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5757880 tn?1395578022

Anxiety Meds for ADHD Boy, Age 8

Hey Everyone!
It's been a while since I posted here.
Last week we got the psych evaluation for my 8 year old son in regards to all that has been going on with him. (In May the school tested and qualified him for an IEP) Well, he is at a three-tier diagnosis. (1) ADHD (Combined Type), (2) Generalized Anxiety Disorder and (3) R/O of Autism Disorder.
Mind you, the doctor cannot test my son for Autism because the medical community in my area still follows the DSM-4 and the school system follows DSM-5, so they informed me to ask the school to test him in his 2nd semester. However, the doctor stated per the information provided, my son is high probability for high-functioning autism.

So, after a lengthy conversation with my husband (who isn't big on giving meds to children), we both agreed that with his ADHD med (methlophyidate. 20mg, 3 times daily) that perhaps he does need an anti-anxiety med since the doctor believes some of his actions, quirks and ticks are due to his stress and how he tries to handle social situations. I'm meeting with another doctor tomorrow, who prescribes his meds, and I'm wondering what I can go in with - opinion wise - on what would be a good medication for him in regards to anxiety?

I take paxil 10mg right now and I only noticed the side effects when I first started and then it's been wonderful for me....

Also ... could I have cause his Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Somebody once told me it was a learned habit and I was so anxious around him when he was first born.... did I do this?

Thank you!
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Avatar universal
Grew fat, lazy and were not alert. Their coats were
ragged and tails scaly, with dull eyes and rough and dry skin. When held,
they were jumpy. These were smaller in size than those in Group One.
keepwell
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
    I do agree that it is always wise to try diet changes.
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Avatar universal
No artificial preservatives, colorings, additives, or
refined carbohydrates. Primary nutrients were derived from whole grains,
seeds, nuts, fresh fruit, vegetables, raw milk and water.
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
      Not sure where you have gotten your info, but it has no scientific evidence behind it.   If,  "we remove the cause of Attention Deficit Disorder, the symptoms will soon abate"  then you don't have AD/HD - you have something else.
   Imaging research on the neurochemistry of ADHD implicate the catecholamine-rich fronto-subcortical systems in the pathophysiology of ADHD.  SPECT findings show that during concentration, there is decreased activity in the underside and lateral preforontal cortex with concentration.  
       "Although precise causes have not yet been identified, there is little question that heredity makes the largest contribution to the expression of the disorder in the population.

In instances where heredity does not seem to be a factor, difficulties during pregnancy, prenatal exposure to alcohol and tobacco, premature delivery, significantly low birth weight, excessively high body lead levels, and postnatal injury to the prefrontal regions of the brain have all been found to contribute to the risk for AD/HD to varying degrees.

Research does not support the popularly held views that AD/HD arises from excessive sugar intake, excessive television viewing, poor child management by parents, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos. Of course, many things, including these, might aggravate symptoms, especially in certain individuals.  But the evidence for such individual aggravating circumstances is not strong enough to conclude that they are primary causes of ADHD.  A related problem that has some accumulating evidence is sensitivity to food or additives such as colorings and preservatives.  Several controlled double-blind studies suggest that these might be important for a minority of children with ADHD, and a couple of controlled studies suggest a small effect on all children whether or not they have ADHD."    http://www.chadd.org/Understanding-ADHD/Causes-and-Brain-Chemistry.aspx
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Avatar universal
Parents need to understand that ADD / ADHD has a definite cause. When that cause is removed the child will usually recover. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – sometimes referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder – is as widespread as the refined foods and the food additives that play such a major role in causing ADD / ADHD. Once you have read the information below you will realise that Ritalin and other ADD / ADHD medications achieve nothing more than the suppression of symptoms. If we remove the cause of Attention Deficit Disorder, the symptoms will soon abate and no medication will be necessary.
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Avatar universal
I take klonopin i'd  see about the lowest dose .05 up to four tx daily i take 2mg four tx daily it does wonders for me
"


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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
       Well, there is a genetic component to anxiety, and I would suspect that anxious parents could also create anxiety.  But, I think, from all I have read that ADHD is the biggest cause as the person tries to cope with the ADHD.  And frankly, if you were a part of it or not, doesn't matter.  What does matter is that you are a part of helping him deal with it.
    In terms of your anxiety question.  My go-to-guy for this is Dr. Charles Parker at Corepsyc.    I had to go back over a lot of stuff to find specific answers.   But, my first thought is that I believe that you have been using stim meds now for about 5 months?  Does the dosage now seem to be working?  I see where you have gone from concerta to  methlophyidate. 20mg, 3 times daily.  Of course the 20 mgs is somewhat short acting so that there will be gaps in the coverage.  Does the anxiety get worse during those times.  And, of course, there are ways to deal with anxiety that even a 8 year can learn to deal with it.  Actually that brings up another question - since he now is not in school - has the anxiety gotten better?   Point being, that if the anxiety is better when he is  not in school - use this time to work with him on dealing with it.  
   But back to your question.  First, do not give him Paxil -  " Prozac and Paxil both significantly block the pathway for the metabolism of Adderall and all the amphetamine products."   Which can lead to really bad stuff.
   Second, go very low and slow if you do try meds for this. From the same link - "Effexor, venlafaxine, Pristiq, Lexapro, & Celexa are all quite clean on 2D6."  so those are the meds to look at if you do go that route.

Read more: http://www.corepsych.com/2006/11/adderall-prozac-and-paxil-problem-not-solution/#ixzz38AfKhCmX


Read more: http://www.corepsych.com/2006/11/adderall-prozac-and-paxil-problem-not-solution/#ixzz38Af5GM2Q


     Finally, here are two pretty good links on Anxiety, etc which you might find interesting from Dr. Parker.
     http://www.corepsych.com/2013/03/adhd-insights-cognitive-anxiety-markers-2/
     http://www.corepsych.com/2012/10/adhd-insights-social-anxiety-revisited/

    I do hope this helps.  Keep in touch!
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