A blog for anyone who needs to know they are not alone in raising a bipolar child.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Amantadine is What?
Amantadine is an old drug used for several things, one for Parkinson's and the other as an anti-viral. Some psych docs have been increasingly using Amantadine with bipolar kids and other kids with various mood disorders because it somehow allows the limbic part of the brain (emotions, passions, anger, elation) to communicate better with the thinking/reasoning part of the brain. That is a layman's explanation. Our daughter was put on it at Meridell Achievement Center last summer where she stayed for a few months. I know a number of other kids who are on it with good results for controlling outbursts, anger, defiance, etc. It has been a wonder drug for our Caroline.
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ReplyDeleteHey, Bobby, thank you so much for all of your insightful comments. I had my bp daughter read some of them and she laughed because she can certainly see a lot of similarities. She did rock climbing intensely for a while, when she was about 11, and also gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, cross country, basketball, and loves to workout at the gym. She needs that large muscle stimulation for her brain to feel calm, just like you. She is one intense athlete! I am so grateful for this because so many bp kids are hugely overweight due to the medications. We have heard of Crossfit, her psychologist does it! Thank you for the hope you have shared here about how bp teens can have good outcomes!!
ReplyDeleteHi Megan (and Bobby),
ReplyDeleteIt is great to see someone who has survived childhood bp, and it is reassuring for me and my own son.
The 'large motor' work is actually our sense of proprioception. Sensory issues were the first thing diagnosed with my son and continue to be our base for daily activity -- we have done gymnastics, tae kwando, as well as a dozen other sports, but his favorite is the straight forward pull up bar in our family room. By the time he was 7 he could do 5 pull ups! Just amazing!
Thank you for this forum Megan -- it has been great for me to read about your family too!
Hartley
www.hartleysboys.com
Too funny that I posted in the Forums page on CABF Amantadine? Huh? As my 8 yr old son just got that added in to to mix of Trileptal and Abilify. I came in with Treatment Guidelines, but had never heard of that one. I truly hope it helps, as he has been extremely edgy and irritable over the past month (more so than normal, but normal for him is, well, not normal, you know). I just started following your Blog, LOVE it. Love to see creative, thoughtful, faithful women - you are an inspiration! Your daughter kinda looks like the oldest daughter on Modern Family!
ReplyDeleteHeather
I am not sure how I got labeled as is, but OK.... love your blog - can I change my tag to Heather....
ReplyDelete