Advertisements
Advertisements
For those of you who have gotten meds for your child, what steps did you have to go through to get them? Who prescribed (family doc, pediatrician, psychiatrist)?? Did you have to go through a litany of tests/screenings or did the doctor take your word for what was happening??? Also, I have done some reading on the drug abilify (sp?) Does anyone have any experience with this drug?? I have heard that antidepressants do not work. My dd is 12. Thank you for your help and insight.
Like
Share
View All Previous Posts
I agree that you should always go through a psychiatrist for any psychotropic meds -- they are much more familiar with all the options, possible side-effects, etc. I used to work in a psychiatric hospital, and a fair number of the kids I worked with benefited from Abilify. If your DD has bipolar disorder, then you are currect that anti-depressants would most likely not work (and could potentially make the symptoms worse). There are a lot of potentially serious side-effects associated with Abilify, so anyone taking it should be closely-monitored, but most of the patients I worked with who were on it did not have serious side-effects. In fact, it was often chosen for it's relative lack of side-effects compared to similar drugs. I believe Abilify is only approved for bipolar disorder, but I have seen it used in patients without that diagnosis.
Like
Share
Advertisements
Thanks for the response. My dd has not been diagnosed, but if you live with it every day, you don't need an official diagnosis.
I would like help with my daughter with constant/persistent defiance and oppositional behaviors. She is very reluctant to let me touch her unless she initiates the interaction first, and then it's too rough. I would like to gently be able to brush my daughter's hair, etc. for nothing more than just to share a moment's closeness with her.
I am hopeful that a mild medication could perhaps smooth out some of the rough edges. From what I read about Abilify, it seemed hopeful, not sure how "mild" it is though.
You are the experts. What do you all think??? Keep the responses coming!!!
Like
Share
My daughter gets her meds from a psychiatrist. I would not go to a peditrician or family practitioner for this. JMO but I think a psychiatrist would be the most up to date on meds for children. Many of these aren't even approved for children yet.
My daughter has been on Abilify in the past. It did nothing for her. She was on a large dosage and I saw no change. She has been on many others meds as well, again with either no change or worsening of symptoms. She is currently taking Zyprexa and doing well. For her, the Zyprexa took away some of the defiance and anger. I have heard others saying that Abilify worked well for their children.
The psychiatrist will probably want to do a psych eval in order to properly diagnose your child. It is based on what you say, her history, and testing results.
Like
Share
I agree that you should get a diagnosis from a qualified psychiatrist before putting her on any behavior med. I don't know that Abilify would do much for the oppositional behaviors if they are not related to mood swings. I've seen Geodon work wonders, and Zyprexa and Risperdal also work for some kids, but all have potential side effects. Risperdal can sometimes cause major weight gain (like 100 lbs within a year), so I would be wary of that one. Geodon can cause tremors (one girl I worked with was constantly shaking, but the Geodon worked SO well for her as far that they decided to keep her on it anyway). If you're looking for something "mild," an anti-psychotic is probably not the way to go, though the doses used for behavior management are much lower than what would be used for psychosis, and they do tend to work better for oppositional behaviors that anything else (depending on the diagnosis).
Like
Share
Ambilify worked for 1 month with my son and then he got worse. Psych took him off it. He does take risperdal and depekote which help.
We used a psychiatrist for meds. It really depends on what is causing the issues as to which meds work and which ones don't.
Like
Share
Advertisements
Thank you all. I've decided a psychiatrist is probably the way to go because of all the complications of side effects, etc. Let's hope I can find a good one!!
Like
Share
I am a social worker that works in a psychiatric facility and to my knowledge Abilify is not recommended for children. The side effects are serious.
Like
Share
I guess its a risk vs reward kind of thing. In my case, my daughter was becoming suicidal and homicidal. We could not keep her in our home much longer. So we had to decide - what was better for her long term mental health? Growing up in a treatment center or taking meds and being able to stay in a secure and safe family? I chose the meds.
Like
Share
Advertisements
Most of the drugs given to our children for serious disorders are not approved for children. But sometimes, these meds are what they need to be able to stay at home with their families and function at school.
Like
Share
I know how these meds work, I see it everyday people who come to the hospital so mentally sick they are dangerous to themselves or others. Within a few weeks on medication they are able to leave and go back to the community. I just feel that with kids these medicines should be a "last resort" not the first they we try to fix a problem.
Like
Share
Twistwood
I know how these meds work, I see it everyday people who come to the hospital so mentally sick they are dangerous to themselves or others. Within a few weeks on medication they are able to leave and go back to the community. I just feel that with kids these medicines should be a "last resort" not the first they we try to fix a problem.
I agree with this statement. As much as it worries me when a child or adolescent is put on psychotropics due to limited research in most cases on the effects (particularly on neurological development), I have seen the difference in some kids on vs. off meds, and in some cases it would be bordering on abusive NOT to put the kid on meds.
Like
Share
I just feel that with kids these medicines should be a "last resort" not the first they we try to fix a problem.
I don't think anyone puts their child on these powerful med as a first try. I know, for myself, it was not done without a lot of thought. I also don't believe any psychiatrist would prescribe them as a first try sort of thing.
Like
Share
Advertisements
There are some psychiatrists that are more prone to medicate and there are some that are more prone to try other approaches first. I am fortunate to work with a psychiatrist that is one who uses the medications with the lowest doses possible to treat the problems. As parents we just need to be aware of the risks and reasons and educate ourselves. We know our children's behavior and problems and we need to advocate in their best interest. If the psychiatrist has the full picture, they are more informed and can do what is right for our kids.
Like
Share
I did have a run in with one med happy psych on my youngests adoption. His previous mom had him drugged up in ridiculous quantities-but when I told the psych my son had liver issues-he freaked and took the kid off all the meds. He didn't need them.
However, the psych doc's I work with now are careful and well informed about my kids and the effects of trauma on children. They work closely with the therapists we use. And I am comfortable with them using anti-psychotic and mood stabilizing drugs when needed cause I've already exhausted everything else before looking at medication. And if the meds don't get results, I don't let them just add more-I do have the meds changed.
These drugs are widely used on children and most are not approved for them.
Like
Share