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How To Treat A 9 Year Old Diagnosed With ADHD And Bipolar Disorder?
my son is 9 years old. he got diagnosed with ADHD/Biopolar at age 6 at dr Amen s clinic. the other doc didnt agree 6 years old can be diagnosed with Biopolar disorder. my son is currently on Adderal 10 mg, It seems it worked when he was at 1st grade. since he is starting 2nd grade , the meds didnt work , the doctor couldnt increase the dose because of my sons weight loss issues. He had hard time at school so we decisided to increase the dose to 15mg, but we couldnt see any changes. we try meds change too( concerta) and mood stiblizer intuinive nothing is working. He takes the meds at 8;10am .but he can t calm until around 10:00am as his teacher explained to me. after lunch he is totally zoomed-out like zombie. So the doc change the meds again 10mg Addral and 5 mg extended release , taking it in the morning at once. it was not that effective except in the after noon he is not as zombie like before. what do you think about his issues and the Biopolar part ?please help. Hanna
Wed, 16 Sep 2015
FROM THE INFO PROVIDED, HE DOES SEEM TO HAVE ADHD. MY SUGGESTIONS ABOUT DIAGNOSIS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER ARE-
1.DIAGNOSIS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER IN SUCH A SMALL CHILD CAN BE A LITTLE TRICKY BECAUSE MANIFESTATION OF BIPOLAR DISORDER IN CHILDREN IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SAME DISORDER IN ADULTS.
2. ALSO SOME SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON TO BOTH BIPOLAR AND ADHD. FOR EXAMPLE- LACK OF CONCENTRATION, INABILITY TO SIT STILL, INCREASED SPEED OF DOING THINGS AND LEAVING TASKS UNFINISHED ARE SYMPTOMS FOUND IN BOTH BIPOLAR DISORDER AND ADHD.
REGARDING MEDICATIONS FOR ADHD, THE DURATION OF ACTION OF THESE DRUGS IS BETWEEN 4-6 HOURS. ALSO THE WEARING OFF EFFECT IS COMMON. TOLERANCE ALSO DEVELOPS TO THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THESE DRUGS. I RECOMMEND-
1.GIVE MODERATE DOSES OF THE DRUG IN 3-4 DIVIDED DOSES AT INTERVALS OF 3-4 HOURS
2. GIVE DRUG HOLIDAYS(DO NOT GIVE THE DRUG ON WEEKENDS) TO DELAY THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOLERANCE
3.PL TRY BEHAVIORAL THERAPY ALSO. IT IS QUITE EFFECTIVE IN SMALL CHILDREN WITH ADHD. CONSULT A PSYCHIATRIST WHO PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT.
ASK THE SCHOOL TEACHER ABOUT HIS PROGRESS IN CLASS. IF WARRANTED, IT MAY BE WORTHWHILE GETTING AN IQ ASSESSMENT DONE ONCE THE SYMPTOMS OF ADHD ARE UNDER CONTROL.
DR SMRITHI
1.DIAGNOSIS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER IN SUCH A SMALL CHILD CAN BE A LITTLE TRICKY BECAUSE MANIFESTATION OF BIPOLAR DISORDER IN CHILDREN IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SAME DISORDER IN ADULTS.
2. ALSO SOME SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON TO BOTH BIPOLAR AND ADHD. FOR EXAMPLE- LACK OF CONCENTRATION, INABILITY TO SIT STILL, INCREASED SPEED OF DOING THINGS AND LEAVING TASKS UNFINISHED ARE SYMPTOMS FOUND IN BOTH BIPOLAR DISORDER AND ADHD.
REGARDING MEDICATIONS FOR ADHD, THE DURATION OF ACTION OF THESE DRUGS IS BETWEEN 4-6 HOURS. ALSO THE WEARING OFF EFFECT IS COMMON. TOLERANCE ALSO DEVELOPS TO THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THESE DRUGS. I RECOMMEND-
1.GIVE MODERATE DOSES OF THE DRUG IN 3-4 DIVIDED DOSES AT INTERVALS OF 3-4 HOURS
2. GIVE DRUG HOLIDAYS(DO NOT GIVE THE DRUG ON WEEKENDS) TO DELAY THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOLERANCE
3.PL TRY BEHAVIORAL THERAPY ALSO. IT IS QUITE EFFECTIVE IN SMALL CHILDREN WITH ADHD. CONSULT A PSYCHIATRIST WHO PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT.
ASK THE SCHOOL TEACHER ABOUT HIS PROGRESS IN CLASS. IF WARRANTED, IT MAY BE WORTHWHILE GETTING AN IQ ASSESSMENT DONE ONCE THE SYMPTOMS OF ADHD ARE UNDER CONTROL.
DR SMRITHI
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