Finally!

[isthiscp]

After six months with the psych we met with him today. he said that my son has DEFINATELY got a hyper active disorder but he is still unsure of diagnosing his aspergers. And only six months! Now on to the next stage.what do people think about meds for hyper avtivity in an 8 yr old?

[MJIthewriter]

I'd be careful about diving into meds right away. If there's a way to resolve it without meds go for it. If meds are to be used, use them as a last resort.

I was about 6 or 7 and put on a med (Ritlen) for less than a week... I guess it made me MORE hyper? Eep. After that, I wasn't on any meds for the rest of my childhood and most of my teen years. Somehow I managed to get by.

I personally don't like to buy into all the drugs. (The drug agency seems to have a drug for everything doesn't it?) I'm on a med right now, but I am very wary about such perscriptions... I'm hoping that the wellbutrin I am on won't be a long-term thing. I'd like to get back to having no meds if I can keep the depression down. I'm wary about long-term effects.

[isthiscp]

Thanks for your reply. I am worried about the meds thing. He the dr, said its for the hyperactivity. My son has never had meds for anything in his life! I am worried that the meds could somehow "change" his personality, and this I dont want to do just so that he can be more "socially acceptable" or easier "to manage". What do you think?

[MJIthewriter]

I really don't know if meds will change his personality but they could leave unwanted side-effects.  This is more just a general gripe, but is seems to me the med industry likes to push meds for just about anything.
As far as meds and children go, it's a contraversial debate. Some people believe that it will cause perminant changes because children's brains are still forming. Whether they are right, I don't know. I'm just suspcious in general about certain meds.  I'm on welbutrin right now, but prior to that any meds that are for behavior I didn't like and didn't ant to go on long-term. I still am suspcious...and I hope not to have to be on this one long-term either.

I guess it comes down to does he need it?  If he can get by without meds, go for it. If it's impossible, then a mild dose may be something to consider, but even then make sure to know the potential side effects.

[mjthewriterdad]

Be concerned with a lot of neuroleptics side effects.  One that I know of is Tardive Diskinesia.

Tardive Dyskinesia sometimes shows up ininvoluntary  facial movements like  blinking, lip-licking, tongue-twitching, chewing, sucking,  foot-tapping leg jerking or bouncing  or they can be more serious: writing, rocking, twisting, jerking. The word "tardive"suggests that these effects  can continue long after the drug is no longer taken.

For some reason, elderly female patients and children and adolescents and smokers seem to be more suseptable to this.  

Some drugs I know that have risks of TD are: Risperdal Clozaril Zyprexa Seroquel Geodon Haldol Elavil Thorazine Mellaril Stelazine

Many of these above drugs are heavy-duty neurolrptics.  You may want to get 2nd opinion any of these are perscribed. A lot of these are containdicated for pediatric use.

I looked up others some of these suprized me as many are not neuroleptics:
Trilafon  
Loxitane / Loxapac (Loxapine)
Navane (Thiothixine)
Prolixin / Modecate (Fluphenazine)
Piportil (Pipotiazine)
Trilafon (Perphenazine)
Orap (Pimozide)
Serentil (Mesoridazine)
Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Zoloft (Sertraline)
Nardil (Phenelzine)
Asendin (Amoxapine)
Sinequan (Doxepine)
Tofranil (Imipramine)
Lithium


It's best to read up on the drug.  When I go to a pharmacist, I ask for the package insert.  It is usually some tight wad of thin sheet of paper. When you gently unroll it, you get a long scroll with a wealth of technical info about the drug.  

[SueNYC]

I say try them (but don't let them got for the Prozac).  with Sam they were pretty useless - we ended up on Tenex.  The others made him more eotional.  Wil my little one - she has ADHD/ Tourette's and OCD - the adderall worked great (whe is on 10 mg) but she is an absolute ***** on it.  I have ADHD and cannot function well without my adderall - I was diagnosed after my kids.   Twenty years of being screamed at foer a messy house - then came adderall and my hubby adores me again.