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SN children

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Original poster

ASD medication???

14 replies

fattiemumma · 28/08/2006 23:57

we had a meeting with the pead on thursday and she once again told me what we already knew....Ds has communication probs, mobility probs, social interatcions probs and severe behavioural probs.

nothing new there then

She also said that she was pretty certain he was HF ASD but becasue we have had such a rocky past she wanted fuirther assesments before giving the rubber stamp.....ok, its a pain but i can understand where she is coming from.

The problem is she mentioned medication. my initial reaction was no. my only real knowledge of medication for ASD is Ritalin (sp) and i am sure i don't need to tell you all about some f the stories tolf about its use.

i think i can handle Ds pretty well as he is at the moment and that i would rather not use drugs if i could help it.

But i had to take him and DD out to the shops alone today....I think i may have to reconsider lol.

What i want to know is
Is there an alternative to Ritalin?
Could i use medication as and when he needs it or does it need to be regular?
do any of you medicate and if so hwo do you feel it works?

Im being a bit crap at the mo and i would normally research this a bit better but i have realised recently that you lot are a lot better than most articles an give good honest answers !

thanks

OP posts:

Blossomhill · 29/08/2006 00:05

Ritalin is only prescribed for Adhd FM.

My dd has asd and Adhd and has been on Ritalin for about 6 months and she really needed to be.

Are you sure they weren't think of Risperadone which is more for asd anxiety related problems?

Original poster

fattiemumma · 29/08/2006 00:08

She did mention ADHD as well but not as a definative DX.

i think she may have thought that it would ease his extreme behaviour.
TBh she didn't actually mention any names of medications she just asked if i had considered it...in general.
when i said that all i had heard of was ritalin and how bad i know it can go sometimes she just kind of agreed with me and left it at that.

OP posts:

Blossomhill · 29/08/2006 00:10

Took me 3 years to agree for dd to have ritalin. Best thing I could have done and as the school said to me it would have been crueller not giving it. Dd's behaviour got really bad though.

Original poster

fattiemumma · 29/08/2006 00:18

He is horrendous. he gets expelled a lot at the moment so its only really School that woul persuade me to medicate.

I left it that i would get back to her if i changed my mind. i think i will look into it further and then see how he goes when he returns to school.
If his behaviour is as bad as it was last year (incredibly violant and agressive...managed to put one teacher in the A&E) then i will ask for a small dose.

How did they start the med's? was it a gradual build up or straight in at the required amount?
Can you give the meds to her as and when she needs it or do they need ot be taken reguarly?

Sorry for the list of questions, its just its so much easier asking people who actually know first hand.

OP posts:

Blossomhill · 29/08/2006 00:31

Started off on a low dose as if you have co~mobid conditions harder for the meds to work.
We had exhausted every avenue including dietary, behavioural methods etc etc
Meds work instantly so if they are going to work will do so with first tablet.
We do let dd have some days off of the meds as I think it's important. They are not like anti-depressants that need to build up. They come out of your system when they wear off so a child wouldn't get addicted.
My own dd was in such a state and was so out of control in herself and it was so upsetting to see her like that.
It wasn't the easiest decision but now looking back I know it was the right one.
We still do dietary etc but she is so much easier to reach and is actually making friends which is great

Original poster

fattiemumma · 29/08/2006 00:49

thanks BH.

i think i have heard so many stories of "zombified" kids that im a lilttle scared. DS is a pain in the bum at times and is constantly difficult but he has such carachter i would just hate for him to lose that side to his personality.

to hear that your DD has begun to make freinds is brilliant....i would love for the kids in his class to not be frightened of him the whole time so that he could actually have freinds.
Think i may have to speak to the DR tomorrow. im lucky in that she is brilliant and will let me phone her with anyt problems i have.
Thank you

OP posts:

lars · 29/08/2006 08:03

My ds has ASD and has medication. I do give as and when he need's it and that works well for him ( concerta xl). Hope this has been helpful. I chose medication for him as I was desperate for some help as nothing was working. larsxx

tallulah · 29/08/2006 09:03

Where does this "zombiefied" myth come from? My 16 yo is on Concertax XL and risperadone. He has been on some sort of medication since he was 7 (started with ADs). He is certainly no zombie and has just passed 12 GCSEs. Without medication he is aggressive, miserable, has no friends and is very obviously not "normal". With it he is sociable and a nice person to be with.

His doctor has gradually increased the doseage over the years as he has got bigger. He is on the max concerta now, hence the risparadone as well, although he doesn't have to take that regularly.

You wouldn't deny a diabetic child insulin on the grounds that you'd heard bad things about it.....

Original poster

fattiemumma · 29/08/2006 11:07

Sorry if i offended you Tallulah.

My worries were casued by what i have heard of Ritalin, as i said that was the only medication i knew of.

I know that in many cases it takes a while for themt to set the correct dosage and sometimes the children can seem very....not withdrawn but lifeless and dull...hence zombified.

I am sure this isn't the case for everyone and as i say it was only Ritalin i was worried about which was why i asked if there were alternatives.

I now have the names of at least 4 types of medication so i can go and investigate further.

OP posts:

Davros · 29/08/2006 13:53

My DS is on Risperidone, he has just turned 11 and has been on it since he just turned 8. It has been fantastic although it doesn't obliterate all the behaviour, he is much happier generally and still "himself". We struggled to tolerate/manage the behaviour for some years but he was just so miserable. We thought we would come to it in the end and it was a good decision. It hasn't been an overnight answer to every problem but it has helped immensely. He also sleeps well as a side effect

Blandmum · 29/08/2006 13:55

Davros, I worked on the clinical trials for Risperidone. You have made me so happy to know that it has had benefits for your son....made all that tedious paperwork worth while!

Davros · 29/08/2006 14:04

Absolutely! And I have suggested it (can't quite say recommended!) it to one or two other parents and it has been fabulous for their kids.

giddy1 · 29/08/2006 14:29

Message deleted

fattieSlapper · 30/08/2006 23:27

Im so glad there are actually positive responses.

I was really unsure about it and to be honest i was hoping that i could get by without them but i know that his behaviour at school was really bad last term and i think we will need to seriously consider this as an option if things dont improve this term

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