My sad son

[cookie1018]

I started my 8 year old son on meds over the summer and he is always sad. He went from a happy go lucky kid to sad. His outbursts are really harsh. He see a therapist & now is going to a psychiatrist to help regulate his meds and help find a better fit. Idk what to do. I sometimes don’t give him is meds on Sundays to see that life back in him.

[anirush]

Maybe the medication is not a good fit. I have grandsons who also deal with the depression on top of ADHD. What does his psychiatrist say about this?

Our psychiatrist says taking them and and off meds doesn't keep the medication stable. But there are medications that make things worse instead of better. Talk to the doctor.

[cookie1018 in reply to anirush]

I’ve spoken to everyone. We may switch his meds again.

[cookie1018 in reply to anirush]

I’m going next week. I’m hoping for good results

[Pennywink]

I’m sorry to hear that. I would definitely look into changing the prescription. There are so many med options - don’t stick with one that takes away your sons personality. Seeing a psychiatrist is a great place to start.

During our medication trial, one med made my son very irritable and not his happy self. Our prescribing physician (and we) felt that was unacceptable and moved on to something else. The next med we tried has been a great fit for us.

[cookie1018 in reply to Pennywink]

I’m hoping to get a better fit for him.

[SMariano]

Sometimes it is hard to get the right meds and the right doses....it takes a bit of time. My son is 16, and we didn't start medicating him until he was in high school. However, the two things I can say are: 1. I hardly ever see my son while his medication is in his system and when I do I don't recognize him and ask him constantly if he is feeling ok or if something is wrong because he is so quiet and withdrawn....not the kiddo I know; and 2. We chose not to require him to take his medications any other time except school unless he will be doing something he or we think he might need it....like working with my husband in the woods with a chainsaw or something. He doesn't seem to need it for work and though there are days at home I wish he had taken it because he is in my space and exhausting me, I don't make him. Part of that is that we let him have some say in managing it on his own, part that other than annoying us a bit he doesn't really need it at home and part that it doesn't hurt for him to learn how to manage himself the best he can without the meds as he get older.....however, he is a bit older than your son, so some of this comes with age. He didn't want to take it at all when we first started, but has gotten to know that if he doesn't take it for school he struggles. He can tell the difference when he needs it and when he doesn't but also complains it makes him tired. I remember when we first started the process around 6th grade, it seemed to take forever before we finally got to a place that everyone was comfortable and he was adjusted. Does he still struggle sometimes, you bet. I think on some level he will always have to work harder at some things than others. But I also think there are things he is amazing at that most people can't manage. When he is interested in something he has that hyper focus that produces incredible results. It all comes with learning how to cope and maturing. Hang in there....

[cookie1018 in reply to SMariano]

Thank you for sharing.

[Cjkchamp]

I don’t know what meds he is in , but meds did not help with my son’s aggression and outbursts. The psychiatrist recommended broad spectrum micronutrients when we told her we did not want to put him on Prozac. They have helped tremendously. I encourage you to look into them. There are two companies, Hardy Nutritionals and True Hope. When my son was on Guanfacine he just seemed sedated and his personality went away. I hope micronutrients help him if you decide to try them.

[cookie1018 in reply to Cjkchamp]

Thank you

[Janice_H]

Hi, this is very common with many of the ADHD medications. My son has been on 5 different meds. The first 3 made him have severe mood swings. Your will do better once his psychiatrist gets him the right meds. Be sure to ask if it is ok to skip weekend doses.

[cookie1018 in reply to Janice_H]

I believe so too. He doesn’t get seen till 10/28. So I’m hoping for the best.

[waltercomms]

My son has been on the same meds for 3 years. But, in the last 6 months or so, his increasingly blue mood and total disinterest in school has become a concern. This also coincided with getting settled at a new school and the introduction to long division, which has really pushed him to frustration.

We had only given him medicine on school days, but are now shifting to a new med that needs to stay in his blood stream, so that is now shifting to daily.

I am starting to see a happier kid.

Keep trying to find the right medicine for your kiddo.