Are there any off-label drugs she can try? Other kinds of therapy?
We could try an SSRI. It is probably the best choice, but there is some evidence it can trigger bipolar in people susceptible to it and I don't know family history so I don't love the idea unless we have tried all other reasonable options. We are going to try a blood pressure med. I have heard a lot of negativity around this option though, but supposedly it is good for anxiety and ADHD. If it helps the anxiety we can add back in a stimulant possibly at a low dose. I have heard it can make kids just sleepy, which isn't my goal. So if that happens we will probably try an SSRI. I just hate it because she is SEVEN. Ugh. And the other choice is low dose of anti-psychotics but I am def not there.
We could try CBT but I honestly don't think she is ready/open to it yet. She did play therapy for 18 months and he never broke through. She never once talked about feelings with him and just got pissedat me when I told him stuff and I was afraid she would stop telling me stuff. I have heard of a kind of therapy where they get the kids physically active, jumping on a trampoline and stuff like that, but it is more for trauma. I still may try it down the road. I think it is even free through post adoption services from the state but it's a pretty big time commitment as I recall. She still does OT which is some help. But her biggest problems are impulsiveness and self-esteem (or lack of). Last night she got in the bathtub fully dressed (shoes too) because she took a plate of food with her and didn't want to set it down to get undressed. Sigh. Then she spilled the food right in the bath.
That is one thing being off meds has done for her. She's eating like a machine again! Last night she had her usual black bean taco at Blue Coast followed by Las Paletas...then another taco. Then she wanted another but I made her wait until we got home and she ate a half dozen pickles and a cheese stick. This is after she ate a cereal bar. I guess the Strattera caused appetite suppression more than it was supposed to.
akafred - DD tried blood pressure meds for migraines. She really really hated them. She napped after school most days and could not run an entire 5k. She had to stop and walk. She was constantly frustrated by being too worn out to get things done. So we switched to an appetite suppressing anti seizure med so now the daily battle is forcing calorie consumption. Med searching is awful and you have alllll my sympathy.
Prob long shot - but have you consulted a pediatric homeopath? A friend here actually had very good results.
akafred, almost all of DD's medications (different reasons obviously) are at adult levels and have various off-label psychiatric use. Side effects in general have been really mild and worn off over time, so hopefully there's something out there.
Years ago my nephew (ADHD) did some kind of brain wave training to help him monitor impulse control. I'm not sure all the specifics, but it was really helpful. Until insurance stopped paying for it.
2chatter I think the dose will probably be lower than for migraines but yeah, that is consistent with what I have heard. But on a different forum several of the ADHD+anxiety moms feel like clonidine and guanfacine are lifesavers. So I feel like it is worth a shot at least.
k3am - she was allergic to Keppra so that's when they tried blood pressure meds. Now she is on Qudexy. It works! Two years of med sampling and it works!
akafred totally worth a shot!! I hope you guys find something that helps.
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