MEDICATIONS | Autism PDD

Yes.
Our med regimine had to be carefully constructed by my son's neurologist, who also manages my son's psychiatric medications since its necessary and crucial to keep a careful working balance between his seizure meds, the bipolar meds, an allergy med at certain times of the year especially, and whatever else I've failed to mention (and I'm sure I have).. there comes a point where my main focus with this is just that I just try to make sure I'm getting them into him adequately correctly and in a timely fashion as prescribed.
Like I think you are saying, I too at times do have to wonder at times with so many about interactions between them but I really do trust his neurologist he's got now, wish we'd had him years and years ago.
Its unnerving, but a necessary evil (in particular we can take no chances with the seizure and bipolar issues). My two thoughts are basically:

If it works, don't 'fix' it. (the motto we are currently operating under)

If its not working and/or you have concerns ask the doctors about it and let them know, if you have doubts in your doctor, consider a second opinion or a different doctor.

I hope all continues to go well for Carlo. Keep us posted.

With love and Blessings,

Theda

Got more for you sunshine :)

This was in the news today.... about an online gov't run drug database. It is Canadian based *but* US codes and regulations are very similar to each other... the US is just faster at getting things approved :P

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050525. wdosan0525/BNStory/National/

Here is the link for the database

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tpd-dpt/fact_cadris_2_e.ht ml

Okay, just running out door to take ds to school so I haven't looked in the database... but definately bookmarked it ;)

Hope you find it useful :)

i'm a little concerned about all the meds my ds is on.not to offend anyone but if i can ask how many of you use meds? and which ones? i'm just trying to do what's right for my ds. so i'm asking to find out if there are other parents dealing with a lot of meds and what there doctors thoughts r on certain meds. please remember i'm not trying to offend anyone just looking for advice. thanks ahead of time for those of u that will share the info with me, thanks mom2carlo

Hey MOM.... As you know each child is different and has different issues. What works for one wont always work for another. I know carlo has seizures so there is one sitation you have that some dont.... Depends on if the child has add or adhd or OCD or ODD or Anxiety or or or and what the child responds to / what works or doesn't work as to if a child needs meds or not

An Example: Most kids I have heard of have sleep issues but some rock themself to sleep, some stim, Some just use a weighted blanket, some need a light some need dark some need meds.

Same with behaviors some kids do well with redirection, some dont Some respond to ABA others dont... Some need meds because they are self injurious...

As I said each kid is different.... Talk with the doctor and discuss the issues, but you are the final decision maker... if you think you can deal well with behaviors for example dont medicate... If you are dealing well with Sleep issues dont medicate... You have to do what you feel is best for you and Carlo, because carlo is himself and not anyone elses child.

Tyler takes meds for sleep (clonidine) and for a mood stabilizer (risperdal) he is also on claritin for allergies and a multivitamin with flouride

Claritin...
I *still* hesitate to give my son's entire medication regimine (my daughter is an RN and I get the full-fledged lectures about such things from her so much about such things that everyone will just have to bear with me on this) however it might be useful for somebody to know that here in Michigan anyway Claritin went to Over The Counter and we were stumped as to how to continue to get it (was in a very costly and pill format) however this year we have discovered that Medicaid does once again cover it, this time as Loratadine (its generic name, I think) which is how the doctor wrote it, and voila.

My son takes an ADHD med for his ADHD *but* it reduces the stims and sensory issues as a nice side effect, it also helps his social... I have heard of it being used to with kids with "full blown" autism (for lack of better terminology)

I have never heard of meds specifically for autism, only the issues surrounding it, like anxiety, ADHD, OCD, ect.. (mosty risperadol at low doses)

It is so hard to know what will work... if you can get the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialities. If you ask you local pharmacy for it, they should give you an out-dated one since you need one each yr!! It is a medical description of all approved drugs, it tells you what they treat, normal dosage and contradictions. I find it useful, but mine is a couple yrs out-dated now. (I took some pharmocology in college). It doesn't have all the answers, but knowledge is power and I feel more secure seeing it in print :P

heres a link for different medication information... there are many sites available... Its also important to remember a med that works wonderful for one might be disasterious for another. Document before starting a new med and document after to see if there really is a difference or not. Hope this helps! thanks everyone for your replies, also thanks panthosette, i will ask my pharmacy to see if i can get a copy of that.mom2carlo

Wait a minute, I thought this stupid government said we couldn't buy drugs from Canada because we didn't know whether they were safe or not. Yeah right, like Merk puts out really safe drugs here.

Tammy

The gov't is doing more politicing than anything :P The US didn't want to lose the money, naturally they wanted to keep it in thier country.

Essentially the approval procedures for the US and Canada are the same. It is more just a point in a different direction rather than gospel.

Guess the longest unarmed border has guards in stranger places!!!

I fought the medication issue for awhile and insisted on trying behavior modification. When my son began to fail 3rd grade, I broke down. Thank goodness I did. His life has changed dramatically since that time. He has some OCD symptoms, but the primary reason we started the medication was to get him to stop hand flapping (self-stimulation) during class. It worked! He takes Luvox & Anafranil. He took those alone for several years but the side effect was sleepiness. Then, the miracle drug (in my opinion) came on the scene - Provigil. A non-stimulant alertness medication. Once he began taking this drug, he went from average student (b/c he was so sleepy) to above-average. Began reading more, etc. Problem: Provigil is EXPENSIVE!!!

Tell me about it. Found out yesterday that Gabe's concerta is 5.00.

Tammy