Guest guest Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Thanks so much for the summary about these meds Beth- its very helpful. Are there any natural remedies/suppliments/altrnative therapies that have worked for you? I may want to look at a few of these before committing to a drug. I know there must be a lot of opinions about which way to go- drugs or natural interventions or a combo- but it occurs to me I may need to hear more about both approaches before we start anything. Thanks again for taking the time, Adele > > A note about meds- to those who are just beginning to dip a toe into the water, so to speak: > > -you want to familiarize yourself with the different CLASSES or FAMILIES of medications: > > SSRIs (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors- I did not make this up) > > are in what I call the " prozac family " - kind of make you happy, mellow you out, but in some cases, also disinhibit you so that things don't bother you- I won't list these all here, because I am just noting this on the fly)- also helps with OCD behaviors > > stimulants: ritalin family- includes metadate, adderall and others > > anti-psychotics (yes, sounds horrible) > > This family includes those meds which have now been proven to improve " behaviors often associated with autism, such as aggression " - > such as risperdal, depakote (which is also an anitconvulsant), etc. > > There is a name for meds that are *usually* prescribed for one thing, but found to improve other conditions as well. One example is > > clonidine, which is first and foremost a blood pressure med which is also helpful for calming aggressions > > Off the top of my head, I am not sure what family the anti-alzheimer meds fall under, but they are often prescribed for our kids/loved ones. > > At any rate, as you are talking to your doctors/therapists/pharmacists about these meds, you will begin to hear common threads of why certain things are prescribed. > > SSRI's are often prescribed for depression, but that is a different diagnosis than OCD. > > Also, some meds work better in conjunction with other meds than if they had been prescribed alone. > > When meds are prescribed for something different than their original purpose, the dosing norms, such as for body weight, might be different. > > DON'T HESITATE TO QUESTION YOUR DOCTOR/PRESCRIBING PERSON. RULES FOR BEGINNING NEW MEDS: > > START LOW (LOW DOSAGE FIRST, THEN INCREASE SLOWLY IF NEEDED) > > AND GO SLOW (SEE ABOVE) > > DON'T CONFOUND: DON'T BEGIN MORE THAN ONE NEW MED OR CHANGE ONE MED DOSAGE AT A TIME. YOU WANT TO KNOW IF *THAT* MED OR DOSE IS REALLY WORKING. > > THIS ALSO MIGHT MEAN DON'T ALSO BEGIN A BRAND NEW BEHAVIOR STRATEGY OR HOMEOPATHIC OR BIOMED TREATMENT AT THE SAME TIME EITHER. > > When getting a new prescription from a new doctor, make sure you know how to get ahold of him/her after hours or on weekends if you fear that the meds are going in a wrong direction. Some meds need to be decreased slowly; others can be stopped immediately. > > ASK WHAT THE HALF LIFE IS FOR ANY NEW MED. (This means, how long will it stay in a person's system? Will effects be gone in a few hours, such as ritalin? Or do you have to build a blood level, such as the SSRI's?) > > Be patient, say a prayer or two, and if necessary, ask for extra help with other responsibilities if you can while you are basically having your child under observation -your eagle eyes- especially during the first time your child is on a trial for a med. > > Pete's been on them since age 8. They have helped tremendously. More on that another time. > > One thing I always have to remind myself, though, when we are trying out something, that there is no such thing as a silver bullet. No miracle in a bottle or pill. You still have to keep up behavior interventions, communication skills/supports, environmental controls, and good diet/nutrition, good sleep habits if you can. Meds make learning/acquiring new skills MORE ACCESSIBLE to your child. Also, sometimes everybody just needs to be able to sleep!!! > > I apologize if I am repeating what others have probably said in the many excellent posts that have been flying around the last few weeks. But every time someone asks about meds for the first time, many of these things bear repeating and help someone figure out about how to move forward. > > One of the things that has always helped me when beginning Pete on a new med is that I say a little prayer that this med will only help and never hurt him. (It helps me step out on faith that I have made the best possible decision for my child that I possibly can, which seems what we are called to do in so many situations that we could have never imagined....) > > Stay cool and dry, everyone! > > Beth > 20 y/o Pete's Mum > central OH (yes, where the Buckeye Nation -OSU- is hanging its collective head in shame.) (Not that I am going to lose any sleep over it, haha!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Great post, MB!!!! Should save this for future newbies!!! Liz > > > Thanks so much for the summary about these meds Beth- its very > helpful. Are there any natural remedies/suppliments/altrnative therapies > that have worked for you? I may want to look at a few of these before > committing to a drug. I know there must be a lot of opinions about which way > to go- drugs or natural interventions or a combo- but it occurs to me I may > need to hear more about both approaches before we start anything. Thanks > again for taking the time, Adele > > > > > > A note about meds- to those who are just beginning to dip a toe into the > water, so to speak: > > > > -you want to familiarize yourself with the different CLASSES or FAMILIES > of medications: > > > > SSRIs (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors- I did not make this up) > > > > are in what I call the " prozac family " - kind of make you happy, mellow > you out, but in some cases, also disinhibit you so that things don't bother > you- I won't list these all here, because I am just noting this on the fly)- > also helps with OCD behaviors > > > > stimulants: ritalin family- includes metadate, adderall and others > > > > anti-psychotics (yes, sounds horrible) > > > > This family includes those meds which have now been proven to improve > " behaviors often associated with autism, such as aggression " - > > such as risperdal, depakote (which is also an anitconvulsant), etc. > > > > There is a name for meds that are *usually* prescribed for one thing, but > found to improve other conditions as well. One example is > > > > clonidine, which is first and foremost a blood pressure med which is also > helpful for calming aggressions > > > > Off the top of my head, I am not sure what family the anti-alzheimer meds > fall under, but they are often prescribed for our kids/loved ones. > > > > At any rate, as you are talking to your doctors/therapists/pharmacists > about these meds, you will begin to hear common threads of why certain > things are prescribed. > > > > SSRI's are often prescribed for depression, but that is a different > diagnosis than OCD. > > > > Also, some meds work better in conjunction with other meds than if they > had been prescribed alone. > > > > When meds are prescribed for something different than their original > purpose, the dosing norms, such as for body weight, might be different. > > > > DON'T HESITATE TO QUESTION YOUR DOCTOR/PRESCRIBING PERSON. RULES FOR > BEGINNING NEW MEDS: > > > > START LOW (LOW DOSAGE FIRST, THEN INCREASE SLOWLY IF NEEDED) > > > > AND GO SLOW (SEE ABOVE) > > > > DON'T CONFOUND: DON'T BEGIN MORE THAN ONE NEW MED OR CHANGE ONE MED > DOSAGE AT A TIME. YOU WANT TO KNOW IF *THAT* MED OR DOSE IS REALLY WORKING. > > > > THIS ALSO MIGHT MEAN DON'T ALSO BEGIN A BRAND NEW BEHAVIOR STRATEGY OR > HOMEOPATHIC OR BIOMED TREATMENT AT THE SAME TIME EITHER. > > > > When getting a new prescription from a new doctor, make sure you know how > to get ahold of him/her after hours or on weekends if you fear that the meds > are going in a wrong direction. Some meds need to be decreased slowly; > others can be stopped immediately. > > > > ASK WHAT THE HALF LIFE IS FOR ANY NEW MED. (This means, how long will it > stay in a person's system? Will effects be gone in a few hours, such as > ritalin? Or do you have to build a blood level, such as the SSRI's?) > > > > Be patient, say a prayer or two, and if necessary, ask for extra help > with other responsibilities if you can while you are basically having your > child under observation -your eagle eyes- especially during the first time > your child is on a trial for a med. > > > > Pete's been on them since age 8. They have helped tremendously. More on > that another time. > > > > One thing I always have to remind myself, though, when we are trying out > something, that there is no such thing as a silver bullet. No miracle in a > bottle or pill. You still have to keep up behavior interventions, > communication skills/supports, environmental controls, and good > diet/nutrition, good sleep habits if you can. Meds make learning/acquiring > new skills MORE ACCESSIBLE to your child. Also, sometimes everybody just > needs to be able to sleep!!! > > > > I apologize if I am repeating what others have probably said in the many > excellent posts that have been flying around the last few weeks. But every > time someone asks about meds for the first time, many of these things bear > repeating and help someone figure out about how to move forward. > > > > One of the things that has always helped me when beginning Pete on a new > med is that I say a little prayer that this med will only help and never > hurt him. (It helps me step out on faith that I have made the best possible > decision for my child that I possibly can, which seems what we are called to > do in so many situations that we could have never imagined....) > > > > Stay cool and dry, everyone! > > > > Beth > > 20 y/o Pete's Mum > > central OH (yes, where the Buckeye Nation -OSU- is hanging its collective > head in shame.) (Not that I am going to lose any sleep over it, haha!) > > > > > -- *Liz* Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. - Special Olympics Motto-RIP Eunice Kennedy Shriver “When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.-Author Unknown " Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can understand persistence. " - Hal Borland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 PS- I forgot that I had really wanted to stress one more thing: If you can locate one in your geographic area (you might need to contact a large medical center or medical school for contacts), try to find a neuropharmacologist or psychopharmacologist to talk to. These folks are amazing! If you find the right one, they can explain things to you in plain terms that make sense. This is the area of pharmacy that they have studied and perhaps even researched themselves. They are the experts in all of these meds that get tossed around on this list. They should know the intricacies of these meds better than anyone, doctors included. Barring one of those, become as well acquainted with your pharmacist as you are with your child's doctor. If there is something with a new med that you are not comfortable with, you can likely contact a pharmacist directly before you can reach your doctor. (Usually you have to go through a nurse or receptionist, leave a message for the doctor, then wait and hope they get back to you quickly.) Let your pharmacist know your concerns, tell them about your child and the changes you are hoping to elicit with the medication, etc. MB > > A note about meds- to those who are just beginning to dip a toe into the water, so to speak: > > -you want to familiarize yourself with the different CLASSES or FAMILIES of medications: > > SSRIs (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors- I did not make this up) > > are in what I call the " prozac family " - kind of make you happy, mellow you out, but in some cases, also disinhibit you so that things don't bother you- I won't list these all here, because I am just noting this on the fly)- also helps with OCD behaviors > > stimulants: ritalin family- includes metadate, adderall and others > > anti-psychotics (yes, sounds horrible) > > This family includes those meds which have now been proven to improve " behaviors often associated with autism, such as aggression " - > such as risperdal, depakote (which is also an anitconvulsant), etc. > > There is a name for meds that are *usually* prescribed for one thing, but found to improve other conditions as well. One example is > > clonidine, which is first and foremost a blood pressure med which is also helpful for calming aggressions > > Off the top of my head, I am not sure what family the anti-alzheimer meds fall under, but they are often prescribed for our kids/loved ones. > > At any rate, as you are talking to your doctors/therapists/pharmacists about these meds, you will begin to hear common threads of why certain things are prescribed. > > SSRI's are often prescribed for depression, but that is a different diagnosis than OCD. > > Also, some meds work better in conjunction with other meds than if they had been prescribed alone. > > When meds are prescribed for something different than their original purpose, the dosing norms, such as for body weight, might be different. > > DON'T HESITATE TO QUESTION YOUR DOCTOR/PRESCRIBING PERSON. RULES FOR BEGINNING NEW MEDS: > > START LOW (LOW DOSAGE FIRST, THEN INCREASE SLOWLY IF NEEDED) > > AND GO SLOW (SEE ABOVE) > > DON'T CONFOUND: DON'T BEGIN MORE THAN ONE NEW MED OR CHANGE ONE MED DOSAGE AT A TIME. YOU WANT TO KNOW IF *THAT* MED OR DOSE IS REALLY WORKING. > > THIS ALSO MIGHT MEAN DON'T ALSO BEGIN A BRAND NEW BEHAVIOR STRATEGY OR HOMEOPATHIC OR BIOMED TREATMENT AT THE SAME TIME EITHER. > > When getting a new prescription from a new doctor, make sure you know how to get ahold of him/her after hours or on weekends if you fear that the meds are going in a wrong direction. Some meds need to be decreased slowly; others can be stopped immediately. > > ASK WHAT THE HALF LIFE IS FOR ANY NEW MED. (This means, how long will it stay in a person's system? Will effects be gone in a few hours, such as ritalin? Or do you have to build a blood level, such as the SSRI's?) > > Be patient, say a prayer or two, and if necessary, ask for extra help with other responsibilities if you can while you are basically having your child under observation -your eagle eyes- especially during the first time your child is on a trial for a med. > > Pete's been on them since age 8. They have helped tremendously. More on that another time. > > One thing I always have to remind myself, though, when we are trying out something, that there is no such thing as a silver bullet. No miracle in a bottle or pill. You still have to keep up behavior interventions, communication skills/supports, environmental controls, and good diet/nutrition, good sleep habits if you can. Meds make learning/acquiring new skills MORE ACCESSIBLE to your child. Also, sometimes everybody just needs to be able to sleep!!! > > I apologize if I am repeating what others have probably said in the many excellent posts that have been flying around the last few weeks. But every time someone asks about meds for the first time, many of these things bear repeating and help someone figure out about how to move forward. > > One of the things that has always helped me when beginning Pete on a new med is that I say a little prayer that this med will only help and never hurt him. (It helps me step out on faith that I have made the best possible decision for my child that I possibly can, which seems what we are called to do in so many situations that we could have never imagined....) > > Stay cool and dry, everyone! > > Beth > 20 y/o Pete's Mum > central OH (yes, where the Buckeye Nation -OSU- is hanging its collective head in shame.) (Not that I am going to lose any sleep over it, haha!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Adele, I did exactly what you have described doing for your son- the behavior interventions and communication strategies, for starters, as well as sensory integration therapy including that auditory listening therapy- I forget exactly what it is called. When my son was born in 1990, the DS therapy of the day was some vitamin therapy and a few years later, the nutrivene. I was never keen on trying those (this was before Pete's autistic behaviors showed up in full force) but since he had no medical complications due to DS alone until he was 13 and developed hypothyroidism, (well, except for alopecia which is not very treatable anyway) I decided " if it ain't broke don't try to fix it " . Since he was growing well and thriving on a general, well-balance diet, no tummy or gut troubles, no food allergies, I did not want to do any dietary interventions. I have never heard of any anecdotal evidence of any homeopathic or alternative kind of medicine that helped change *behavior*. Yes, if there is a medical problem that is causing the behavior, such as an ear infection or headaches or GERD causing kids to hit themselves or go off in a rage, you treat that medical problem and sometimes that IS the reason a behavior is occurring. But aside from that, I personally get more concerned if I can't read the research on the efficacy of a treatment. Of the few alternative treatments that worked for my Pete, (and I am not sure if it's even considered " alternative " anymore) , sensory integration was absolutely helpful. His therapist did vestibular swinging (back and forth, side-to side, figure eights) on a platform swing; had him wear a weighted backpack or vest; etc. Brushing protocol didn't work as well with Pete as with other kids, and even now, some joint compression helps him when he has that urge to touch others too much. We gradually segued the SI therapy into just more overall large motor exercise, and going on walks, jogs, sprints, etc., or climbing stairs seems to help him get himself pulled back together. But, as you have described your son also, my Pete can be aggressive. He has hurt people; police have been called (by others); he is very strong and has thrown tvs, computer monitors, his $7000 Vantage, etc. etc. He is impulsive and has run off. He has done some of that life-threateningly scary stuff. You are absolutely right to consider a trial dose of something now as Liam is approaching puberty, because our kids really do tend to crank up stuff during this time. (By the way, I forgot to mention that we always, always check thyroid and blood sugar levels before any talk of " behavior meds " - due to thyroid having a huge impact on behavior, not to mention blood sugar. But my guess is, you've already done that. However, as Liam enters puberty, this is a time when thyroid can be affected, and I think they still recommend people with DS get thyroid tested twice a year. Thyroid can change quickly. The auditory (listening?) therapy that we tried- an at home version under our OT's supervision, where you listen to special CDs with these sound frequencies in them, did nothing. I was hoping, since Pete was going through a screaming/noisy time at that point (around age 10) that maybe the sound therapy would help. I know anecdotally that some kids have been helped by this, but more for those who are really sensitive to sounds, not with other behaviors. One of the things I also tried to consider, and still do, is " how miserable/how uncomfortable is he? " since he cannot tell me in words what he is really experiencing. But I could see by his physical responses that he was miserable, scared, anxious, or angry, and the behaviors reflected that. As much as for safety reasons, I figure that Pete deserves a chance to be comfortable in his own skin. And if a prescription med has a chance of giving that to him when all other efforts (Lord knows how hard we tried and still try with behavioral methods) have failed, then I figure I owe that to him. Pete is currently on clonidine, risperdal, and depakote. Clonidine relaxes him and helps with sleep; risperdal has absolutely helped with aggression, and we have not had too much weight gain with it. He still has bouts of aggression and will throw stuff, but now it might be a cloth napkin instead of a metal fork at the table. Depakote helps with mood disorder- mostly with Pete's periods of being kind of manic, as he has ADHD but can't take the stimulant meds. Then synthroid, and singulair and clarinex for seasonal allergies. On three occasions in the last 6 years, checking thyroid when behaviors start to fall apart has proven helpful. Once the dose of synthroid was corrected, his behaviors improved. Other times, behaviors have tanked, but thyroid levels are fine. Then we look at his other meds. BTW, as Margaret has said, Risperdal has been proven to affect speech- stimulate it- for people with autism. I have absolutely seen this with Pete. At 20, he is learning and using new words and saying longer sentences every day. Hope this helps. Beth, Pete's Mum > > Thanks so much for the summary about these meds Beth- its very helpful. Are there any natural remedies/suppliments/altrnative therapies that have worked for you? I may want to look at a few of these before committing to a drug. I know there must be a lot of opinions about which way to go- drugs or natural interventions or a combo- but it occurs to me I may need to hear more about both approaches before we start anything. Thanks again for taking the time, Adele > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 Just like minoxidil (aka Rogaine)=lowers blood pressure=hair growth (side effect and now used for this purpose). About the Alzheimer/Downn Syndrome drugs: They usually give *smart drugs* (what they call them) or memory enhancing drugs (nootropics)to alzheimer patients and patients with Down syndrome (not currently approved for minors in the USA, but can be ordered online and frequently are). Some of these drugs help increase acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter in the brain), which help brain cells communicate. Piracetam is a common one used. > > A note about meds- to those who are just beginning to dip a toe into the water, so to speak: > > -you want to familiarize yourself with the different CLASSES or FAMILIES of medications: > > SSRIs (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors- I did not make this up) > > are in what I call the " prozac family " - kind of make you happy, mellow you out, but in some cases, also disinhibit you so that things don't bother you- I won't list these all here, because I am just noting this on the fly)- also helps with OCD behaviors > > stimulants: ritalin family- includes metadate, adderall and others > > anti-psychotics (yes, sounds horrible) > > This family includes those meds which have now been proven to improve " behaviors often associated with autism, such as aggression " - > such as risperdal, depakote (which is also an anitconvulsant), etc. > > There is a name for meds that are *usually* prescribed for one thing, but found to improve other conditions as well. One example is > > clonidine, which is first and foremost a blood pressure med which is also helpful for calming aggressions > > Off the top of my head, I am not sure what family the anti-alzheimer meds fall under, but they are often prescribed for our kids/loved ones. > > At any rate, as you are talking to your doctors/therapists/pharmacists about these meds, you will begin to hear common threads of why certain things are prescribed. > > SSRI's are often prescribed for depression, but that is a different diagnosis than OCD. > > Also, some meds work better in conjunction with other meds than if they had been prescribed alone. > > When meds are prescribed for something different than their original purpose, the dosing norms, such as for body weight, might be different. > > DON'T HESITATE TO QUESTION YOUR DOCTOR/PRESCRIBING PERSON. RULES FOR BEGINNING NEW MEDS: > > START LOW (LOW DOSAGE FIRST, THEN INCREASE SLOWLY IF NEEDED) > > AND GO SLOW (SEE ABOVE) > > DON'T CONFOUND: DON'T BEGIN MORE THAN ONE NEW MED OR CHANGE ONE MED DOSAGE AT A TIME. YOU WANT TO KNOW IF *THAT* MED OR DOSE IS REALLY WORKING. > > THIS ALSO MIGHT MEAN DON'T ALSO BEGIN A BRAND NEW BEHAVIOR STRATEGY OR HOMEOPATHIC OR BIOMED TREATMENT AT THE SAME TIME EITHER. > > When getting a new prescription from a new doctor, make sure you know how to get ahold of him/her after hours or on weekends if you fear that the meds are going in a wrong direction. Some meds need to be decreased slowly; others can be stopped immediately. > > ASK WHAT THE HALF LIFE IS FOR ANY NEW MED. (This means, how long will it stay in a person's system? Will effects be gone in a few hours, such as ritalin? Or do you have to build a blood level, such as the SSRI's?) > > Be patient, say a prayer or two, and if necessary, ask for extra help with other responsibilities if you can while you are basically having your child under observation -your eagle eyes- especially during the first time your child is on a trial for a med. > > Pete's been on them since age 8. They have helped tremendously. More on that another time. > > One thing I always have to remind myself, though, when we are trying out something, that there is no such thing as a silver bullet. No miracle in a bottle or pill. You still have to keep up behavior interventions, communication skills/supports, environmental controls, and good diet/nutrition, good sleep habits if you can. Meds make learning/acquiring new skills MORE ACCESSIBLE to your child. Also, sometimes everybody just needs to be able to sleep!!! > > I apologize if I am repeating what others have probably said in the many excellent posts that have been flying around the last few weeks. But every time someone asks about meds for the first time, many of these things bear repeating and help someone figure out about how to move forward. > > One of the things that has always helped me when beginning Pete on a new med is that I say a little prayer that this med will only help and never hurt him. (It helps me step out on faith that I have made the best possible decision for my child that I possibly can, which seems what we are called to do in so many situations that we could have never imagined....) > > Stay cool and dry, everyone! > > Beth > 20 y/o Pete's Mum > central OH (yes, where the Buckeye Nation -OSU- is hanging its collective head in shame.) (Not that I am going to lose any sleep over it, haha!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 Please note *ALL DRUGS* come with side effects. > > > > A note about meds- to those who are just beginning to dip a toe into the water, so to speak: > > > > -you want to familiarize yourself with the different CLASSES or FAMILIES of medications: > > > > SSRIs (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors- I did not make this up) > > > > are in what I call the " prozac family " - kind of make you happy, mellow you out, but in some cases, also disinhibit you so that things don't bother you- I won't list these all here, because I am just noting this on the fly)- also helps with OCD behaviors > > > > stimulants: ritalin family- includes metadate, adderall and others > > > > anti-psychotics (yes, sounds horrible) > > > > This family includes those meds which have now been proven to improve " behaviors often associated with autism, such as aggression " - > > such as risperdal, depakote (which is also an anitconvulsant), etc. > > > > There is a name for meds that are *usually* prescribed for one thing, but found to improve other conditions as well. One example is > > > > clonidine, which is first and foremost a blood pressure med which is also helpful for calming aggressions > > > > Off the top of my head, I am not sure what family the anti-alzheimer meds fall under, but they are often prescribed for our kids/loved ones. > > > > At any rate, as you are talking to your doctors/therapists/pharmacists about these meds, you will begin to hear common threads of why certain things are prescribed. > > > > SSRI's are often prescribed for depression, but that is a different diagnosis than OCD. > > > > Also, some meds work better in conjunction with other meds than if they had been prescribed alone. > > > > When meds are prescribed for something different than their original purpose, the dosing norms, such as for body weight, might be different. > > > > DON'T HESITATE TO QUESTION YOUR DOCTOR/PRESCRIBING PERSON. RULES FOR BEGINNING NEW MEDS: > > > > START LOW (LOW DOSAGE FIRST, THEN INCREASE SLOWLY IF NEEDED) > > > > AND GO SLOW (SEE ABOVE) > > > > DON'T CONFOUND: DON'T BEGIN MORE THAN ONE NEW MED OR CHANGE ONE MED DOSAGE AT A TIME. YOU WANT TO KNOW IF *THAT* MED OR DOSE IS REALLY WORKING. > > > > THIS ALSO MIGHT MEAN DON'T ALSO BEGIN A BRAND NEW BEHAVIOR STRATEGY OR HOMEOPATHIC OR BIOMED TREATMENT AT THE SAME TIME EITHER. > > > > When getting a new prescription from a new doctor, make sure you know how to get ahold of him/her after hours or on weekends if you fear that the meds are going in a wrong direction. Some meds need to be decreased slowly; others can be stopped immediately. > > > > ASK WHAT THE HALF LIFE IS FOR ANY NEW MED. (This means, how long will it stay in a person's system? Will effects be gone in a few hours, such as ritalin? Or do you have to build a blood level, such as the SSRI's?) > > > > Be patient, say a prayer or two, and if necessary, ask for extra help with other responsibilities if you can while you are basically having your child under observation -your eagle eyes- especially during the first time your child is on a trial for a med. > > > > Pete's been on them since age 8. They have helped tremendously. More on that another time. > > > > One thing I always have to remind myself, though, when we are trying out something, that there is no such thing as a silver bullet. No miracle in a bottle or pill. You still have to keep up behavior interventions, communication skills/supports, environmental controls, and good diet/nutrition, good sleep habits if you can. Meds make learning/acquiring new skills MORE ACCESSIBLE to your child. Also, sometimes everybody just needs to be able to sleep!!! > > > > I apologize if I am repeating what others have probably said in the many excellent posts that have been flying around the last few weeks. But every time someone asks about meds for the first time, many of these things bear repeating and help someone figure out about how to move forward. > > > > One of the things that has always helped me when beginning Pete on a new med is that I say a little prayer that this med will only help and never hurt him. (It helps me step out on faith that I have made the best possible decision for my child that I possibly can, which seems what we are called to do in so many situations that we could have never imagined....) > > > > Stay cool and dry, everyone! > > > > Beth > > 20 y/o Pete's Mum > > central OH (yes, where the Buckeye Nation -OSU- is hanging its collective head in shame.) (Not that I am going to lose any sleep over it, haha!) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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