By the way, check out this post
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Child-Behavior/8-year-old-Bipolar-son-on-Zoloft/show/1365587
I think it may have some relationship to your situation!
Ouch! Ya, you definitely need more help or more experience. The following may be off the mark or right on. Its a post sent to me by another member on the differences between bipolar and ADHD. The fact that the meds so far used don't seem to work does make me wonder about the bipolar issues. Anyway, I definitely think its something worth looking into. And I don't know how far you are from a bigger town, but if one is close(or even far away) I would be looking for a pediatric psychiatrist. Nothing against your doctors, but if it is bipolar, it does take experience to identify and deal with. Besides the information posted below, I would also google bipolar.
The following is the information sent to me:
Sent by gjayme31 Oct 05, 2010 02:27AM
This is a list of the differences between ADHD and Bipolar because they are very similar:
1. Destructiveness may be seen in both disorders but differs in origin. Children who are ADHD often break things carelessly while playing (“non-angry destructiveness”), whereas the major destructiveness of children who are bipolar is not a result of carelessness but tends to occur in anger. Children who are bipolar may exhibit severe temper tantrums during which they release manic quantities of physical and emotional energy, sometimes with violence and physical property destruction. They may even exhibit openly sadistic impulses.
2. The duration and intensity of physical outbursts and temper tantrums differs in the two disorders. Children who are ADHD usually calm down in twenty to thirty minutes, whereas children who are bipolar may continue to feel and act angry for up to four hours.
3. The degree of “regression” during angry episodes is typically more severe for children who are bipolar. It is rare to see an angry child who is ADHD display disorganized thinking, language, and body position, all of which may be seen in angry bipolar children during a tantrum. Children who are bipolar may also lose memory of the tantrum.
4. The “trigger” for temper tantrums is also different. Children who have ADHD are typically triggered by sensory and emotional over stimulation, whereas children who have bipolar disorder typically react to limit-setting, such as a parental “no.”
5. Disturbances during sleep in children with bipolar disorder include severe nightmares or night terrors often with themes of explicit gore and bodily mutilation.
6. Children who are bipolar often show giftedness in certain cognitive functions, especially verbal and artistic skills (perhaps with verbal precocity and punning by age two to three years).
7. The misbehavior in children with ADHD is often accidental and usually caused by oblivious inattention, whereas children with bipolar disorders intentionally provoke or misbehave. Some bipolar children are described as “the bully on the playground.”
8. The child with ADHD may engage in behavior that can lead to harmful consequences without being aware of the danger, whereas the child with bipolar disorder is risk seeking.
9. Bipolar children tend to have a strong early sexual interest and behavior.
10. Children with ADHD usually do not exhibit psychotic symptoms or reveal a loss of contact with reality, whereas children with bipolar disorder may exhibit gross distortions in the perception of reality or in the interpretation of emotional events.
There are 3 levels of bipolar. Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymia. Lithium is usually used to treat bipolar because it treats depression and mania but it cannot be given to a child under 12. I have never used drugs. If a child is hyper I use the adkins diet as it will bring a hyper person down within a week. Pure protein and dairy. The will be lethargic by week 2 but I usually keep it going for a month. Stimulants are good for treating depression. Its only dangerous for mania because when a person is in mania they are secreting large amounts of adrenaline and endorpines and they are stimulants. When a stimulant is added you get kids that can't ever sleep and they will develop psychotic symptoms quick.
Oh BTW let parents know that even if its ADHD or bipolar any cough syrup or flu medication over the counter will triple symptoms. All of them state under warnings do not use if you have a psychiatric condition. I use thyme to treat sinus congestion, hey fever and sore throat. Oregano is a heavy seditive and sometimes I use chamomile teas.
She sees a psychologist and a pediatrician. Her psychologist "thinks" she has ADHD. And she probably does... both her dad and I did as children. I took Ritalin as a kid, but her dad never received any medical support. He just got into a lot of trouble his whole adolescence. He is also very violent and has some other mental issues. She inherited a lot of his psychological issues. He suffered from night terrors- so does she. She also has an older 1/2 brother from her father who has the same behavioral problems that she has. I have tried everything with her. He have done parental counseling. The pediatricians in the small town we live in are close to worthless.
I can deal with her being "HYPER", it's her constant bad attitude and mood swings that have almost drove us off the bridge. She cusses at me, does not hit me (yet), she tells me and everyone that she "****ing hates" us. She has a great life, and a great family, and everything she needs plus some. It's just not good enough for her, or what she really needs. I have been to the point MANY times where I thought about having her go live with some one else. Not because I dont love her, but because I do not want to snap.
Of course one can not go on living with the fear that they may "SNAP", so I talked to my doctor and got some help for myself. Im on 2 anti depressants that have helped me deal with my daughters psychological issues. I have more patience with her, and seldom have thoughts of driving off the bridge.
Now my one goal is to get her the help that she needs to make her a happy, healthy child. She is very smart, great with her 1 and a half year old brother, great with her cat. She isnt violent, but she's very destructive. She doesnt take care of her stuff. She doesnt listen. I do not know the last time I got to sleep through the night. She still wakes up in the middle of the night crying. It's physically and emotionally exhausting being her mother. But I love her, and have from the moment I saw her.
Can children suffer from depression? I know she has some anxiety... when i say that she cries and throws fits ALL THE TIME- I am serious.
No, you can't continue giving her zoloft.
Its not a drug to play around with - and that is what you are doing. I am not exactly sure how to stop giving it. Cold turkey might be bad. I would definitely tell your doctor. Your doctor needs to know because its possible that she has been miss medicated or miss diagnosed, and this information might be helpful. The fact that the doctor has already tried 3 different meds would indicate he is searching for an answer - but maybe up the wrong tree. Also, does the doctor give you any parenting advice or behavioral modification advice? But the fact that the doctor has had her on meds since she was 3 and a half worries me. What kind of a doctor are you seeing? Is it a pediatrician or a psychiatrist?
I do understand how you must be feeling with the apparent change in your daughter. But you have got to do this the right way. Good Luck