What to do with 8 year old with ADHD and Complex Partial Seizure Disorder?

Hello, my 8 year old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in September 2009 and has taken Focalin XR which has been increased recently to 15mg once a day. She was taking Intuniv but stopped the medication in August 2010 when she started having seizures. In September 2010 she was diagnosed with Partial Complex Seizures after having a very abnormal EEG. She has been taking Lamotrigine 100mg's each day with Focalin XR15mg. She has a really hard time going to sleep and sleeping soundly and the evenings can be horrendous when the Focalin has left her system. We started seeing a psychologist to try to help her and us deal with her behavior but she has started exhibiting OCD behavior. We have introduced 3mg of Melatonin and it seemed to work for the first couple of weeks but is talking in her sleep, and just doesn't seem to relax during sleep. I'm trying to find out if we should reintroduce Intuniv while removing Melatonin or if there are behavior modifications or even foods to try to help her. She also seems to be lactose intolerant and sometimes a very picky eater. We have her make her lunch so that she can choose what she eats but seems to not always eat it...I'm not sure what to do, can you help?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

As long as she is remaining asleep and is sleeping for a reasonable amount of time each night, I would adopt the framewor that "if it is not broken don't fix it". Her appetite suppression is a normal side effect of the Focalin and you face a cost/benefit dilemma. If you think the cost of the reduced appetite is reasonable in light of the benefit she receives from the Focalin, continue with it. Encourage her to take in some protein at lunch, even if she is not particularly hungry.