Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Step-Daughter on Risperdal, Depakote, Paxil, and soon Ritalin
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
Step-Daughter on Risperdal, Depakote, Paxil, and soon Ritalin
by Sheereck, Sep 25, 2001 12:00AM
My husband and I are deeply concerned and frustrated. Recently my step-daughter (7) attempted suicide. Since then she has been placed on Risperdal, Depakote, Paxil and soon will be on Ritalin if her mother ok's it. I realize she obviously has a problem because she tried to commit suicide, however, she has all of these horrible behaviors ONLY with her mother, i.e. anger, depression, aggresive (aggressive), hyper, etc. When she's is with us she is happy, attentive, playful - not hyper, listens, and behaves. Her behaviors are in my opinion a product of her environment more than having a disorder, especially something such as ADHD, because she does have control. 3 different Dr.s all have aposing opinions. One which agree's with me. Is there anything you can suggest we do to help my step-daughter deal with her environment better so that she may not have to take all these meds. I honestly believe she doesn't need them, or at least all of them. We are trying to get custody and don't know all the details, i.e. her mother told us the Risperdal was for sleep. Obviously that's far from the truth. I guess I'm just looking for some words of wisdom.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Sep 25, 2001 12:00AM
, Sep 25, 2001 12:00AM
From your decription, there are indcations that your daughter might be best served by a change in environment. Apart from involvement in therapy (and her mother should be in therapy), there's really no reason to be optimistic that a child so young can be expected to manage an environment that is not adequate to meet her needs. Your efforts would best be directed toward trying to alter her environment.
