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Lamictal feedback?
booklovermom posted:
Hello parents...
My 9 year-old son has just been hospitalized for the 4th time in a year. Over the last year he has been treated with ADHD drugs, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics Abilify, Risperdal) NOTHING has helped him, in fact, I have painfully watched my son's mental health deteriorate for a year!!!! This is so painful for him and me. He is in a different hospital this time and the doc. wants to try Lamictal on Monday. He is now weened off everything else he was taking except the Clonidine at night to sleep. Are there any parents who have had experienced Lamictal with their child? I know about the risk of rash, I read about it and it scares me to death!!! This particular rash can cause serious permanant damage, not to mention it (rarely) can be fatal. I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude but it's hard because of all that's happened to him in the past year.I'm so greatful for information from other parents...
Angel
20 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Lamictal feedback?Hello parents...
My 9 year-old son has just been hospitalized for the 4th time in a year. Over the last year he has been treated with ADHD drugs, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics Abilify, Risperdal) NOTHING has helped him, in fact, I have painfully watched my son's mental health deteriorate for a year!!!! This is so painful for him and me. He is in a different hospital this time and the doc. wants to try Lamictal on Monday. He is now weened off everything else he was taking except the Clonidine at night to sleep. Are there any parents who have had experienced Lamictal with their child? I know about the risk of rash, I read about it and it scares me to death!!! This particular rash can cause serious permanant damage, not to mention it (rarely) can be fatal. I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude but it's hard because of all that's happened to him in the past year.I'm so greatful for information from other parents...
Angel
sonsmother1 replied to momuv4girls's response:
HI Kathleen,
My son takes 150 mg. of lamictal. He has tried abilify, luvox, zoloft, and intuniv. The abilify seemed to help him, but we did not want him on this kind of medication and we did not like the side effect of him gaining weight. He was on the luvox and abilify at the same time. WE took him off of both of those and now just have him on lamictal. He has anxiety and OCD. I think lamictal is helping him since he is taking it for always reacting from that flight or fight response. I don't think he is on enough of it. Also, I am not sure if this aggression is just form puberty or if it's from him not being on enough medicine. Punching holes in the wall is not a good thing. HE is being punished pretty severely for this. This was also the first time he has ever done this. In addition to the aggression he recently has been having problems with encompresis. My husband and I are at our wits end.
My son takes 150 mg. of lamictal. He has tried abilify, luvox, zoloft, and intuniv. The abilify seemed to help him, but we did not want him on this kind of medication and we did not like the side effect of him gaining weight. He was on the luvox and abilify at the same time. WE took him off of both of those and now just have him on lamictal. He has anxiety and OCD. I think lamictal is helping him since he is taking it for always reacting from that flight or fight response. I don't think he is on enough of it. Also, I am not sure if this aggression is just form puberty or if it's from him not being on enough medicine. Punching holes in the wall is not a good thing. HE is being punished pretty severely for this. This was also the first time he has ever done this. In addition to the aggression he recently has been having problems with encompresis. My husband and I are at our wits end.
Report This| Share this:Lamictal feedback?HI Kathleen,<br /><br />My son takes 150 mg. of lamictal. He has tried abilify, luvox, zoloft, and intuniv. The abilify seemed to help him, but we did not want him on this kind of medication and we did not like the side effect of him gaining weight. He was on the luvox and abilify at the same time. WE took him off of both of those and now just have him on lamictal. He has anxiety and OCD. I think lamictal is helping him since he is taking it for always reacting from that flight or fight response. I don't think he is on enough of it. Also, I am not sure if this aggression is just form puberty or if it's from him not being on enough medicine. Punching holes in the wall is not a good thing. HE is being punished pretty severely for this. This was also the first time he has ever done this. In addition to the aggression he recently has been having problems with encompresis. My husband and I are at our wits end.
sonsmother1 replied to momuv4girls's response:
Actually the doctor ended up prescribing 200 mg of extended release lamictal. He is doing much better. We think increasing from 150 to 200 did the trick.
Report This| Share this:Lamictal feedback?Actually the doctor ended up prescribing 200 mg of extended release lamictal. He is doing much better. We think increasing from 150 to 200 did the trick.
momuv4girls replied to sonsmother1's response:
That's great!! I am excited to hear that.
As a matter of fact, yesterday I was at my daughters pdoc appt. and we bumped her dose to 250mgs (she was on 200).
My daughter was having a lot of aggression/frustration issues that I hadn't seen in a good 9-months. We discussed the XR version too. Her pdoc has had good results w/it and if my daughter responds favorably to the jump in dose, we too will be switching to the XR version.
I'm glad its made such a positive difference for your son!!!
Stay in touch, (((Hugs)))
-Kathleen
As a matter of fact, yesterday I was at my daughters pdoc appt. and we bumped her dose to 250mgs (she was on 200).
My daughter was having a lot of aggression/frustration issues that I hadn't seen in a good 9-months. We discussed the XR version too. Her pdoc has had good results w/it and if my daughter responds favorably to the jump in dose, we too will be switching to the XR version.
I'm glad its made such a positive difference for your son!!!
Stay in touch, (((Hugs)))
-Kathleen
Report This| Share this:Lamictal feedback?That's great!! I am excited to hear that. <br />As a matter of fact, yesterday I was at my daughters pdoc appt. and we bumped her dose to 250mgs (she was on 200).<br /><br />My daughter was having a lot of aggression/frustration issues that I hadn't seen in a good 9-months. We discussed the XR version too. Her pdoc has had good results w/it and if my daughter responds favorably to the jump in dose, we too will be switching to the XR version.<br /><br />I'm glad its made such a positive difference for your son!!!<br />Stay in touch, (((Hugs)))<br />-Kathleen
sonsmother1 replied to momuv4girls's response:
HE is doing a lot better, but still cussed at his sister last night. HE takes his medicine in the morning and before he had it this morning had a major fit just about brushing his teeth. MY son obsesses about being late for things. Not only does he suffer from anxiety, but from OCD as well. Transition times are still hard for him. The key to finding out if the increase in lamictal is helping him is whether he can transition off of the computer or the Wii. We meet with this psychiartrist on Monday. I am hoping we won't need to add celexa, but it's an option. He is improving, but we still have our hurdles.
Report This| Share this:Lamictal feedback?HE is doing a lot better, but still cussed at his sister last night. HE takes his medicine in the morning and before he had it this morning had a major fit just about brushing his teeth. MY son obsesses about being late for things. Not only does he suffer from anxiety, but from OCD as well. Transition times are still hard for him. The key to finding out if the increase in lamictal is helping him is whether he can transition off of the computer or the Wii. We meet with this psychiartrist on Monday. I am hoping we won't need to add celexa, but it's an option. He is improving, but we still have our hurdles.
An_245474 replied to momuv4girls's response:
You are spot on when you said that this illness is so isolating for us parents. My girl will be 12 soon. All of the trials of meds since she was 6 yrs old, has just been gut wrenching. Or when a certain combination starts working, it doesn't last for long enough. My daughter has bi-polar NOS / mood disorder NOS, ADD, Anxiety 7panic, OCD and depression... Her dad has become so angry that the doctors haven't been able to "fix" her. Recently, a woman that we considered our friend, said that our girl is not on the same level as her child and she wants us to remain friends, but not our kids. Also, the medicine has (abilify) has caused my child to pack on the weight. My friend's child is thin...long story short, my family was good enough to help our friend out constantly with babysitting and transportation, now she shows her true colors. Well, there is more to this subject but I have to go for now. OH - I hope that my girl will be able to try Lamictal. If she does, I will let you all know how it goes. In the meantime, you all are in my thoughts. (-:
Report This| Share this:Lamictal feedback?You are spot on when you said that this illness is so isolating for us parents. My girl will be 12 soon. All of the trials of meds since she was 6 yrs old, has just been gut wrenching. Or when a certain combination starts working, it doesn't last for long enough. My daughter has bi-polar NOS / mood disorder NOS, ADD, Anxiety 7panic, OCD and depression... Her dad has become so angry that the doctors haven't been able to "fix" her. Recently, a woman that we considered our friend, said that our girl is not on the same level as her child and she wants us to remain friends, but not our kids. Also, the medicine has (abilify) has caused my child to pack on the weight. My friend's child is thin...long story short, my family was good enough to help our friend out constantly with babysitting and transportation, now she shows her true colors. Well, there is more to this subject but I have to go for now. OH - I hope that my girl will be able to try Lamictal. If she does, I will let you all know how it goes. In the meantime, you all are in my thoughts. (-:
momuv4girls replied to An_245474's response:
Wow, your daughter and your situation mirror ours..........it can be a tough road.
12 is a tricky age with a "typical" pre-teen, but throw in mood disorder, anxiety etc....and its a complicated situation!!!
I wish you the best with your daughter, write back anytime!!
-Kathleen
12 is a tricky age with a "typical" pre-teen, but throw in mood disorder, anxiety etc....and its a complicated situation!!!
I wish you the best with your daughter, write back anytime!!
-Kathleen
Report This| Share this:Lamictal feedback?Wow, your daughter and your situation mirror ours..........it can be a tough road. <br />12 is a tricky age with a "typical" pre-teen, but throw in mood disorder, anxiety etc....and its a complicated situation!!!<br /><br />I wish you the best with your daughter, write back anytime!!<br /><br />-Kathleen
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