Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 2/10/2012

Question
My 6 year old daughter has been diagnosed ADHD non-hyperactive last year. The Dr. tried strattera first with good results. After 4 weeks she started getting emotional (I call it PMSy) & aggressive, something she has NEVER been. She kicked the dog! A few days later she told me she could hear people talking in her head. I was very alarmed especially since her 18 year old brother first showed signs of bi-polar disorder when he was 8 years old when he started hearing voices. His childhood & oncoming adulthood was & is now a heartbreaking disaster. My daughter's Dr. then put her on Concerta. Within two weeks she started getting PMSy again so I stopped the meds, I am more afraid of bipolar than I am ADHD. We have been trying to deal w/the ADHD without meds because I know that most ADHD meds can trigger bipolar in kids w/a family history. We are losing the battle. She is in danger of being held back. Her teacher says she has no behavior issues, she is just always daydreaming, always has to be redirected, never finishes her classwork & homework takes all night. HELP! Is there anything she can take that won't trigger bipolar in her? Please, what is your advice on our next step?

Answer
The relation ship between ADHD and bipolar disorder is a complex one. In some children what looks like ADHD is the earliest manifestation of bipolar disorder. In other children with ADHD, bipolar disorder will develop later and the ADHD will still need treatment.

I think your daughter should be reevaluated by a child psychiatrist who is sophisticated regarding the relationship between these two disorders.

To read more about this please see: http://www.psycom.net/read.bipolar&add.html

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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