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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Momof1BPKid on October 30, 2003, at 22:25:22
I am so concerned, my son is only 12 and I feel like he is on wayyy to many meds.
He has been diagnosed, bipolar disorder, adhd, ocd, tourette's, restless leg syndrome, migraines, sometimes vomits for no apparent reason.
He is currently on abilify (10 mg) for mania/mood
paxil (CR?) 25mg for OCD/anxiety
topamax 100mg for weight loss/mood stablizer (augmentation)
depakote 1250 mg for mania/mood stablizerJEESH . Is this too much? I am worried.
I wonder how come they dont do an MRI and a brain spect on this kid. It really annoys me since he has so many problems for so long. (all his life!)
I only mention this cause I had a relative with an "ADHD" child for 14 years on ritalin only to find out he had a benign brain tumor affecting his behavior to the extreme.
Just venting. I don't understand when I went to the neuro for a headache they gave me an MRI.Does this seem like a lot of meds?!?
Posted by Elle2021 on October 31, 2003, at 2:59:48
In reply to too many meds?, posted by Momof1BPKid on October 30, 2003, at 22:25:22
That does seem like a lot of meds for a 12-year-old. Was he diagnosed with all those things from the same doctor? Maybe get a second opinion.
Elle
Posted by Robert Fairburn on October 31, 2003, at 3:52:42
In reply to Re: too many meds? » Momof1BPKid, posted by Elle2021 on October 31, 2003, at 2:59:48
Wow
Yes I agree this way too many meds for a young lad. Please can you go and have this boy tested properly. I dont mean the standard test that a pdoc does but the full works that some advanced labs can do. You can be amazed at what some labs can show you. Im going to give you a link to english lab that I have used which gives you a idea of whats available. WWW.IWDL.NETRegards Clive
Posted by DanielJ on October 31, 2003, at 7:32:08
In reply to too many meds?, posted by Momof1BPKid on October 30, 2003, at 22:25:22
I believe your instincts are 100% right. This child sould have a neuro workup; EEG, MRI or whatever the Neuro Dr. feels is necessary to rule out physical causes for his problems. His dosages of Ad's Anti psych meds also seem excessive. I know my son's Psychiatrist recommended Neuro on first visit even though he is stabilized on reasonable meds at present.
Posted by Momof1BPKid on October 31, 2003, at 9:19:53
In reply to Re: too many meds? » Momof1BPKid, posted by Elle2021 on October 31, 2003, at 2:59:48
His doctor diagnosed him bipolar, adhd, and ocd,
the university hospital doctor, evaluated him verbally for 2 hours and said he met criteria, for bp NOS, adhd, and tourette's . Sleep study diagnosed him restless legs.> That does seem like a lot of meds for a 12-year-old. Was he diagnosed with all those things from the same doctor? Maybe get a second opinion.
> Elle
Posted by Momof1BPKid on October 31, 2003, at 9:22:40
In reply to Re: too many meds?, posted by Robert Fairburn on October 31, 2003, at 3:52:42
Thank you I visited the site, there are so many tests, what do you suggest first?? I dont know where to start.
this site is in the uk? I need to find a US site probably.
> Wow
> Yes I agree this way too many meds for a young lad. Please can you go and have this boy tested properly. I dont mean the standard test that a pdoc does but the full works that some advanced labs can do. You can be amazed at what some labs can show you. Im going to give you a link to english lab that I have used which gives you a idea of whats available. WWW.IWDL.NET
>
> Regards Clive
Posted by Momof1BPKid on October 31, 2003, at 9:28:19
In reply to Re: too many meds?, posted by DanielJ on October 31, 2003, at 7:32:08
Thanks for your post. yes I really think they need to check physical causes. All this has really ruined his life and he has so many problems. He has gained a massive quanity of weight on meds and was a very recognized athlete in his age group,until the large gain in weight. He also has had 3 head injuries in the past at a young age. He also stopped breathing for a brief moment at birth.
His IQ is very very high, but he has alot of problems in school.I just think sometimes so many neuro type problems would warrant some kind of mri or brain spect study.
> I believe your instincts are 100% right. This child sould have a neuro workup; EEG, MRI or whatever the Neuro Dr. feels is necessary to rule out physical causes for his problems. His dosages of Ad's Anti psych meds also seem excessive. I know my son's Psychiatrist recommended Neuro on first visit even though he is stabilized on reasonable meds at present.
Posted by Robert Fairburn on October 31, 2003, at 9:52:39
In reply to Re: too many meds?, posted by Momof1BPKid on October 31, 2003, at 9:22:40
Well most of these test come from the good old USA so you should be able to get them there. I myself would start with the "organics" test plus the "FACT" test, this would be good starting points. I dont know where in the USA you would have to go, maybee you will have to travel interstate
Regards Robert
Posted by Clayton on October 31, 2003, at 14:11:53
In reply to too many meds?, posted by Momof1BPKid on October 30, 2003, at 22:25:22
Yes, I agree. Too many meds. The honest, reputable medical literature is clear. No one understand how any of these meds work - how they bring about their "theraputic" effect.
It's a chemical soup and a crap shoot. Russian Roulette with your kids brain. (And do not forget that the medical lit is fairly unambiguous - stimulant drugs can cause permanent brain dysfunction - CAUTION!).
I have very differnt pschychiatric problems so I'm sorry I can't offer a specific solution. But I was on a plethora of psychotropics and things just keep getting worse. My ability to deal with my problems became increasingly intractable as each new med was added. Then I found a new pdoc. He reduced my regimine to two drugs. They are profoundly efficacious and I am grateful and lucky.
I encourage you to not give up and to keep trying new docs using every info resource at your disposal to find the right one.
If the doc can't explain in plain English what each med is suppossed to do and how it is assummed to work and especially how the total combo in the soup interact as a synergistic group, you are probably seeing the wrong person.
I am not anti-psychotropic. These drugs have saved my life and freed me. But I will tell you factually that despite the tremendous advances that have been made and the huge volume of knowledge on the brain, pychaitric disorders and their causes, we are still in the dark ages in this area of medicine. No one understands how a single, isolated psychotropic achieves it's effect. No one understands brain function in other than a very detailed, technical, yet profoundly superficial manner.
As a good parent, seek out every source of information you can find (the internet is a great resouce), use every bit of wit you have to find the best doc for your child and then ralize how truely ignorant medical science still is in this area. Then follow your instincts, go with your gut, use your best judgement in the face of uncertainty. Forgive yourself for missteps and wrong turns. Just don't give up.
I wish the medical knowledge that we will possess in 200 years were available to you now. It is not.
Very best of luck.
Posted by stjames on October 31, 2003, at 14:47:45
In reply to too many meds?, posted by Momof1BPKid on October 30, 2003, at 22:25:22
> He has been diagnosed, bipolar disorder, adhd, ocd, tourette's, restless leg syndrome, migraines, sometimes vomits for no apparent reason.
>
> He is currently on abilify (10 mg) for mania/mood
> paxil (CR?) 25mg for OCD/anxiety
> topamax 100mg for weight loss/mood stablizer (augmentation)
> depakote 1250 mg for mania/mood stablizer
>
> JEESH . Is this too much?I think that is the wrong question. To me the first question is "do they work ?" Do they ?
Do they cause side effects ?There are millions of BP's on that number of meds,
and many times those exact meds. They are standard for BP.
Posted by lesliekay on November 3, 2003, at 2:44:24
In reply to Re: too many meds?, posted by Momof1BPKid on October 31, 2003, at 9:22:40
It may seem like a lot but it really is a normal amount for a complicated case of bipolar disorder.
I agree that he should have a CT and EEG...but the meds are reasonable....put it this way, I am on 6 meds. Also, I am a mental health professional so I see it every day. Try not to worry. leslie
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