Families of Depressed & Bipolar Kids Community

My daughter was on abilify a long time ago, and honestly, I forget how long it takes to see some results, but I know its within 2-weeks.

What is your son's dx ? If he has a mood disorder, has his Dr. tried him on a mood stabilizer med?

-Kathleen

He was diagnosed with ADHD, Mood Disorder, and ODD. He started Risperidal a few years ago and tried different ADHD meds. but the ADHD meds. did not work with him. His mood swings were more frequent. So for about a year we did not use ADHD meds. in January we decided to try Strattera, it worked up until a few months ago so we increased his dosage. He became very violent, hitting, throwing, name calling, ect. so we stopped the Strattera. I thought some of those behaviors would stop when we stopped the meds. but they didn't. I think the Resperidal stopped working also and he was at the highest dosage he could take.

I feel so bad for him. It effects everything. Our day to day activities, school, his friends, sports. I'm pretty good at staying calm and keeping my patience but the last month has been very hard.

What diagnosis does your daughter have? How old is she?

Oh gosh, I hear you - - I have lost friends (who didn't understand, and thought it was about my lack of parenting skills......ya, right!!), and feel very isolated. Most people just don't understand.

My daughter was first dx at age 7 with ODD, and mood disorder. While she does have some ADHD traits, we can not medicate her for such because stimulant type meds increase violence, impulsivity and anger (as your son experienced).

My daughter is now 11 and the mood stabilizer her pdoc (short for psychiatrist) prescribed (lamictal) has been our life saver.

Typically a person with a mood disorder needs a first line mood stabilizer, like lithium, lamictal, depakote or tegratol, then an atypical antipsychotic add on med for break-through symptoms, like risperdal, seroquel or zyprexa.

My daughter has been on lamictal, a bit of risperdal and seroquel for over 2-years now with really good results. We've had to adjust her meds as she is growing, but over-all life has improved dramatically.

My daughter also sees a child psychologist to learn coping, and life skills, because medication is only a partial fix.
I do believe that when she was unstable, her therapy wasn't very useful - - I don't think she could absorb a lot in her unstable mind.

I honestly believe the very best way for your son to have a good quality of life the fastest is to find the very best Child Psychiatrist you can possibly find to treat him. A smart, skilled, board certified Child Psychiatrist is priceless in getting a child stable, healthy and productive.
I am lucky to live in CA where there are a lot of qualified Dr.s, but I know in other states they are more difficult to come by.

Another part of my learning to help my daughter is this wonderful organization that has been my lifeline these past 4-years called http://www.thebalancedmind.org/
I highly suggest you checking out their website, looking around and even join a support group.
Without their support, I honestly would be a lot less educated, more alone and feel more isolated than I already do.

I'm glad you wrote - write back anytime, as I am happy to share my (our) experiences with you!!

((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))
-Kathleen

Luckily I have not lost any friends yet they except it and help me when we are in public. My sons father (I am remarried) at first said it was a lack of me disciplining him. Finally he has realized that is not what it was but it took years for him to see it. Him only seeing my son the 1st 3rd and 5th weekend if that is not enough time to see his day to day issues. It is hard on my marriage so my husband and I started going to counseling on how to deal with the ups and downs.

We live outside of Houston so we have some really good doctors. We have been going to a Psychiatrist in our area but she wasn't doing what I needed done. I tried for over a year and a half to get him in to Texas Children Hospital but no success. You had to leave them a message, they would send you paperwork to fill out and for the school to fill out, submit the paper work and then they would schedule your appointment if they thought that was what you needed. No one would ever send me the paperwork or call me back. One of my friends (who has a daughter that has problems) refereed me to a child neurologist at UTMB which is another excellent place, I figured what the heck its a start. It took 4 months for his appointment. They didn't think that was what he needed but the nurse practitioner also works with the behaivor specialist in the office. She was very very helpful and gave me handouts and discussed with me on how to handle him. She didn't think he was on the correct meds. so I had his psychiatrist in our area change them last week. Only thing is I have to wait another 3 months for his appointment at the behaivor specialist. Once we get into him which I have heard really good things about, I will stop going to the doctor in our area.

He started the abilify last Thursday. I could tell a little difference Tuesday night and last night.

How does your daughter do in school? The first year and a half of school was total HELL! Finally the school is working with me. When I registered him for Kinder I told them he could not have any teacher he needed someone that would work with him, very structured, ect. They did not listen but did realize half way through the year that was what he needed. So first grade was a little better his teacher was excellent with him but he still had his day to day struggles and his grades were poor. He was pulled out for RTI (one on one services) and counseling. Which helped a lot. This year he is doing really good in school and has an excellent teacher but still has his mood swings, ect. (At home is when he is at his worst) He was put on a 504 plan about a month ago.

Thanks for your help!
Ashley

Believe it ir not, She was a Straight A student, before the onslaught of this illness! It all happenned, when she turned 14yrs. old & started her period! It has been sheer hell since then! My eldest sister, in Pgh., Pa., even took her for a "summer', as she was sure, she was the better disapplinearian! 3 weeks later, she called & said, "Come get the little B----!" "She's ruining our lives!" So, that is how it all started, and God willing, maybe, just maybe, there may be light @ the end of the tunnel......