Posted by yxibow on October 11, 2008, at 20:38:41
In reply to ? about meds for my son, posted by Lorenzo05 on October 11, 2008, at 18:37:13
> Hi
>
> I am brand new here but I need some advice about my sons medication. The Dr diagnosed him with ADHD a couple months ago. He already has Acute stress disorder and PTSD. When his hair started falling out and he chewed his fingers to the point of infection they thought it was time for meds.
>
> They put him on Zoloft to start out but it made him so agressive and angry. They put him on Strattera. It has been a wonder drug for him. His fingers and nails have healed and his hair is growing back. The Dr was hesitant on putting him on Strattera because my son is small to begin with. He wanted to watch his weight.
>
> He has been on Strattera for almost 3 months now and has lost 5 lbs. He is almost 8 and is weighing in at 45 lbs. I have to make a follow up appt for him soon because he is almost out of meds. I am so afraid the Dr is going to pull him off this med that is working so well for him.
>
> My friend was telling me to give him weekend breaks from the meds but I am afraid he would have withdrawls. I know I need to call the Dr about this but I wanted to try and get opinions because my Dr is a pain to get ahold of.
>
> Has anyone ever not given your kids their meds for weekends? Or skip a day? Just to try and get them to eat. I am so confused about these meds.It's not a good idea to stop someone on any psychotropic, especially any with any significant effects -- and he has been on it for three months.
Is your son smaller than average heightwise or at what a pediatrician would say is a normal height.
I realize your concern and at that age weight drops are a concern, but not as much a concern as if he was a toddler.
5 lbs can still merely be a loss of water, but yes, I would get in touch with your doctor as much of a pain as it is if it is more than that, remembering that weight varies from day to day.
You can't force feed anyone, even if they're not taking medication, but if you are really concerned, try to feed him just anything that he's ever liked, even if its peanut butter or ice cream temporarily
Putting on a little fat will probably counteract this anyhow if it burns it off in the first place.
Of course, multivitamins, chewable, without iron (although he's probably leaving that danger age to some extent), are a must.
You shouldn't have to make a follow-up appointment merely because someone is running out of medications, that is a physician's responsibility and they should have a pager or voicemail to call in things (I do realize it is a controlled substance and I don't know how it works in your state, it varies). I realize the doctor is too trying to make decisions, but nobody should be left without medications.
Make the follow up appointment rather to discuss strategies that both you and the doctor feel is comfortable, and if your son is able to have a rational conversation, I think it would be good to include his feelings and input.It is hard to tease out what really is the primary condition, as sometimes what seems like a cluster of conditions is really one thing. I'm not saying that's the case here.
And, if your insurance allows or you feel that you need to, a second opinion isn't a bad thing -- that doesn't mean a second doctor necessarily, but just perhaps a look at the diagnose(s).
-- best wishesJay
poster:yxibow
thread:856971
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081006/msgs/856993.html