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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cairo on May 13, 2004, at 9:56:45
A trial of Strattera for ADHD induced depression in my daughter. We titrated up slowly to 10mg, but she became more and more withdrawn and anhedonic. After six weeks, we tapered her down and she perked up and became more social. Any guesses as to what was going on? She has ADHD, dysthymia, social anxiety/phobia. I suspect an atypical depression as she also has Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue and has symptoms of ANS hypofunctioning. Stimulants cause social withdrawal so we can't really optimize the dose and adding Lexapro helps but really wipes out her appetite and does a number on short term memory. HELP! Her schoolwork is suffering, her social life is not great, she aches and is tired all the time! Please share your thoughts on what is happening. We're getting the "it's the best we can do" with our doctors who won't even consider meds other than stims or SSRI. I need a referral to a pediatric psychiatrist who can pull all this together. Any names? We'll travel to any state.
Cairo
Posted by linkadge on May 13, 2004, at 10:04:05
In reply to Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Cairo on May 13, 2004, at 9:56:45
You might try a dose of a tryciclic antidepressant. Certain ones are sometimes used for ADHD and they carry the added benefit of helping sleep and apetite.
Linkadge
Posted by Buckeye Fan on May 13, 2004, at 10:16:30
In reply to Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Cairo on May 13, 2004, at 9:56:45
Dear Cairo,
How old is your daughter?The multi-symptoms you describe are a nightmare!
My heart goes out to her and you....We briefly tried Strattara with our 10 year old daughter, and quickly dispensed with that nonsense.
It is one thing to try and compensate with Meds
as adults....but the way MD's are prescribing them for children is frightening!!!!!!!!!Children are still developing!
Keep them OFF ALL MEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( other than of course life threatening conditions like Diabetes or short term ilnesses that need anit-biotic treatment.)
It is been my experience that most children
can cope and compensate for any temporary depressions and anxieties with good old fashion love, a stable family enviroment..and alot of TLC from Mom and Dad.In my Humble Opinion.
Buckeye Fan
Posted by crazychickuk on May 13, 2004, at 10:28:56
In reply to Re: Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Buckeye Fan on May 13, 2004, at 10:16:30
I so agree with Buckeye Fan...
Posted by MGOLDW on May 13, 2004, at 12:09:55
In reply to Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Cairo on May 13, 2004, at 9:56:45
Dear Cairo,
Having a sick son/daughter must be hell!
I am not an MD, I only speak from expirience. That said, I woull discontinue the Strattera and give the Lexapro a fair trial (6-8 weeks). Loss of appetite and loss of short term memory are some of the side effects that should go away with time. My only concern is that, not knowing your daughter's age, I cannot comment on dosage. Please consult a qualified pediatric psychiatrist.
Good luck and please let us know how it goes.
Posted by linkadge on May 13, 2004, at 14:16:22
In reply to Re: Help for my daughter, please!, posted by MGOLDW on May 13, 2004, at 12:09:55
I've seen too many kids commit suicide because of very real mental illnesses. Ones that have even eluded the most prudent parents. Yes, be cautious but by no means go extreme and discount all medicine.
Linkadge
Posted by Bill LL on May 13, 2004, at 16:16:07
In reply to Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Cairo on May 13, 2004, at 9:56:45
Your daughter's reaction to Straterra is not unusual. Her combination of symptoms is also unfortunately not unusual.
To me it seems like your daughter has the variety of depression that the average doctor is very used to. The only thing that I am not sure about is the ANS problem. What ANS symptoms have you noticed? SSRI's often cause dryness of the eyes and mouth.
Have you tried Lexapro in combination with either Adderal, Ritalin, or Straterra? Although they had ill effects alone, they could work very well in combination. For example, Lexapro and Ritalin combined might be just what she needs.
Or, if she is still on the reduced dose of Straterra, just add back the Lexapro (or Prozac). The appetite suppression of Lexapro is usually just temporary.
> A trial of Strattera for ADHD induced depression in my daughter. We titrated up slowly to 10mg, but she became more and more withdrawn and anhedonic. After six weeks, we tapered her down and she perked up and became more social. Any guesses as to what was going on? She has ADHD, dysthymia, social anxiety/phobia. I suspect an atypical depression as she also has Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue and has symptoms of ANS hypofunctioning. Stimulants cause social withdrawal so we can't really optimize the dose and adding Lexapro helps but really wipes out her appetite and does a number on short term memory. HELP! Her schoolwork is suffering, her social life is not great, she aches and is tired all the time! Please share your thoughts on what is happening. We're getting the "it's the best we can do" with our doctors who won't even consider meds other than stims or SSRI. I need a referral to a pediatric psychiatrist who can pull all this together. Any names? We'll travel to any state.
>
> Cairo
Posted by partlycloudy on May 13, 2004, at 16:54:41
In reply to Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Cairo on May 13, 2004, at 9:56:45
Cairo, I saw your earlier post and I gather you're in MA. I replied, but here it is again for a suggestion for a pediatric p-doc. I can't vouch for him aside from the fact that he's a cousin of mine. I should think he'd be worth a try. His name is Dr. Juris Treibergs. He used to live in Duxbury, not sure where his practice is.
Posted by chemist on May 14, 2004, at 0:12:48
In reply to Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Cairo on May 13, 2004, at 9:56:45
> A trial of Strattera for ADHD induced depression in my daughter. We titrated up slowly to 10mg, but she became more and more withdrawn and anhedonic. After six weeks, we tapered her down and she perked up and became more social. Any guesses as to what was going on? She has ADHD, dysthymia, social anxiety/phobia. I suspect an atypical depression as she also has Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue and has symptoms of ANS hypofunctioning. Stimulants cause social withdrawal so we can't really optimize the dose and adding Lexapro helps but really wipes out her appetite and does a number on short term memory. HELP! Her schoolwork is suffering, her social life is not great, she aches and is tired all the time! Please share your thoughts on what is happening. We're getting the "it's the best we can do" with our doctors who won't even consider meds other than stims or SSRI. I need a referral to a pediatric psychiatrist who can pull all this together. Any names? We'll travel to any state.
>
> Cairochemist here.....will you venture to either new york or california for clinical trials? the issue here is fibromyalgia.....do let me know, chemist
Posted by Cairo on May 16, 2004, at 14:17:53
In reply to Re: Help for my daughter, please! » Cairo, posted by chemist on May 14, 2004, at 0:12:48
Thank you, Chemist. We live in Florida, but will go to ANY state. I've tried Joseph Biederman at Mass Gen, but appointments take up to a year. She has the tender points and allodynia of Fibromyalgia and trigger points of myofascial syndrome, but there definitely is social anxiety/phobia and depression not part of the FMS (if you heard the family history, you'd know). Would we be better off seeking treatment for depression and anxiety and then seeing what is left of the FMS symptoms or vice versa? I'm convinced that we need to treat everything as a whole, but it's hard to find people who would do this. Charles Nemeroff at Emory is one, but he never e-mailed us back. Thank you for your help!
Cairo
> chemist here.....will you venture to either new york or california for clinical trials? the issue here is fibromyalgia.....do let me know, chemist
>
Posted by chemist on May 16, 2004, at 22:22:31
In reply to Re: Help for my daughter, please!, posted by Cairo on May 16, 2004, at 14:17:53
> Thank you, Chemist. We live in Florida, but will go to ANY state. I've tried Joseph Biederman at Mass Gen, but appointments take up to a year. She has the tender points and allodynia of Fibromyalgia and trigger points of myofascial syndrome, but there definitely is social anxiety/phobia and depression not part of the FMS (if you heard the family history, you'd know). Would we be better off seeking treatment for depression and anxiety and then seeing what is left of the FMS symptoms or vice versa? I'm convinced that we need to treat everything as a whole, but it's hard to find people who would do this. Charles Nemeroff at Emory is one, but he never e-mailed us back. Thank you for your help!
>
> Cairo
>
>
>
>
> > chemist here.....will you venture to either new york or california for clinical trials? the issue here is fibromyalgia.....do let me know, chemist
> >
>
>
cairo, give me a few days....i am going to see who i know or have remote connections with at UCSF, UCLA, and NYU.......all the best, chemist
This is the end of the thread.
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