, in the car,while the car was moving!). He's been on Depakote,originally for seizure control, since he was 3 1/2(he's now almost 13). Can't speak for anyone else, butfor us it's been almost miraculous, especially forcalming him, keeping his mood even and mostlyeliminating OCD behaviors. Don't know about it'seffect on sleep problems. He almost always sleepsthrough the nights, it's getting him out of bed in themorning that's hard!__________________________________________________________The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.http://searchmarketing./arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php