Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 Hello! I am new and overwhelmed. I have a ten year old son,Lee who was just diagnosed with aspergers after having been misdiagnosed with depression and ADD. He ended up at a pediatric psych hospital because he was hearing voices. The MD there said it was the SSRI causing the problem but that Lee has 'bipolar characteristics' and needs to be on Lithium and Risperdal. We started those meds and got in touch with his home Psychiatrist to do follow up blood tests as required with these meds and she said she wont be his doctor if we continue with Lithium as she feels this drug can be very damaging to growing bodies. Who do I believe? Lee does seem better but still fragile. He has been on the meds for two weeks now. Does anyone have any info or experience with these meds?? Tory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 Tory, Oh dear..... My son is 5 and was diagnosed bi-polar at age 2 1/2 and Aspergers at age 3 1/2. We started him on Risperdal and he has been on it since. Risperdal has been a miracle drug for my son. Three doctors had suggested that he also take Lithium. But I refused because he had to have blood levels every week done and I just don't think that is a good option for any child. However, Austin has only had to have blood levels done for Risperdal once a year. Risperdal is being widely used and is much more safe than Lithium according all 6 doctors I have taken him to. I am shocked that Lithium was there first drug of choice in your situation. I agree with the Risperal however. It's great. My son too would " hallucinate " and tell me about cats clawing his eyes out and men in the hallways...he also had night terrors. All of that ended with the Risperdal. I definitely would question why your son needs to be on Lithium right away. Just so you know, my son was on Prozac which is an SSRI and it definitely interacted with my son's bi-polar disorder. His moods just became unbearable. He has been Prozac free for two weeks now and the behaviors have decreased by 80%. Just my opinion. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 > > Hello! I am new and overwhelmed. I have a ten year old son,Lee who > was just diagnosed with aspergers after having been misdiagnosed with > depression and ADD. He ended up at a pediatric psych hospital because > he was hearing voices. The MD there said it was the SSRI causing the > problem but that Lee has 'bipolar characteristics' and needs to be > on Lithium and Risperdal. We started those meds and got in touch with > his home Psychiatrist to do follow up blood tests as required with > these meds and she said she wont be his doctor if we continue with > Lithium as she feels this drug can be very damaging to growing > bodies. Who do I believe? Lee does seem better but still fragile. He > has been on the meds for two weeks now. Does anyone have any info or > experience with these meds?? Tory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 2004 Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 I can't help you with lithium, but I can say that you have come to the right place to talk with many parents who might be able to help!!! Welcome to our group!!! ~understanding hugs~ Rabecca > > Hello! I am new and overwhelmed. I have a ten year old son,Lee who > was just diagnosed with aspergers after having been misdiagnosed with > depression and ADD. He ended up at a pediatric psych hospital because > he was hearing voices. The MD there said it was the SSRI causing the > problem but that Lee has 'bipolar characteristics' and needs to be > on Lithium and Risperdal. We started those meds and got in touch with > his home Psychiatrist to do follow up blood tests as required with > these meds and she said she wont be his doctor if we continue with > Lithium as she feels this drug can be very damaging to growing > bodies. Who do I believe? Lee does seem better but still fragile. He > has been on the meds for two weeks now. Does anyone have any info or > experience with these meds?? Tory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 My daughter was on lithium for years, at first it seemed to help. It did cause her to develop a thyriod problem which is one of the side affects for long-term use. She is no longer on it. I feel it made her more out of it - so did that really make her 'better'?... If I had to do it over again - I would get a second opinion. J > > Hello! I am new and overwhelmed. I have a te1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 My daughter was on lithium for years, at first it seemed to help. It did cause her to develop a thyriod problem which is one of the side affects for long-term use. She is no longer on it. I feel it made her more out of it - so did that really make her 'better'?... If I had to do it over again - I would get a second opinion. J > > Hello! I am new and overwhelmed. I have a te1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 I wanted to say that Lithum was the key for us. We started out with just depakote and saw little change. We are on a large ( at least to me) mixture of medication but we have S stable. He's on a low dose of lithum and depakote, along with Abilify and it's working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Your son had a paradoxical effect from the SSRI, which happens to some kids. It doesn't mean he is Bipolar and needs treatment with Lithium! He needs to be taken off of the SSRI causing those symptoms!! The symptoms will go away without the SSRI. There are many other antidepressants that can be used to treat mood disorders, without giving him an SSRI. Lithium is one of the last resort meds for a full fledged Bipolar Disorder. Risperdal is not the worst thing you could give him, but watch for EPS. Typically, Aspergers doesn't even need to be treated, it's the behaviors that need a little work and sometimes some meds can help with that. Kids with Aspergers often have depression and/or anxiety and that can be treated as well. Research the meds and EPS and know what to do to treat symptoms. You need a second opinion immediately. Go on line and research Board Certified Child Psychiatrists in your area or the nearest large metropolotan area to you. If you need any help doing this, I'd be glad to help you myself. Email me. RNC97@... Good luck! Leah Indiana Mom to , 15, AS lithium/help! Hello! I am new and overwhelmed. I have a ten year old son,Lee who was just diagnosed with aspergers after having been misdiagnosed with depression and ADD. He ended up at a pediatric psych hospital because he was hearing voices. The MD there said it was the SSRI causing the problem but that Lee has 'bipolar characteristics' and needs to be on Lithium and Risperdal. We started those meds and got in touch with his home Psychiatrist to do follow up blood tests as required with these meds and she said she wont be his doctor if we continue with Lithium as she feels this drug can be very damaging to growing bodies. Who do I believe? Lee does seem better but still fragile. He has been on the meds for two weeks now. Does anyone have any info or experience with these meds?? Tory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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