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Post by weskie on Oct 27, 2004 12:25:28 GMT -5
DS 21 was hospitalized a month ago with depression and psychosis. He had been on Adderall for a while. I read in the PDR that Adderall could cause psychosis and that it might last for several weeks after stopping the Adderall, even if an antipsychotic medicine was being taken. He came home from college on Fall break, and at that time saw his psychopharmacologist AND had a lot of psychological testing. We'll have the results from the testing in a couple of weeks. I think he's going to be diagnosed bipolar--so the psychosis could be from that. He's on Risperdal, Celexa, and Strattera right now. He is back at school but not doing well at all. He says he just cannot concentrate. He's also still being bothered by some crazy thoughts. I think he's not on enough Risperdal, but what he is on (.5 mg twice a day) is making him very tired. He's also quite depressed by the situation. I think what's going to happen is that he is going to take a medical leave from college, and DH and I are going to drive out there this weekend, pack up his things, and bring him home. At home we can get him stabilized on medication without the stress of not being able to do his schoolwork. But here's my question: what can be done for someone with bipolar and ADD if they are NOT able to take any stims?? His psychopharmacologist doesn't even think he should be taking Strattera (and he says it doesn't help much). He is very smart, but has always had major trouble concentrating, and has been on one stimulant or another since third grade!!! DH and I are worried that he simply will not be able to finish school at all or even hold a job--in the past he has had to take Adderall even at a job, to help him concentrate. We are so worried about his future!  |
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Post by eaccae on Oct 27, 2004 13:16:59 GMT -5
(((((((((((((Weskie)))))))))))))))
Right now I would worry about the depression or possible bipolar and deal with the adhd later. It is also very possible that once the depression or bipolar is treated the adhd symptoms may lessen a little.
My father and uncle are both bipolar. They are both taking lithium and it is amazing. My uncle has been taking lithium since he was 20 and my father since he was 58? - maybe older? I grew up watching my father and his manias get worse and worse. It got to the point when you could diagnose my father with everything under the sun. After he finally let the doctors treat him and he stabilized - almost all of the other symptoms lessened. Right now there is such a difference it is unbelievable (and the good news is that he didn't "lose" himself either). If he is diagnosed bipolar - there is hope!!
Hang in there and let us know how it goes!!!
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Post by Amsmom on Oct 28, 2004 6:36:52 GMT -5
(((((((((((((Weskie))))))))))))))) Right now I would worry about the depression or possible bipolar and deal with the adhd later. eaccae,you said it very well. weskie, i understand how hard this is, as my ds8 is adhd/bipolar. his psych has always said we need to deal with the mood disorder first. my ds was not able to take lithium, but we did try it. he had horrendous explosive diarrhea and also sleep disturbance, but as eaccae said, lithium works very well for many people. my ds is on depakote 750mg, risperdal 1.5 mg and elavil 75 mg. it's not pleasant that my dear child has to take 3 meds, but i can see the huge difference they make in improving his life. i think you will feel much better when your ds is home with you and you can oversee him getting stabilized. one step at a time, honey, things will get better. |
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Post by AnneM on Oct 28, 2004 15:27:01 GMT -5
{{{{weskie}}}}}} you have had replies here from members who are much more knowledgeable about bipolar than I am ... but just to add my 2c worth anyway!...
You mentioned the stimulants ... however, from what I understand these should NEVER be taken when bipolar is present or suspected .. (Particularly because they can produce "mania" in those who are bipolar) so I don't think you need to worry about your son not taking stimulants ... he just really shouldn't !! ...
It souinds like your "way forward" is much more relevant to what eaccea and Amsmom mention.... possibly lithium, possibly depakote, risperdal etc....
GOOD GOOD LUCK ....
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Post by weskie on Oct 28, 2004 18:41:50 GMT -5
Thanks so much, eaccae, Amsmom, and AnneM! Where else could I get such support and understanding for an issue like this?? DS is going to see his psychopharm at college tomorrow and see if he can get on another medication that doesn't make him tired like Risperdal does. You're right, he just can't take stims at all--I don't think the doctor there should have put him on Strattera. He had to stop the Strattera for just one day in order to have the testing over fall break, and when he went back on it a day later it made him somewhat hypomanic (ie very irritable--he tried to pick a fight with DH, which is NOT his typical behavior at all!) He hasn't been formally diagnosed yet, but I really feel we're going to find out he's bipolar when we meet with the PhD tester in a week. At least then we'll know. When he started college I bought "tuition insurance", thinking that if things didn't go well he could take a leave and we could get a refund. Well, my husband was reading over the pamphlet today and it says a hospitalization has to be seven days long--(how likely is that in this day and age???) and they will refund only 60% if it is a MENTAL DISABILITY (bipolar is a medical condition, last time I checked!)--and if DRUGS are involved they won't pay anything (it was the Adderall which put him in the hospital!!) My husband ended up saying that the tuition insurance wasn't worth the paper the pamphlet was printed on!!! Anyway--DS really wants to try to continue the semester, so we'll just have to take it day by day. I'll keep in touch! Your support means a lot!!!  |
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Post by Amsmom on Oct 28, 2004 19:54:10 GMT -5
weskie,
as far as the college insurance goes, you may still be able to get something back. bipolar is a mental health dx. (Dx code 296.4)when the brochure says they wont cover anything if drugs are involved, it must mean substance abuse. your ds was taking medication that was prescribed for him, that is definitely not the same thing.
yes, please just take it day by day. it is impossible to know what lies ahead. is the psychopharm a psychiatrist? if not, that is a route you may want to consider. i couldnt survive without my ds's wonderful psychiatrist. good luck honey, keep us posted.
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