Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 229847

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!

Posted by Mama Bear on May 28, 2003, at 22:12:44

My daughter is a child that is very explosive with periods of euphoria and what seems like "depression" all in the matter of a 5 minute span. She can cry and does cry over almost everything. She has rages and is very impulsive. She lies about everything and blames everyone for her mistakes or misdeeds. She is very sensitive and is a very loving child. We feel like she is spinning out of control. We have been doing alot of research and child bipolar really makes alot of sense for us. She was on Respirdal for Oppositional defiant disorder and that did not work for us. In fact the respirdal gave her Tardive Dyskinesia. It is not a a severe as it was but it is still there. We are aprehensive to say the least about putting her on medication. However going med free does not seem to be the option for us. She is having a really hard time coping with lifes daily ups and downs and it is interfering with her daily life in a huge way. I have done some research on meds for bipolar and one seems to be researched on the use in children. It is Trileptal. Has anyone or is anyone tried( or trying) it? If you have what has it done for you? Has it helped? Is there alot of side effects with this medication. I have done reasearch on lithium as well and this one is not as user friendly as I like to call some of these medications. We have tried extensive behavior modification therapy and it was successful to a point and now it is not working. We are better at parenting her now but Andrea has not responded to this technique. I think if we find the right diagnosis and the right medication(S) to help her then she will have an easier time of it and fit in better. She was tested and she tested in the top 90% percentile for intelligence. She is an extremely bright girl and I really don't want to have to "dull" this intellegence with the wrong medication. Any suggestions or personal statements would be appreciated. We have an appoinment with a good psychiatrist on Friday. Please can you help. Mama Bear

 

Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!

Posted by Caleb462 on May 29, 2003, at 1:41:27

In reply to Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by Mama Bear on May 28, 2003, at 22:12:44

> My daughter is a child that is very explosive with periods of euphoria and what seems like "depression" all in the matter of a 5 minute span. She can cry and does cry over almost everything. She has rages and is very impulsive. She lies about everything and blames everyone for her mistakes or misdeeds. She is very sensitive and is a very loving child. We feel like she is spinning out of control. We have been doing alot of research and child bipolar really makes alot of sense for us. She was on Respirdal for Oppositional defiant disorder and that did not work for us. In fact the respirdal gave her Tardive Dyskinesia. It is not a a severe as it was but it is still there. We are aprehensive to say the least about putting her on medication. However going med free does not seem to be the option for us. She is having a really hard time coping with lifes daily ups and downs and it is interfering with her daily life in a huge way. I have done some research on meds for bipolar and one seems to be researched on the use in children. It is Trileptal. Has anyone or is anyone tried( or trying) it? If you have what has it done for you? Has it helped? Is there alot of side effects with this medication. I have done reasearch on lithium as well and this one is not as user friendly as I like to call some of these medications. We have tried extensive behavior modification therapy and it was successful to a point and now it is not working. We are better at parenting her now but Andrea has not responded to this technique. I think if we find the right diagnosis and the right medication(S) to help her then she will have an easier time of it and fit in better. She was tested and she tested in the top 90% percentile for intelligence. She is an extremely bright girl and I really don't want to have to "dull" this intellegence with the wrong medication. Any suggestions or personal statements would be appreciated. We have an appoinment with a good psychiatrist on Friday. Please can you help. Mama Bear


Unfortunately, I have no experience with mood stabilizers so I can't really help you. There are a number of bi-polars on this board, however, and some of them take trileptal... so they should be able to help. It's 2 AM in the morning now, so I suppose none of em are up. Just wait though!

In most cases, I'm opposed to starting kids on medication, as many doctors/parents jump to that conclusion without trying other things first. Your case seems different though, and from the sound of things, your daughter and family probably would benefit from some effective medication. I'm not suprised that your daughter is intelligent. I myself was a very intelligent child, and I was also abnormally tempermental, irritable, shy, and just... well, a little offbeat I suppose - still am. These things seem to go hand in hand for some reason.

Well, I know I haven't been of any help, but I just wanted to offer my support. Keep hope, god bless and good luck!

 

Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!

Posted by David Smith on May 29, 2003, at 1:58:07

In reply to Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by Caleb462 on May 29, 2003, at 1:41:27

> > My daughter is a child that is very explosive ....

Have you looked for physical causes for her behavior?
Allergic reactions to her environment or diet could explain her wide swings. Or perhaps there may be some hidden emotional trauma. In the long run it may just be best to hire additional help to handle your whirlwind!

Also, perhaps this is normal for her childhood development.
Is anyone else in the family experiencing unusual emotional states? You really have to be your own detective. The risks are too high to rely on medical opinions alone.
Best wishes to you.

 

Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? » Mama Bear

Posted by lil' jimi on May 29, 2003, at 2:09:34

In reply to Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by Mama Bear on May 28, 2003, at 22:12:44

Dear Mama Bear,

Thank you for posting your message. As a parent my heart goes out to your family. We have not had any experience with your situation, however I felt compelled to point out the link at the top of the Psycho-Babble page,'under' "children and adolescents" :

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/psycho-babble-tips/links/Children___Adolescen_001000840636/

Once there, you will notice a folder labeled "Bipolar".
This link looked helpful:
http://www.cabf.org/

God bless you!
~ jim

p.s. i thank jade-at-psychobabble for these resources and dr. bob for having those links posted!

and

To Mama Bear:

Please post here as much as you feel like, especially if it helps you cope with your challenges. There are a lot of good people here. They helped me. They can help you. Take care of yourself.
~ another daddy bear

 

Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help! » Mama Bear

Posted by ST on May 29, 2003, at 6:00:58

In reply to Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by Mama Bear on May 28, 2003, at 22:12:44

Hi Mama Bear,
I am Bipolar; my nephew is 9 years old and at 5 was diagnosed as a BP. My sister almost lost her mind trying to figure out what was wrong with him...because she had very little money, the medical care for him was not competely satisfactory. My nephew displayed all of the symtoms of your daughter; he is also incredibly smart...He is now on a combination of drugs which really seem to be working. Coincidentally, it's what I'm taking as well. He takes Depakote as a mood stabilizer and Serzone for an antidepressant. This has really helped him. I know he's on a third one, but I'm not sure what it is. In the beginning of his treatment on Depakote, he was, indeed, prescribed too much and became a bit "out of it". I, too, was prescribed a large daily dose of Depakote and spent about a year in a dull state. so you are wise to be aware of this.
I wish you luck. Taking care of this now is such a smart thing to do. Keep digging and get to the bottom of exactly what your daughter's diagnosis is and keep trying everything that may help. you and your daughter will be just fine.
take care,
Sarah

> My daughter is a child that is very explosive with periods of euphoria and what seems like "depression" all in the matter of a 5 minute span. She can cry and does cry over almost everything. She has rages and is very impulsive. She lies about everything and blames everyone for her mistakes or misdeeds. She is very sensitive and is a very loving child. We feel like she is spinning out of control. We have been doing alot of research and child bipolar really makes alot of sense for us. She was on Respirdal for Oppositional defiant disorder and that did not work for us. In fact the respirdal gave her Tardive Dyskinesia. It is not a a severe as it was but it is still there. We are aprehensive to say the least about putting her on medication. However going med free does not seem to be the option for us. She is having a really hard time coping with lifes daily ups and downs and it is interfering with her daily life in a huge way. I have done some research on meds for bipolar and one seems to be researched on the use in children. It is Trileptal. Has anyone or is anyone tried( or trying) it? If you have what has it done for you? Has it helped? Is there alot of side effects with this medication. I have done reasearch on lithium as well and this one is not as user friendly as I like to call some of these medications. We have tried extensive behavior modification therapy and it was successful to a point and now it is not working. We are better at parenting her now but Andrea has not responded to this technique. I think if we find the right diagnosis and the right medication(S) to help her then she will have an easier time of it and fit in better. She was tested and she tested in the top 90% percentile for intelligence. She is an extremely bright girl and I really don't want to have to "dull" this intellegence with the wrong medication. Any suggestions or personal statements would be appreciated. We have an appoinment with a good psychiatrist on Friday. Please can you help. Mama Bear

 

Mama, Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!

Posted by McPac on May 29, 2003, at 20:49:04

In reply to Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by David Smith on May 29, 2003, at 1:58:07

"Have you looked for physical causes for her behavior?
Allergic reactions to her environment or diet could explain her wide swings."

My thoughts exactly.

 

Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!

Posted by Jack Smith on May 29, 2003, at 21:24:59

In reply to Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by David Smith on May 29, 2003, at 1:58:07

> Or perhaps there may be some hidden emotional trauma.

This is something I am thinking too. Is there any possibility that she has been or is still being abused in some way? Please don't be offended but it is something that could cause these type of symptoms. Also, you should see an allergy specialist to rule out all different types of allergies, especially food allergies.

JACK

 

Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!

Posted by fanni on May 30, 2003, at 16:56:13

In reply to Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by Caleb462 on May 29, 2003, at 1:41:27

i would love to get my hands on the idiot shrink who gave your child that rispredal crap and wring their neck.you should consider sueing for malpractice.a heavy anti psy like that should no way be given to a little kid.id a shrink who put me on lithium and valium when i was 11,thats bad enough,but 6?!!!sorry to rant. but i thought a proper diagnoses in stuff like that couldnt be made until a person was more mature,like at least past puberty?sounds to me like that doctor was pure clutching at straws and throwing whatever mads they felt like that day at your daughter,when they shouldve considered to take the time to try something like maybe behavioural therapy on her instead. i dont know how bipolar disorder manifests itself in kids,i was given loads of labels,when i was 5 i was depressed,11 add,14 manic,15 just plain menta,and now its back to,whatever they think that day. maybe taking time away from shrinks and their toxic pharms might be better to heal her,try a more psychological approach or holistic?
i dont know,im neither a parent or a health professional,so disregard all this if it sounds like a load of waffle to you.i just feel strongly about some doctor putting a child on meds so strong they cause serious side effects for something they couldnt possibly diagnose so soon.

 

Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help! » fanni

Posted by Jack Smith on May 30, 2003, at 17:26:08

In reply to Re: Bipolar in a 6 yr old? We need help!, posted by fanni on May 30, 2003, at 16:56:13

> i would love to get my hands on the idiot shrink who gave your child that rispredal crap and wring their neck.you should consider sueing for malpractice.a heavy anti psy like that should no way be given to a little kid.id a shrink who put me on lithium and valium when i was 11,thats bad enough,but 6?!!!

They actually put her on risperdal when she was TWO!!!!!!!!!!! She's six now and is still suffering from tardive dyskinesia. MamaBear, if you are listening, I really think you should sue. Not for the money but to stop this doctor from doing things to similar kids.

JACK


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