I need help!

[Ceciliashelton]

This is a first for me. My 5 year old was recently diagnosed with adhd, anxiety and autism level one. Since her diagnosis she has been put on some medications to help with her behavior and her anxiety. I am at a loss right now as it seems as though things are just getting worse.

Today she destroyed her classroom in a fit of anxiety and all of her classmates had to evacuate the classroom. I had to leave work to go and try to calm her down.

I need advice on things I can try to help with her mood swings but also to explain to her that these behaviors are not acceptable. She doesn’t seem to comprehend anything I say.

Please help!!

[rollercoaster22]

My son is 6 - last year when he was 5 he did the same thing - destroyed the classroom and they too had to evacuate. We did play therapy and that helped a bit. He wasn't on meds then. Now he is on meds and doesn't have the big outbursts anymore. Maybe try different meds? Different dose? Counselling and play therapy helped my little guy. Good luck.

[anirush]

Doesn't sound like the medications are working or are possibly the wrong ones. My grandson suffers from severe anxiety and I think he has a touch of autism to. Some meds have been good for him others have been disasters. What is she on right now?

[Ceciliashelton in reply to anirush]

Currently she is on 10mg of Vyvance but we just upped it to 20mg this morning. She also takes 10mg of Prozac but she just started taking that about a week ago tomorrow.

[Jakobjeremijames22 in reply to Ceciliashelton]

How does the vyvancework

[anirush]

Neither of those are a mood stabilizer. Has it gotten worse since you started the Prozac? Sometimes antidepressants can make behaviour worse without a mood stabilizer in place first.

[Jakobjeremijames22]

Sounds very familiar. My son did the same things until he started taking focalin 5mg then after a month 10mg. It's a dream except at night time around 12 hours after taking it. I'm trying to figure that part out still.

[ashjav2001]

My son has been taking risperdal and it has really helped with his behavior at school. He did a lot of hitting and disruption in class( he is 5)

[Adhd-mom]

Upping the dose of Vyvanse and adding Prozac within a week seems quick. It would be hard to tell which is working, which is giving a side effect, etc. and then you wouldn’t know which one needed to be changed. I would think that the body would need time to stabilize on one drug/dose before adding another. Just a thought.

And - you are not alone. My sons pre-school class was evacuated since he was throwing chairs and then we were asked to leave and never return. At the time I would cry and fear for his future knowing that he could not control his temper. Now fast forward to today and we will be celebrating his 16th birthday in a few days. He turned out to be a very gentle, caring young man.....and calm. No issues with temper. However every time we pass that preschool he still says “that’s the place that kicked me out”.