Re: starting prozac trial today

[Guest guest]

Good luck! I hope it helps with the anxiety.

Roxanna

Autism Happens

( ) starting prozac trial today

We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's anxiety really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and experiences all stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe start don't you all?

She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

watching or something to gain cooperation.

But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

I appreciate all the support I get here.

Thanks so much.

Pam

We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com.

[Guest guest]

pam:

my daughter too has extreme anxiety and cannot sleep. this is the reason we are

trying meds. in addtion, since she is 12 yo now, she takes little direction

from me so there is little i can do to help her.

looking forward to hearing how this goes for you. the doctor has presribed

prozac 10mg for my daughter. i am delaying starting this until she is out of

school for the summer, because last time she tried meds (paxil) she missed alot

of school -- had 5 weeks of illness, breaking her arm, etc which may or may not

have had something to do with the meds.

someone here provided a link that discussed aspie sensitivities to meds and to

start with a low does, i.e. 1mg. i don't see how you can go wrong with trying

this approach, so i will ask the psych to reduce the milligram to 1 mg and

increase every 1-2 weeks.

thanx pam

>

> We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's anxiety

really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and experiences all

stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

> consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

>

> We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe start

don't you all?

>

> She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

> watching or something to gain cooperation.

>

> But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

>

> I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

> the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

> but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

> it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

> medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

> effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

> having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

> dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

> body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

>

> I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

> I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

> with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

>

> I appreciate all the support I get here.

>

> Thanks so much.

>

> Pam

>

[Guest guest]

Melody, I remeber how you said your daughter was very disorientated.

The tablet comes in 10mg so I think that is why we are

starting on 2.5mg instead of 1mg, we are to quarter the

medication. I asked our doctor

about 1mg and she said since our daughter was 11, 2.5mg was low

enough. Prozac as I understand it stays in the body longer than

other SSRI's. So I am going to resist increases, until I

am forced to increase it. Our doctor said she wanted to

see us weekly.

I just hope our daughter will comply.

Pam

iehgter

> >

> > We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's anxiety

really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and experiences all

stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

> > consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

> >

> > We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe start

don't you all?

> >

> > She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

> > watching or something to gain cooperation.

> >

> > But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

> >

> > I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

> > the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

> > but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

> > it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

> > medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

> > effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

> > having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

> > dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

> > body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

> >

> > I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

> > I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

> > with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

> >

> > I appreciate all the support I get here.

> >

> > Thanks so much.

> >

> > Pam

> >

>

[Guest guest]

hi pam-

i am still on the new side hear so do not recognize who is who yet.

since we have daughters of similar age and anxiety, i would be interested in

sharing stories with you. for example, do you know what causes your daughter to

feel anxious. my daughter worries about many things,dying is her biggest fear.

i feel so sorry to see her hold her body stiff (her foot and toes are always

flexed) because she is so tense. for years i have talked her down from these

(sometimes highly unlikely events) worries. although lately, advice i offer is

not helpful and sometimes makes her angry. it is surprising to me how quickly

she can go from tense to angry. makes me wonder if she always feels angry. i

presume some of this anger is due to hormones, because up until one or two years

ago, she was so sweet and never had an unkind word or thought. i know school is

a difficult place for her but with the way she feels about taking direction from

me, homeschooling would not work.

regards, melody

> > >

> > > We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's

anxiety really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and

experiences all stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

> > > consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

> > >

> > > We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe

start don't you all?

> > >

> > > She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

> > > watching or something to gain cooperation.

> > >

> > > But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

> > >

> > > I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

> > > the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

> > > but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

> > > it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

> > > medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

> > > effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

> > > having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

> > > dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

> > > body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

> > >

> > > I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

> > > I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

> > > with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

> > >

> > > I appreciate all the support I get here.

> > >

> > > Thanks so much.

> > >

> > > Pam

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Let us know how this goes. My son, along with probably all AS kids really do

have so much anxiety. I was concerned about depression already because he never

has good things to say about his day, it's usually all bad things. But the

psychiatrist said that when an AS kid gets quietly depressed is when we have to

worry. As long as they are expressing their bad days, they probably aren't

really depressed. So if you do have to try new meds beside the prozac, that's

probably what to watch for in the depression area. Good luck. Tell us if there

are any drawbacks to this. And how old is your daughter? Will puberty affect

them differently? I'm curious for the future.

>

> We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's anxiety

really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and experiences all

stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

> consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

>

> We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe start

don't you all?

>

> She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

> watching or something to gain cooperation.

>

> But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

>

> I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

> the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

> but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

> it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

> medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

> effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

> having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

> dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

> body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

>

> I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

> I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

> with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

>

> I appreciate all the support I get here.

>

> Thanks so much.

>

> Pam

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Melody. You can email me on by selecting my name on the side. You may

have to set something up in your profile I couldn't

mail you.

Yes, I would like to exchange srategies.

Somehow my daughter has a negative view of this type of medication

and was to frightened to try it. Poor thing another fear.

I think that my daughter is just very sensitive and easily

alarmed.

I know she has a non verbal learning disorder.

I too have not had luck with homeschooling.

Since she is not in school she gets after school instruction

and that at least is working.

I know what you mean about getting angry easily. I know for

my daughter she is so on alert it doesn't take much to

set off a spark.

I know more positive reinforcement for pro behaviors is

something I am suppose to use with her.

Let's write privately too. Try to set it up so I can send you

email. If you select my name on this message you

will be able to mail me via mail. OK.

Pam

>>> i offer is not helpful and sometimes makes her angry. it is surprising to

me how quickly she can go from tense to angry. makes me wonder if she always

feels angry. i presume some of this anger is due to hormones, because up until

one or two years ago, she was so sweet and never had an unkind word or thought.

i know school is a difficult place for her but with the way she feels about

taking direction from me, homeschooling would not work.

>

> regards, melody

>

>

>

> > > >

> > > > We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's

anxiety really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and

experiences all stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

> > > > consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

> > > >

> > > > We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe

start don't you all?

> > > >

> > > > She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

> > > > watching or something to gain cooperation.

> > > >

> > > > But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

> > > >

> > > > I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

> > > > the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

> > > > but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

> > > > it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

> > > > medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

> > > > effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

> > > > having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

> > > > dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

> > > > body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

> > > >

> > > > I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

> > > > I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

> > > > with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

> > > >

> > > > I appreciate all the support I get here.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks so much.

> > > >

> > > > Pam

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

my daughter is 11. We did not get anywhere yesterday.

I may have to approach this like OCD fear of contamination.

It sure seems like it. Everything that she thinks is wierd I end up

having to touch. And now this fear of the medication hurting her

in some way. I broke the pill up into 1/8. Still no go.

When she was shaking this morning that she thought she touched a

wierd bug she asked me " is this why you want me to take

medicine " but before I could answer she answered herself

saying that everyone is afraid of bugs ....I ended up having to

touch the bug to show her it was alright.

I overestimated my start date I have a sense of humor today.

Yesterday I was upset.

Pam

-- In , " maryahmaki " <maryahmaki@...> wrote:

>

> Let us know how this goes. My son, along with probably all AS kids really do

have so much anxiety. I was concerned about depression already because he never

has good things to say about his day, it's usually all bad things. But the

psychiatrist said that when an AS kid gets quietly depressed is when we have to

worry. As long as they are expressing their bad days, they probably aren't

really depressed. So if you do have to try new meds beside the prozac, that's

probably what to watch for in the depression area. Good luck. Tell us if there

are any drawbacks to this. And how old is your daughter? Will puberty affect

them differently? I'm curious for the future.

>

>

>

> >

> > We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's anxiety

really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and experiences all

stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

> > consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

> >

> > We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe start

don't you all?

> >

> > She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

> > watching or something to gain cooperation.

> >

> > But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

> >

> > I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

> > the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

> > but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

> > it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

> > medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

> > effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

> > having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

> > dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

> > body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

> >

> > I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

> > I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

> > with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

> >

> > I appreciate all the support I get here.

> >

> > Thanks so much.

> >

> > Pam

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I overestimated my start date I have a sense of humor today.

> Yesterday I was upset.

Have you talked at length with her about the differences between her medicine

and " drugs " and exactly what she can expect to happen when she takes the

medicine? I just wonder because my aspie takes the " say no to drugs " stuff they

do at school very literally. He won't take any medicine unless he is absolutely

miserable. Then the sensory and other issues kick in and there are additional

problems. He is 14 and still is not swallowing pills! By the way, our

psychiatrist said you can get most of the psychiatric meds in liquid form when

we discussed it, if that would help.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

Ruth I do think you are right that she is too ridgidly stuck on this is bad some

how. And like your son she doesn't like medication in general.

I did think I got a little farther with her this weekend. She said it's wierd to

do things that affect your brain.

I went over lots of stuff that affect emotions, untreated diabetes,

not enough vitamins, too low of iron makes people tired and depressed.

And that we don't think it is wierd to take vitamins or treat diabetes.

My brother in law is an AS adult and he explained that he takes

50mg and that 1 mg is not anything at all. He explained how

he thought like her up until he was 30 ( OMG I hope that is not how long I am

going to be at this).

I hate to get into promising a big ticket item ..it ups the

ante on all novelty in a way we can't sustain or would want to

sustain ..

The idea of a liquid is a good one too.

Thanks

Pam

[Guest guest]

I would not really agree that as long as they are expressing the bad things, they are not depressed. My ds is depressed and he expresses it and focuses on it and obsesses about it. But he is still depressed. Did your psych say why he thinks it only matters if they get quiet?

Roxanna

Autism Happens

( ) Re: starting prozac trial today

Let us know how this goes. My son, along with probably all AS kids really do have so much anxiety. I was concerned about depression already because he never has good things to say about his day, it's usually all bad things. But the psychiatrist said that when an AS kid gets quietly depressed is when we have to worry. As long as they are expressing their bad days, they probably aren't really depressed. So if you do have to try new meds beside the prozac, that's probably what to watch for in the depression area. Good luck. Tell us if there are any drawbacks to this. And how old is your daughter? Will puberty affect them differently? I'm curious for the future.

>

> We have been talking about meds for AS on this board. My daughter's anxiety really increased this winter, she stopped going to school and experiences all stresses at an extreme level. Otherwise I might

> consider it just a school issue. Even going to bed is stressful.

>

> We are going to try a trial of prozac at 2.5mg. I think this is a safe start don't you all?

>

> She is so strong willed I am going to have to take away her TV

> watching or something to gain cooperation.

>

> But her anxiety has gotten out of control.

>

> I did ask about other medications but it seemed this was

> the safest to start with. I asked about tenex, clonipine meds

> but I agreed with the doctor since these increased depression

> it was not a good choice for my daughter. We talked about how

> medications like the xanax types sometimes have an opposite

> effect on kids. And we talked about meds like rispedal etc

> having more side effects. Because my daughter may miss a

> dose due to refusal the doctor thought prozac stayed in the

> body longer and it would be forgiving of a missed dose.

>

> I know some people feel strongly against the use of medication.

> I wanted to share our journey with all of you. We are struggling

> with some of the same problems, some more extreme than others.

>

> I appreciate all the support I get here.

>

> Thanks so much.

>

> Pam

>

We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com.

[Guest guest]

Pam,

I would just like to point out that 1mg of one medication is not equivalent to

1mg of any other medication. Its like comparing apples and oranges, they're not

the same. A lot of doses are dependant on the weight of the person and some

people metabolise some medicine more quickly than others.

You need to be careful starting at a really low dose of anything because it may

not have ANY effect, good or bad. Please talk to your dr and pharmacist about

what to expect and how to increase dosages appropriately. You could waste weeks

of your precious time giving her a dose that is too low to give a response.

Side effects happen, and a lot will decrease over time. You need to keep

communicating with your dr about how she is responding and not give up at the

first sign of a negative effect. The positive effects MAY outweigh the bad over

time.

I have been through this and it is frustrating when you have to keep trying

different medicines and dosages. Keep at it, because you may be amazed at the

response.

Keep us all posted, our thoughts are with you.

Kylie in CA.

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam, my DS started at 2 mg about a month and a half ago, primarily because he

has had some bad reactions to other meds. He is now on 4 mg, but we haven't

seen any improvement yet. His doctor said that she didn't like to increase too

much before 6 weeks in case the lower dose would work, but that most kids need

10-20 mg. However, DS had a good reaction to only 25 mg of risperdal and I

understand that's about half of what most kids get.