treatment combinations/pre-teen input about medication choices

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I'm a veteran at this OCD battle, or at least it feels that way. My

dd(12 years old) was diagnosed in Feb. of 2005. So, we're 4 years into

this. We've had many many combination of drugs. We've had OT,

counseling with CBT in the beginning, when the OCD made her barely

able to function. She's made SO SO SO much progress with her OCD.

She's currently taking 3 medications, Zoloft, Geodon, and Focalin. Her

diagnosis are ADHD, OCD, PPD/NOS(Asperger's Syndrome). She's been on

Geodon for almost 2 years now. After the recent link to the NY Times

Article that was on this sight, I got really nervous about her being

on Geodon. She first started it when she was threatening to hurt

herself and was hurting us. She hasn't had much of that in almost a

year. I thought maybe we could wean her off the Geodon and then if she

started backsliding, start it or something else off again. I talked to

the psychiatrist who said, " Even water can be dangerous. I try to give

children the least amount of medication possible for them to

function. " Anyway, after sending her 2 faxes in which I said, " I want

her off. " I need to know how to wean her off. She gave me explicit

directions in exactly how to safely wean my dd off. I mentioned it to

my dd last night who said, " WHAT? WHY mommy? I like being on my

medicine. I was going to be in the hospital. It helps me sleep and it

keeps the scary thoughts away. " So, we discussed it with the

psychologist today who said maybe dd and I should discuss it with the

psychiatrist together. She asked me to tell dd why I wanted her off

the medication. I didn't know what to say, of course I didn't want to

share with her what I read in the article. I don't want to scare her

of the medication. I said, " I don't want you on three medications if

you don't have to be. Other than the weight gain, I don't think she's

had any other side effects that I can tell.Do others have experience

with children having input into their medications? Is 12 old enough

for her to help make these decisions. She said today at DR office,

" But, mom, it's my body. I don't want to have to go to the hospital.

I'm scared if I go off the medicine I'll end up in the hospital. Other

symptoms, which are hard to say what comes from what is her HUGE

sensory issues which affect clothing and now, recently she's started

picking her eyelashes, the hairs from her legs, and her arms as well

as her head. I always wonder, what is OCD, AU and ADD and then, what

is possible side effects of the medication.

She's been accepted into a horse therapy program. I'm waiting to find

out if we qualify for a scholarship and how much it would be as this

would be weekly and it's $45 a week(one session a week). Has anyone

tried horse therapy? Is it helpful with OCD/Sensory issues? I've read

good things about it, but, anyone here have actual experience? Making

decisions on a daily basis seems so stressful as you never know 100%

that you are making the right decisions. You want your kid to function

and be happy. It's so so so hard to know what to do when it comes to

medication. It is definitely necessary at times, I guess my question

is how much and for how long???? I want to do the right thing. For the

moment I think that means at least waiting until summer.

Thanks!

Darletta

[Guest guest]

Hi!  I'm going through the same thing with my 9 year old daughter who has OCD

and trich (hair pulling).  Her anxiety level right now is very high and her

fears are constant and there are so many that I think therapy isn't likely to

help.  Her therapist suggested we add something to the Anafranil she is taking,

but I am too worried to put her on an antipsychotic.  I don't know what the

right thing is to do.  I wish I had a manual about how to raise my daughter in

the best way.

treatment combinations/pre-teen input about

medication choices

Hi All,

I'm a veteran at this OCD battle, or at least it feels that way. My

dd(12 years old) was diagnosed in Feb. of 2005. So, we're 4 years into

this. We've had many many combination of drugs. We've had OT,

counseling with CBT in the beginning, when the OCD made her barely

able to function. She's made SO SO SO much progress with her OCD.

She's currently taking 3 medications, Zoloft, Geodon, and Focalin. Her

diagnosis are ADHD, OCD, PPD/NOS(Asperger's Syndrome). She's been on

Geodon for almost 2 years now. After the recent link to the NY Times

Article that was on this sight, I got really nervous about her being

on Geodon. She first started it when she was threaten

ing to hurt

herself and was hurting us. She hasn't had much of that in almost a

year. I thought maybe we could wean her off the Geodon and then if she

started backsliding, start it or something else off again. I talked to

the psychiatrist who said, " Even water can be dangerous. I try to give

children the least amount of medication possible for them to

function. " Anyway, after sending her 2 faxes in which I said, " I want

her off. " I need to know how to wean her off. She gave me explicit

directions in exactly how to safely wean my dd off. I mentioned it to

my dd last night who said, " WHAT? WHY mommy? I like being on my

medicine. I was going to be in the hospital. It helps me sleep and it

keeps the scary thoughts away. " So, we discussed it with the

psychologist today who said maybe dd and I should discuss it with the

psychiatrist together. She asked me to tell dd why I wanted her off

the medication. I didn't know what to say, of course I didn't want to

share with her what I read in the article. I don't want to scare her

of the medication. I said, " I don't want you on three medications if

you don't have to be. Other than the weight gain, I don't think she's

had any other side effects that I can tell.Do others have experience

with children having input into their medications? Is 12 old enough

for her to help make these decisions. She said today at DR office,

" But, mom, it's my body. I don't want to have to go20to the hospital.

I'm scared if I go off the medicine I'll end up in the hospital. Other

symptoms, which are hard to say what comes from what is her HUGE

sensory issues which affect clothing and now, recently she's started

picking her eyelashes, the hairs from her legs, and her arms as well

as her head. I always wonder, what is OCD, AU and ADD and then, what

is possible side effects of the medication.

She's been accepted into a horse therapy program. I'm waiting to find

out if we qualify for a scholarship and how much it would be as this

would be weekly and it's $45 a week(one session a week). Has anyone

tried horse therapy? Is it helpful with OCD/Sensory issues? I've read

good things about it, but, anyone here have actual experience? Making

decisions on a daily basis seems so stressful as you never know 100%

that you are making the right decisions. You want your kid to function

and be happy. It's so so so hard to know what to do when it comes to

medication. It is definitely necessary at times, I guess my question

is how much and for how long???? I want to do the right thing. For the

moment I think that means at least waiting until summer.

Thanks!

Darletta

[Guest guest]

Hi Darletta,

I have a 12 yr old dd with OCD, Bipolar and PDD-NOS, who also argues about the

meds and will say she doesn't need them and /or does, depending on the med. I

would say that if the med works, don't change it, becasue they all have such

serious side effects.( you never know what can happen with a Tylenol)

I can definitely understand your frustration and concern about the Geodon.Maybe

you could talk to the doctor about weaning her off it.Or maybe talk to your dd 

and explain your concern that you would like to try her on another med that

would help in the same way.

 My daughter was on that med also, and ended up getting a full body rash , so we

had to discontinue it abruptly.( I don't think the rash was from the Geodon

though becasue she was on other meds at the time.)

 You could see how she feels and either keep her off of it or change her to

another.

It gets so hard when they get older and want to decide what meds they are

on!!!!!!!!!

Hugs

Judy

________________________________

To:

Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2009 11:28:26 PM

Subject: treatment combinations/pre-teen input about

medication choices

Hi All,

I'm a veteran at this OCD battle, or at least it feels that way. My

dd(12 years old) was diagnosed in Feb. of 2005. So, we're 4 years into

this. We've had many many combination of drugs. We've had OT,

counseling with CBT in the beginning, when the OCD made her barely

able to function. She's made SO SO SO much progress with her OCD.

She's currently taking 3 medications, Zoloft, Geodon, and Focalin. Her

diagnosis are ADHD, OCD, PPD/NOS(Asperger' s Syndrome). She's been on

Geodon for almost 2 years now. After the recent link to the NY Times

Article that was on this sight, I got really nervous about her being

on Geodon. She first started it when she was threatening to hurt

herself and was hurting us. She hasn't had much of that in almost a

year. I thought maybe we could wean her off the Geodon and then if she

started backsliding, start it or something else off again. I talked to

the psychiatrist who said, " Even water can be dangerous. I try to give

children the least amount of medication possible for them to

function. " Anyway, after sending her 2 faxes in which I said, " I want

her off. " I need to know how to wean her off. She gave me explicit

directions in exactly how to safely wean my dd off. I mentioned it to

my dd last night who said, " WHAT? WHY mommy? I like being on my

medicine. I was going to be in the hospital. It helps me sleep and it

keeps the scary thoughts away. " So, we discussed it with the

psychologist today who said maybe dd and I should discuss it with the

psychiatrist together. She asked me to tell dd why I wanted her off

the medication. I didn't know what to say, of course I didn't want to

share with her what I read in the article. I don't want to scare her

of the medication. I said, " I don't want you on three medications if

you don't have to be. Other than the weight gain, I don't think she's

had any other side effects that I can tell.Do others have experience

with children having input into their medications? Is 12 old enough

for her to help make these decisions. She said today at DR office,

" But, mom, it's my body. I don't want to have to go to the hospital.

I'm scared if I go off the medicine I'll end up in the hospital. Other

symptoms, which are hard to say what comes from what is her HUGE

sensory issues which affect clothing and now, recently she's started

picking her eyelashes, the hairs from her legs, and her arms as well

as her head. I always wonder, what is OCD, AU and ADD and then, what

is possible side effects of the medication.

She's been accepted into a horse therapy program. I'm waiting to find

out if we qualify for a scholarship and how much it would be as this

would be weekly and it's $45 a week(one session a week). Has anyone

tried horse therapy? Is it helpful with OCD/Sensory issues? I've read

good things about it, but, anyone here have actual experience? Making

decisions on a daily basis seems so stressful as you never know 100%

that you are making the right decisions. You want your kid to function

and be happy. It's so so so hard to know what to do when it comes to

medication. It is definitely necessary at times, I guess my question

is how much and for how long???? I want to do the right thing. For the

moment I think that means at least waiting until summer.

Thanks!

Darletta

[Guest guest]

Hi Darletta,

I feel my daughter at 12 y.o. is old enough to be very involved

in medication decisions. After all, she is the one that must comply.

The few times she has fought me on the issue makes me realize that if

it were a daily fight she would wear me down. Also, she knows better

than I know (although I don't know how much either of us really know)

how much better she feels on the medication. I would also be

concerned about making changes when she is at or near puberty. I did

that with serious negative consequences.

I didn't understand what you meant when you said:

I talked to

the psychiatrist who said, " Even water can be dangerous. I try to give

children the least amount of medication possible for them to

function. "

It sounds like perhaps he is agreeing with your DD?

Dorelle