need help

[polarpurple]

My son is almost 11. He has been diagnosed with asperger's vs. PDD nos, ADD inattentive type, depressive disorder, and disruptive disorder nos. He has been taking concerta, 72 mg, since August, and it seemed to help for a while, but seems to wear off quicker these days.
We took him to his medication recheck appt. yesterday. He is becoming more aggressive, and throws things and hits and acts out. We have been going through some major life changes, as I am divorcing his father who was abusive, and we have had to move in with my parents until I am done with nursing school.
The doctor was unwilling to try to change his medications, (even though we have only tried concerta), and said that it is time to try inpatient treatment to find the right medications. I am reserved on this decision, as I feel maybe weshould try some other medication first, but went to the inpatient facilities today to see what services they will offer.
They are unwilling to admit him,saying that he must besuicidal or homicidal for the last 72 hours first. He has never been either, but can be a danger to himself and others when he is angry.
I have contacted the children's hospital, department of health and human services, center for children and families, his behavior counselor, experts in the area, and no one is able to point me to a resource that can offer help for my situation. In fact, several have suggested that I just take restraint and parenting classes, and tell me that he can be difficult, you are doing everything you can.
Are there any other resources? I may be willing to relocate, if I can find him help. He is very intellegient, and excells in school in gifted and talented classes when he will do the work. I am at a loss, and need resources. Can anyone point me in the right direction???????

[Jason C Bourret, Ph.D., BCBA]

I am sorry to hear about the number of difficulties you are encountering.  The issues that you are facing are, unfortunately, not uncommon for parents of children with autism-spectrum diagnoses.  Let’s start with the medication.  There is some evidence that medication can help with problem behavior emitted by children with diagnoses similar to your son’s.  That being said, it is very important that you are working with a doctor you are comfortable with.  If you don’t like the decisions being made, seek out another doctor.  Good choices are those who have experience with individuals that have your son’s diagnosis and who have experience successfully treating problem behavior with medication.  In addition, while there is some evidence that medication can help, the most effective solutions have a teaching component as well.  The most proven approach to treating severe behavior problems is Applied Behavior Analysis.  There is certification for therapists practicing behavior analysis and you can search for one in your area here http://www.bacb.com/  Again, you would be looking for someone with experience dealing with the type of problem behavior that your son is exhibiting.  

[portuguese mom]

Trying one m

[portuguese mom]

Trying one medication is not right. Usually takes a while to find the right medication and the correct amount.  Sometimes takes a combination of two medications or more.  The solution that your doctor gave you to admit him is also extreme given that you only tried one med. Can you find another local doctor that is willing to work with you? You also need to tell the forum where you live (ie state or major city) so that the expert can direct you.

[portuguese mom]

Trying one medication is not right. Usually takes a while to find the right medication and the correct amount.  Sometimes takes a combination of two medications or more.  The solution that your doctor gave you to admit him is also extreme given that you only tried one med. Can you find another local doctor that is willing to work with you? You also need to tell the forum where you live (ie state or major city) so that the expert can direct you.

[jkm501]

Same boat over here! Concerta (18mg) worked well for about a year for my son. Age5 to5 1/4 was like night and day the minute it hit his system. When his defiant/aggressive behaviors started to increase again, they added Risperdal (1.5mg).
Now the unpredictable behavior is on the move up once again. His doctor won't listen to me when I say "ASPERGER'S". Due to many relocations (expelled from 6 daycares and 2 kindergardens...the last move was to prevent expulsion from 3rd grade) he has only seen this particulare doctor for 6 months. She doesn't know any more than his records tell her, since she met him when his behavior was moderately in check. Truthfully, he can't make it through breakfast without his pills--and neither could I! My advice to you is this: DON'T LET THEM IGNORE YOU! You are his mother, and without a medical degree you still know what he needs better than they do. Scream loud and clear HELP MY SON! If they still offer less than necessary assistance, ask them just who is reasonsable for the damage he causes himself or another while they aren't effectively treating his DISABILTY? Rock the boat and get them wet-or they'll just go through the protocal motions of seemingly treating your son as an individual and not a statistic.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND HANG IN THERE! EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE!

[575cricket]

This may be an elementary suggestion, but have you looked for a clinician that is on the list on the DAN website?  They have a list of Drs. that have pledged to use the DAN protocol and continued education through DAN conferences.  You may have already done this.  Since you mentioned being willing to go to great lengths for help, there is a treatment center in Austin that is doing some amazing things and much of their treatment can take place long distance.  Check out their website www.thoughtfulhouse.org.

[oozlewoman]

Let me help you out I have a son that was told everything you was told, but one difference I have a great doctor that lets me decide what i ned to give him. My son who is age 11 to was on concerta 75 and he too was getting aggressive. I had them lower the dose it made a world of difference there is another type of ritalin out there it is called methlyn. I nottice when they lowered the dosage when he came home in the afternoon he got a small dose of methlyn. You know what else I did I took him off the concerta on the weekend it made him angry, aggressive, moody, argumentative and he didn't want to be out side. Once I took him off the concerta on the weekend he plays with other kids he doesn't talk back. Another thing that worries me about your son being on that high of dose is does he think of suicide. He may not tell you but ask him. My son when he was on that high of a dose took a knife and told me he wanted to end it all. I tell you what it took three mnths him comming off that high dose to be normal again. If you can't get a doctor to listen to you I would scream and yell till I found one that didn't tell me how my son was that listened to me about how he was. YOU are raising that child not the doctor and no doctor will tell me how to deal with my son. I told my doctor this up front and he has never said you have to do this. You sound like you are at your wits end. I am here for you if you want  to talk. Oh Yeah My son was diagnosed when he was 4 so i have been going through the system along time.

[thinforVegas]

I wish I could help!! My son has ADHD, Bipoplar, ODD with autistic qaulities. I cry so much he is 9 has no friends is also very bright when he does his work. Iam so scared and helpless. Always adjusting meds . when you find something that seems to work
it only works for awhile then you start all over again.  What will his future hold? He knows hes different and hates it.

[rani77]

I have a son with a diagnosis of Asperger's and he is also 11.  His behavior started to deteriorate during his 10th year and finally got so bad I took him to see a child psychiatrist who first prescribed Concerta.  He stopped eating and his behavior did not seem to improve so we stopped that.The docor then prescribed Risperdal which we never used because it seemed so extreme for an 11 year old.  I noticed one night that I could hear him moving around in his bed and realized he had not been sleeping well and had been going to bed really late (2 am).  I always went to bed earlier so I didn't realize he had been staying up so late. After researching on the internet I discovered an old article on research that showed autistic kids don't produce enough melatonin on their own. I got Melatonin at CVS pharmacy 3 mg which helps restore sleep cycles.  He fell asleep after 20 minutes. His behavior improved dramatically overnight...it was sort of miraculous.  After that I began to add other vitamins and supplements and have tried a totally natural course of action.  He is currently on 3 mg of Melatonin (Natrol brand purple bottle), magnesium with zinc, a probiotic, a multivitamin, and Cod liver oil.   I am always researching autism and trying to find more ways to help him and I am hoping to avoid the use of medications as long as possible. In addition we have eliminated milk products.  We are not gluten free however as I have found this harder to eliminate from his diet.We severely restrict his consumption of sugars and junk foods which contain all the additives etc. His behavior is much improved and I know he isn't "cured" but I feel like there is hope that he will improve gradually.  Also my son was homeschooled through the age of 11 and then began to go to a special school for kids with ASDs.  He is happy there so far.  I hope this information will help you.  We have seen a great reduction in aggresive behaviors and repetitive speech.  The thing I have realized is that traditional doctors try to solve symptoms through medications rather than trying to find the cause of the behaviors, which is a time consuming hit or iss, and trial and error process.  Good luck to you and may God bless you and your family.