Expert: Libby Bonner - 2/28/2009

Question
My son is 6 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD last week. His doctor prescribed adderall for him, but it made him worse the second day, so we took him off of it. She then gave him Seroquel 25 MG and ask that we give him 1/2 pill in the evening. I am not sure that he is ADHD or maybe bipolar since his biological father is. I want to know if the Seroquel is safe for a child this age and is it appropriate to give him only 1/2 of the pill at a time? I am leery of a lot of the medications they want to give to young children, any advice?

Answer
I am not an expert in this area.

About Seroquel, I can only say that it would be appropriate for bipolar, but probably not for ADHD.  ---  If, however, it is being used for good reasons, it's possible that 1/2 pill was prescribed because that IS the right dose, but the mfr does not make one that small.  

My general advice is that young children can definitely have mental illnesses, but that it is often terribly difficult to establish wether they do have one, and which one, and/or have ADHD.  It  sometimes takes observation over time, and the use of different meds [to see their effects, and whether things improve], to become more clear about diagnosis.

You will find good info at this site:  aacap.org.  Look at the top for info for families.

Do involve your son's school as well, and see that he gets all services that your state and/or school district mandate.

Try also to join a parent support group. One that I know of is run by nami.org.  They have a multi-week series of free classes for families and caregivers of young children that will be very helpful, and then I would continue w/ their support group after you have completed the classes.  Not sure of the class name.  It is Visions in Iowa, but is called something else in some states.  The class schedules listed at the nami.org site are not always up to date: I would contact the state NAMI office to find out when there would be classes near you.

You are right to be cautious here - but right also to be active in seeking answers and support.  Learn as much as you can so that you can ask good questions of the docs and various persons who will be involved w/ your son.

Thank you for writing.