You are here:

Bipolar Disorder/Son 11 adhd and mood disorder

Advertisement

Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 10/23/2008


Question
QUESTION: My son is 11 and was diagnosed with mood disorder.  He also has adhd.  I have considered taking him off the stimulant for his adhd to see if there is an improvement.  What other alternative do you suggest? I don't know what to do.  Thanks Carolyn

ANSWER: Hi Carolyn:

First, I need to caution you that it is not a good idea to just take your son off the ADHD medication.  You will need to work with his doctor to taper off if that is what you want done.  Having the mood disorder in addition to ADHD, suddenly stopping medication puts him at even greater risk.

That said, you did not say whether or not he is also being treated for the mood disorder.  It is most advisable for children that have both disorders to be stabilized for the mood disorder before any medication for ADHD is started.  The stimulant alone is likely to worsen the mood disorder considerably.

Sit down with your son's psychiatrist and discuss a mood stabilizer. Also discuss tapering off the stimulant until a later time when your son's moods are stabilized.  Once he has been stabilized for six months, then ADHD treatment can be re-started slowly.

         Joyce A. Anthony

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My son is on mood stabilizers 500mg Depakote 4 pm, 200 mg Seroquel am, and 200mg seroquel pm.  They released him from the hospital Sept 2 and dr put him back on stimulant for school and he is doing terrible. Raging and cursing out of control every day at school.  He takes Focalin XR 20 mg in the am for the adhd.  So you suggest he wean him off the stimulant for now down to no stimulant.  My concern is will he be able to function or focus at all in school but right now it is a disaster so either way no work is getting done.

Answer
Hi Carolyn:

It is exactly as you say--he's not learning now.  In addition, he's risking getting penalized for behavior at school.  Depakote may be bringing his mood too far down and the added Focalin even further.  I would have the doctor taper him off both and then add Lamictal in the place of the Depakote.  This change may also have the added benefit of allowing him to concentrate better.  

         Joyce A. Anthony

Bipolar Disorder

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Joyce A. Anthony

Expertise

I can answer questions dealing with bipolar disorder in a parent, yourself or your child. I can give suggestions and insight into what can be expected of many medications for bipolar disorder. My most extensive knowledge is in children with bipolar disorder. Here I can give advice on dealing with daily events, schools, medication and professionals.

Experience

I am the daughter of a bipolar/schizophrenic parent, am bipolar myself and am raising a bipolar child. I have a background in Psychology from Gannon University, have run several parenting classes for those parenting bipolar children and have had extensive experience with medications, the school system, homeschooling a special needs child, dealing with counselors, doctors and other professionals in the mental health field. I write for a bipolar website, with the focus on educating the child with bipolar disorder on his/her illness.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.