A blog for anyone who needs to know they are not alone in raising a bipolar child.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Interesting New ADHD Med
Our psychiatrist just prescribed a very new ADHD drug called Intuniv for our youngest daughter. This drug is derived from Tenex, often used in bipolar kids as a calming drug (originally a blood pressure med). Intuniv is designed to address the type of ADHD our daughter has, which is the lack of focusing ability accompanied by extreme irritability, explosiveness, and meltdowns. Some have called this the "ring of fire" ADHD because of the circular pattern that lights up on brain scans of people diagnosed with this subtype. The doc said that the medicine would take about three to four weeks to really work, as we increase the dose by 1 mg each week, up to 4mg. We sure hope this med works for her, because at present the Methlyn helps her to focus, but doesn't address the irritability and explosions we deal with all of the time with her. She acts so much like Caroline that we have wondered many times if she is bipolar, but she doesn't meet the long checklist, and her explosiveness is never violent. We shall see. Peace is a valuable commodity here, and we rarely have it. Behaviorally therapy is the second part of the answer but a good med is so helpful!
I haven't heard of this one. So far Vyvanse is wonderful!!!! It started working the first day.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this either. We've been having an increasingly hard time with our daughter. She has many of the same symptoms. I may have to talk to the DR about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
thanks for sharing this, i am going to ask about it at our next appointment.
ReplyDeleteMegan, thanks for replying to me. I have already read Meridell's website thoroughly. I plan on calling tomorrow. However, I wish I had time to read all of your entries, but this one peeked my interest about the ADHD med. McKenzie-that's my 13 year old-she is not as extreme as your Caroline but their are a lot of similarities. However, she does fit what you just said about your youngest in this entry. We have had a terrible time finding a good psychiatrist here. How did you find such a good one? I am going to research this med. and ask my doctor about it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAmy
P.S. By the way, your blog will only let me use McKenzie's google account to reply. I cannot figure out any other way. I also do not have a blog, but I will continue to check yours for replies and info. Thank you!
As far as finding a great psychiatrist, we found out about the first good one through our psychologist, who had names of ones they recommended. Then that psychiatrist left private practice, and we had to find another one. I don't remember how I found Dr. Charles Parker, but he is brilliant, and willing to try things other psychiatrists won't, including herbal stuff as well as the regular meds. I have heard some real horror stories from other moms about psychiatrists who don't get it. I think you might want to go to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation website www.cabf.org and see the list of doctors they have. They have wonderful resources in terms of the latest research findings, support groups,etc. I belong to one of the online support groups and the info I have received from other moms with more experience has been invaluable. I find out about new meds through the online group faster than other means sometimes.
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