Xanax

[Guest guest]

OK, back to the Xanax.

In really looking at my daughter recently (after the whole is it OCD or

ODD thing), we came to realize that it isn't the OCD that drives us

crazy as much as it is meltdowns associated with it.

In contrast, my son has OCD (much worse than my daughter), but he's

mostly pretty even keeled about it. Yes, when it hits him with a

one-two punch in the gut he falls apart; but more often than not he's

mostly matter of fact. " I don't believe I'll be able to use that spoon

because I'm obsessing about germs again. " Now, if we push him, it can

escalate quickly...

But, no one has to push my daughter to escalate anything. She just

falls apart over every little thing. In fact, I've started seeing her

rages out outbursts as almost a form of panic attacks.

Since we'd had so little success with any of the SSRIs (too many side

effects), I asked about trying something anti-anxiety. I've got to

say, that so far it is working. She can take up to 3 pills a day and

we've not come close to that. (Twice we've done 3 half pills a day.

Lots of times she doesn't take any). When she starts to really obsess

and fall apart over something, she can take a half Xanax and it really

seems to give her the ability to pull out of the meltdown and start

using some of the strategies she's been working on.

I'm wondering if anyone else has tried anything like this.

Jeanne

[Guest guest]

Annie took Risperdal for tics and to keep her from blowing up so much, but

after developing an allergic reaction to it, she had to stop. She really misses

it - it worked beautifully. She now takes Clonidine for her tics and we were

told it should also have some calming effect. It doesn't work as well as the

Risperdal, but it is definitely better than nothing. She also has Xanax

which she can take for panic attacks. It is fast-acting but short-lived (out of

the system in a little over an hour, we were told) and, of course, highly

addictive. We have only used it once. Our old psych. suggested we try Buspar or

Xanax for anxiety when her OCD wouldn't cooperate with us, but he moved away

and we never tried it. Our new psych. is very hesitant to use it for anything

other than panic attacks because it is so addictive.

I hope it helps your daughter. I know how awful it is to be yelled at

and blamed for everything every morning. It is sooo exhausting.

Best wishes,

in NV