Posted by always_doing_laundry on June 28, 2008, at 21:22:17
In reply to Re: Teen on zoloft/concerta/abilify for ADHD/PDD, posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2008, at 20:17:59
He's doing well ... very well. He seems nearly typical if you aren't around him in a more intimate/personal setting or don't have too much interaction. I *do* worry he will get lost in his obsessive interests (maps, the architecture of arenas/stadiums/etc., ditto racetracks, watching things spin -- indulged in an "acceptable" way, i.e., NASCAR -- he watches the wheels go round, not the actual race).
He manages his environment.
*He* really wants to drop the meds, but he doesn't remember what he was like. Except he saw old videos we took when he was younger (psych asked us to capture his "fits" to understand whether we were describing typical tantrums) ... he saw himself and what we had to deal with and remarked, "Good Lord."
I have caught him several times trying to ditch the pills but saying that he took them. I have explained that just quitting could be dangerous and would, at least, leave him feeling sick or bad. He says that wouldn't happen to him, b/c he doesn't respond to meds the same way others do (true, sometimes ... not fazed by valium prior to dental procedure ((hyped him up)), no sleepiness with hydrocodone for post-surgical pain, no pain in having impacted wisdom teeth yanked with only topical numbing ((but make him wear scratchy jeans, and he'll run screaming)).
It feels inevitable that he will eventually try to wean himself, with or without or help/consent. It may be that we talk with the doc together, plan to continue meds until he is of age, and then agree to support him if he wants to try weaning at that point. If he doesn't experience untoward effects, then great. If he does, then he can make an informed personal decision.
((Regarding mercury toxicity: I don't have/have never had any fillings ... never had a cavity; he has only had one dose of vaccine, as he is highly allergic to eggs, and the MMR, for example, is in egg albumin; he probably has a genetic tendency, as my father demonstrates some unusual quirks/personality traits; and he experienced depressed heart rate for a period during birth/delivery due to being stuck in the birth canal in an atypical presentation))
poster:always_doing_laundry
thread:837017
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080626/msgs/837076.html