Anybody with a bipolar child who doesn't sleep at night??!
Question: Anybody with a bipolar child who doesn't sleep at night!?!?
My 11 yr old daughter is bipolar!. Diagnosed 3 yrs ago!. She is awake all night!.!.!.I mean all night!. Doctor gave her geodon to sleep!.!.!.she slept great!. Doctor then moved out of state!.!.!.new doctor said Geodon not good for kids!.!.!.she was on too high of a dose, etc!. So she put her on Clonodine!. She is NOT sleeping!.!.!.!.she is on !.2mg!. Falls right asleep, but doesnt stay asleep!.
Anybody have suggestions!.!.!.!.
oh, we have tried melatonin!.!.!.no help at all!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Anybody have suggestions!.!.!.!.
oh, we have tried melatonin!.!.!.no help at all!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I was diagnosed with bipolar at the same time as your daughter!. I'm 20 years old now!. I'm now dependent on antipsychotics and antidepressants to get by!. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to not have them, but as far as I know, I'd only be worse without them!. Ask your doctor about Seroquel!. It's what I was put on when I was 12 for my hyperactivity problems!. It will KNOCK her out, trust me!. It's very powerful!. The only bad side effect I have is that I am sluggish/tired most of the day, but it's worth it to get the sleep I need!.
Please keep a close eye on the effects of her meds!. If they aren't working tell your doctor!. After I got put on them and because everyone assumed I was better, they started ignoring me, and I attempted suicide again!. It's so important to let her know she is unconditionally loved, above all!.
Oh and Adderall is NOT used to make meth!. The chemical composition is similar but they are not the same thing!. OTC cold medicines are used to cook meth, along with various other things!. Adderall is not one of them!. Same active ingredient though!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Please keep a close eye on the effects of her meds!. If they aren't working tell your doctor!. After I got put on them and because everyone assumed I was better, they started ignoring me, and I attempted suicide again!. It's so important to let her know she is unconditionally loved, above all!.
Oh and Adderall is NOT used to make meth!. The chemical composition is similar but they are not the same thing!. OTC cold medicines are used to cook meth, along with various other things!. Adderall is not one of them!. Same active ingredient though!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Take your kid right back to the pdoc and tell him/her that your child is not sleeping thru the night!. Regular sleep, a full night of it, is hugely important to avoid episodes!. Your pdoc should know that!. It is basic bipolar 101!.
Clonodine is a blood pressure med!. These are often used for anxiety as well!. It is not a mood stabilizer!. That said, it makes sense to try alternatives to antipsychotics and anticonvulsants in a child so young!. If it is not working and the episodes are impairing functioning or socialization, I personally would go with an anticonvulsant over an antipsychotic!. They have years of use with epilepsy and long-term effects are known!. The same cannot be said for antipsychotics!. They also treat the base cause of bipolar, not just the symptoms (which is the theory of some leading bipolar researchers)!.
I am not a doctor nor an expert!. However, I have bipolar, talk a lot to my psychiatrist and have done a fair amount of research!. If you are interested in learning some about psych meds from the user perspective, an easily accessible site is http://www!.crazymeds!.us Occasionally parents of bipolar children post on the talk boards!. Just keep in mind, ppl with med problems usually use the site!. Those without troubles don't tend to seek out the Internet for info!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Clonodine is a blood pressure med!. These are often used for anxiety as well!. It is not a mood stabilizer!. That said, it makes sense to try alternatives to antipsychotics and anticonvulsants in a child so young!. If it is not working and the episodes are impairing functioning or socialization, I personally would go with an anticonvulsant over an antipsychotic!. They have years of use with epilepsy and long-term effects are known!. The same cannot be said for antipsychotics!. They also treat the base cause of bipolar, not just the symptoms (which is the theory of some leading bipolar researchers)!.
I am not a doctor nor an expert!. However, I have bipolar, talk a lot to my psychiatrist and have done a fair amount of research!. If you are interested in learning some about psych meds from the user perspective, an easily accessible site is http://www!.crazymeds!.us Occasionally parents of bipolar children post on the talk boards!. Just keep in mind, ppl with med problems usually use the site!. Those without troubles don't tend to seek out the Internet for info!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I don't have a bipolar child, though I do know some people who suffer from bi-polar!. Have you told her new doctor about how she doesn't sleep through the night, etc!? If you have and he still isn't doing anything, try reiterating how much this is disturbing her and your life and how you wish to get some help for it, if they still do nothing then I suggest trying to get a new doctor as this one doesn't seem to be all that compatible you you guys!.
Have you ever been to this website http://www!.bpkids!.org/site/PageServer it could be helpful!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Have you ever been to this website http://www!.bpkids!.org/site/PageServer it could be helpful!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
ahh im no dr!. or psychiatrist or anything!. but 11 yrs old is pretty young to give anti psychotics too!. i think alot of parents these days dope their kids on medicine(ie adderall!. which thats how meth is made so parents are giving their kids clean meth)too easy cuz they cant handle their behavior!. i think you should try to focus ,alternative methods CBT cognitive behavioral therapy(which heps bipolar patient recognize when an episode is about to occur, change the negative thought pattern,aromatherapy, try herbal drugs to help her fall asleep(but you need to make sure they dont contraindict with the meds she takes now!. sorry if i seem rude but i hate seeing little kids get doped up on RX drugs,especially since her body and brain has not developed completely and i wonder if they will affect her in the future!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm wary of doctors who diagnose 9 year olds with psychiatric problems!. Are you sure the child is bipolar!? Because honestly, manic-depression is difficult to diagnose in the young!. Are you sure, it's not just a personality disorder or ADHD!?Www@Answer-Health@Com