Re: Son stopping Lithium, is this mania or just happiness?

[Guest guest]

Seems like a good sign to me but watch him like a hawk. Make sure he gets his nutrition and vitamins as now that he is active his body might deplete vitamins more quickly. His sensory issues might become more severe and perhaps moving is how he is helping to regulate. No doubt his body is going to be rebalancing a lot of things like harmones, etc... I have zero experience with this but you've also got to watch the anti-depressant. I've heard that most people have to try a different few before they get on the one that works for them. It really could be mania. On the other hand it could also be the a burden has been lifted off of him. Just be patient and don't get to comfortable yet.

Hope it works out good,

From: <kristenwallen@...>Subject: ( ) Son stopping Lithium, is this mania or just happiness? Date: Saturday, November 6, 2010, 11:25 PM

Hello everyone,We decided that the lithium that my 13 yr old son has been taking for the past two years hasn't really been doing much other than upset his stomach so after seeing the psychiatrist we decided to stop it and try an antidepressant.The pdoc seems to think that the majority of my sons issues stem from his Aspegers and sensory integration dysfunction and that an anti depressant will help with the constant anxiety and obsessive thoughts. He didn't deny that my son does have some Bipolar traits (and also having bp'ers on both sides of the family) won't completly dismiss the BP diagnosis.My question is about the way he's been behaving the past couple days...I know the antidepressants havne't kicked in yet so it's not them causing this but I'm concenred the lack of lithium may be the culpret. He's been very active, like adhd active (but still is able to sit and play his computer games) But...he's been very wiggly, bouncing

around, loud and basically acting happy. I never thought the lithium changed him but now I'm wondering, I forgot about my bouncy bippity-boppty son and on lithium he wasn't this way. He's even making his funny little comments and asking silly little questions again. Yesterday he even walked up to me, smiled and hugged me, completly out of the blue. I'm not complaining one bit (even though the drumming everything in site is a bit annoying) I just have that little voice in the back of my head warning me "WATCH HIM CAREFULLY" He stillis having his periodical meltdowns over little things but for the most part he's more bouncy and giggly. Has anyone else experienced anything like this when stopping a mood altering medication?

[Guest guest]

Hi again ,

Like others have told you, just keep a good eye on him. My son has been through so many medications and dosages since kindergarden and at times this will happen to him as well. If he stays happy that's a good sign. Maybe you can find some type of sport or something active that he can burn off the extra energy.

My son has spurts where he will act like this since he has been on an anti depressant. He used to never hug anyone. Now he will come up to me out of the blue and give me a hug every now and then. I have to say out of all the medication he has been on that has helped him, it has been the anti depressant that has helped him the most.

I hope it continues to go well with your son. But I'm sure I don't have to tell you that this AS journey is such a roller coaster ride that with every up, I always expect a down. Just so I can be prepared. :-) ne

From: <kristenwallen@...>Subject: ( ) Son stopping Lithium, is this mania or just happiness? Date: Saturday, November 6, 2010, 11:25 PM

Hello everyone,We decided that the lithium that my 13 yr old son has been taking for the past two years hasn't really been doing much other than upset his stomach so after seeing the psychiatrist we decided to stop it and try an antidepressant.The pdoc seems to think that the majority of my sons issues stem from his Aspegers and sensory integration dysfunction and that an anti depressant will help with the constant anxiety and obsessive thoughts. He didn't deny that my son does have some Bipolar traits (and also having bp'ers on both sides of the family) won't completly dismiss the BP diagnosis.My question is about the way he's been behaving the past couple days...I know the antidepressants havne't kicked in yet so it's not them causing this but I'm concenred the lack of lithium may be the culpret. He's been very active, like adhd active (but still is able to sit and play his computer games) But...he's been very wiggly, bouncing

around, loud and basically acting happy. I never thought the lithium changed him but now I'm wondering, I forgot about my bouncy bippity-boppty son and on lithium he wasn't this way. He's even making his funny little comments and asking silly little questions again. Yesterday he even walked up to me, smiled and hugged me, completly out of the blue. I'm not complaining one bit (even though the drumming everything in site is a bit annoying) I just have that little voice in the back of my head warning me "WATCH HIM CAREFULLY" He stillis having his periodical meltdowns over little things but for the most part he's more bouncy and giggly. Has anyone else experienced anything like this when stopping a mood altering medication?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am new to the group, this is my 1st post.  I am bp and was on lithium and personally, it sedated me so much it resembled being drunk or stoned, I couldn't remember words and had difficulty retaining information (short term memory).  I think he may just be happy and not sedated.  Signs of mania to look for are rapid speech (more so than bubbly talk - its like pressured speech because the thoughts in your head are so nonstop you are just trying to get your mouth to keep up with your brain)  - it gives me a headache personally. And risk taking behaviors are big warnings - I don't know what they would be for a 13 yo, for an adult it could be spending sprees, doing activities that are high risk and go against your normal values, gambling, etc...  Not sleeping at night is a big one for children and adults (my bp dd and I both do this) at the onset and height of mania.  I and my bp dd were on Risperdal before too and it was too sedating.  Also Geodone was too sedating for dd too.

Anyways I would google warning signs mania for more info if you are concerned and he isn't sleeping at least 6 hours at night.  

I joined this group because my 11 yo ds is newly diagnosed with AS (and previously with anxiety) and I hope to learn from everyone here more about it.

Anne

From: <kristenwallen@...>

Subject: ( ) Son stopping Lithium, is this mania or just happiness?

Date: Saturday, November 6, 2010, 11:25 PM

 

Hello everyone,

We decided that the lithium that my 13 yr old son has been taking for the past two years hasn't really been doing much other than upset his stomach so after seeing the psychiatrist we decided to stop it and try an antidepressant.

The pdoc seems to think that the majority of my sons issues stem from his Aspegers and sensory integration dysfunction and that an anti depressant will help with the constant anxiety and obsessive thoughts. He didn't deny that my son does have some Bipolar traits (and also having bp'ers on both sides of the family) won't completly dismiss the BP diagnosis.

My question is about the way he's been behaving the past couple days...I know the antidepressants havne't kicked in yet so it's not them causing this but I'm concenred the lack of lithium may be the culpret. He's been very active, like adhd active (but still is able to sit and play his computer games) But...he's been very wiggly, bouncing

around, loud and basically acting happy. I never thought the lithium changed him but now I'm wondering, I forgot about my bouncy bippity-boppty son and on lithium he wasn't this way. He's even making his funny little comments and asking silly little questions again. Yesterday he even walked up to me, smiled and hugged me, completly out of the blue. I'm not complaining one bit (even though the drumming everything in site is a bit annoying) I just have that little voice in the back of my head warning me "WATCH HIM CAREFULLY" He stillis having his periodical meltdowns over little things but for the most part he's more bouncy and giggly. Has anyone else experienced anything like this when stopping a mood altering medication?

[Guest guest]

I don't know if I missed this somewhere, but what particular

antidepressant is he on now? People with bipolar are generally told

to not take any sort of SSRI. Pam had it right on the money with the

info she gave you. I'm sure there is more online. An SSRI would

cause manic or hypomanic / hyper symptoms at first and then anxiety,

etc...

Jen

5yo Aspie

On 11/6/2010 11:25 PM, wrote:

Hello everyone,

We decided that the lithium that my 13 yr old son has been

taking for the past two years hasn't really been doing

much other than upset his stomach so after seeing the

psychiatrist we decided to stop it and try an

antidepressant.

The pdoc seems to think that the majority of my sons

issues stem from his Aspegers and sensory integration

dysfunction and that an anti depressant will help with the

constant anxiety and obsessive thoughts. He didn't deny

that my son does have some Bipolar traits (and also having

bp'ers on both sides of the family) won't completly

dismiss the BP diagnosis.

My question is about the way he's been behaving the past

couple days...I know the antidepressants havne't kicked in

yet so it's not them causing this but I'm concenred the

lack of lithium may be the culpret. He's been very active,

like adhd active (but still is able to sit and play his

computer games) But...he's been very wiggly, bouncing

around, loud and basically acting happy. I never thought

the lithium changed him but now I'm wondering, I forgot

about my bouncy bippity-boppty son and on lithium he

wasn't this way. He's even making his funny little

comments and asking silly little questions again.

Yesterday he even walked up to me, smiled and hugged me,

completly out of the blue. I'm not complaining one bit

(even though the drumming everything in site is a bit

annoying) I just have that little voice in the back of my

head warning me "WATCH HIM CAREFULLY" He stillis having

his periodical meltdowns over little things but for the

most part he's more bouncy and giggly. Has anyone else

experienced anything like this when stopping a mood

altering medication?

[Guest guest]

Anne,

Welcome to the grou & Thank you so much for your help. Hearing the side affects

from someone who has been on lithium put many things into perspective for me.

The reason the pdoc decided to take my 13 yo off the lithium after two yrs is it

doesn't seem to be doing anything for him and also he was lacking some of the bp

signs NO: risk taking behavior, NO thoughts of Grandiosity(sp) NOT

hypersexualality and the only mania they considered was his rage/meltdowns. He

was depressed and told me he wanted to be dead and he wasn't meant to be on this

earth etc. His new pdoc seems to think that yes indeed he does have some biplar

tendencies (along w/ a family history on both sides of BP) but that his

anxieties and obsessive thoughts are mainly from the Aspergers and that an

antidepressant should help those.

So far I've seen no " textbook " mania. I'm hoping his gidddiness and happiness is

just the lithium leaving his body and he no longer has that

numbed/drugged/ " drunk " feeling. He's hugging me and laughing and I havent' seen

this in FOREVER and I LOVE it.

Sleeping: he sometimes has a hard time falling asleep because of his racing

thoughts and he also suffers from night terrors but we use melatonin to help him

fall asleep if we see a pattern of a lot of hard to fall asleep nights. The

other thing is getting him up in the morning, it's pure HELL. He's NEVER had a

time where he didn't need sleep. I think he may even be better off if he had

more rest.

I wish you the best of luck with your daughter, you've come to a great place for

support and information, everyone here is so nice.

TTFN

>

>

> From: <kristenwallen@...>

> Subject: ( ) Son stopping Lithium, is this mania or just

happiness?

>

> Date: Saturday, November 6, 2010, 11:25 PM

>

>

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> We decided that the lithium that my 13 yr old son has been taking for the past

two years hasn't really been doing much other than upset his stomach so after

seeing the psychiatrist we decided to stop it and try an antidepressant.

> The pdoc seems to think that the majority of my sons issues stem from his

Aspegers and sensory integration dysfunction and that an anti depressant will

help with the constant anxiety and obsessive thoughts. He didn't deny that my

son does have some Bipolar traits (and also having bp'ers on both sides of the

family) won't completly dismiss the BP diagnosis.

>

> My question is about the way he's been behaving the past couple days...I know

the antidepressants havne't kicked in yet so it's not them causing this but I'm

concenred the lack of lithium may be the culpret. He's been very active, like

adhd active (but still is able to sit and play his computer games) But...he's

been very wiggly, bouncing around, loud and basically acting happy. I never

thought the lithium changed him but now I'm wondering, I forgot about my bouncy

bippity-boppty son and on lithium he wasn't this way. He's even making his funny

little comments and asking silly little questions again. Yesterday he even

walked up to me, smiled and hugged me, completly out of the blue. I'm not

complaining one bit (even though the drumming everything in site is a bit

annoying) I just have that little voice in the back of my head warning me " WATCH

HIM CAREFULLY " He stillis having his periodical meltdowns over little things but

for the most part he's more bouncy and giggly. Has anyone else experienced

anything like this when stopping a mood altering medication?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The antidepressant is Celexia. The only reason the pdoc chose to put a (bipolar)

on the antidepressant is he doesn't think my son is truly bipolar. He thinks

that it all stems from the Aspergers and that man of his BP symptoms were truly

that of his sensory disorder and not a true BP diagnosis. If he exhibits true

mania (and trust me I'm watching him like a hawk) then we'll know that indeed he

does suffer from BP but if the antidepressant (with out a mood stabilizer in

addition) starts to work then the BP diag. was probably incorrect.

> >

> > Hello everyone,

> >

> > We decided that the lithium that my 13 yr old son has been taking for

> > the past two years hasn't really been doing much other than upset his

> > stomach so after seeing the psychiatrist we decided to stop it and try

> > an antidepressant.

> > The pdoc seems to think that the majority of my sons issues stem from

> > his Aspegers and sensory integration dysfunction and that an anti

> > depressant will help with the constant anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

> > He didn't deny that my son does have some Bipolar traits (and also

> > having bp'ers on both sides of the family) won't completly dismiss the

> > BP diagnosis.

> >

> > My question is about the way he's been behaving the past couple

> > days...I know the antidepressants havne't kicked in yet so it's not

> > them causing this but I'm concenred the lack of lithium may be the

> > culpret. He's been very active, like adhd active (but still is able to

> > sit and play his computer games) But...he's been very wiggly, bouncing

> > around, loud and basically acting happy. I never thought the lithium

> > changed him but now I'm wondering, I forgot about my bouncy

> > bippity-boppty son and on lithium he wasn't this way. He's even making

> > his funny little comments and asking silly little questions again.

> > Yesterday he even walked up to me, smiled and hugged me, completly out

> > of the blue. I'm not complaining one bit (even though the drumming

> > everything in site is a bit annoying) I just have that little voice in

> > the back of my head warning me " WATCH HIM CAREFULLY " He stillis having

> > his periodical meltdowns over little things but for the most part he's

> > more bouncy and giggly. Has anyone else experienced anything like this

> > when stopping a mood altering medication?

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My son has mood swings but this tends to be due to his anxiety, anger and hormones ...he is 15 now. He is on Adderall XR for ADHD, a small dose of Xanax when needed and will be starting Prozac 20 mg. in a few days due to a rise in his anxiety.

I too ask his therapist if he could be bi-polar. He asked me if it ran in the family...I said no. He didn't think my son was as he didn't show all the signs. He does have mood swings but not like someone who is truly Bi-Polar.

Jan

"In the Midst of Difficulty lies Opportunity" Albert Einstein

Success is not measured by one's position but by the obstacles one has overcome to obtain that position

From: <kristenwallen@...> Sent: Tue, November 9, 2010 11:44:42 AMSubject: Re: ( ) Son stopping Lithium, is this mania or just happiness?

Anne,Welcome to the grou & Thank you so much for your help. Hearing the side affects from someone who has been on lithium put many things into perspective for me.The reason the pdoc decided to take my 13 yo off the lithium after two yrs is it doesn't seem to be doing anything for him and also he was lacking some of the bp signs NO: risk taking behavior, NO thoughts of Grandiosity(sp) NOT hypersexualality and the only mania they considered was his rage/meltdowns. He was depressed and told me he wanted to be dead and he wasn't meant to be on this earth etc. His new pdoc seems to think that yes indeed he does have some biplar tendencies (along w/ a family history on both sides of BP) but that his anxieties and obsessive thoughts are mainly from the Aspergers and that an antidepressant should help those.So far I've seen no "textbook" mania. I'm hoping his gidddiness and happiness is just the lithium leaving his body and he no

longer has that numbed/drugged/"drunk" feeling. He's hugging me and laughing and I havent' seen this in FOREVER and I LOVE it.Sleeping: he sometimes has a hard time falling asleep because of his racing thoughts and he also suffers from night terrors but we use melatonin to help him fall asleep if we see a pattern of a lot of hard to fall asleep nights. The other thing is getting him up in the morning, it's pure HELL. He's NEVER had a time where he didn't need sleep. I think he may even be better off if he had more rest.I wish you the best of luck with your daughter, you've come to a great place for support and information, everyone here is so nice.TTFN> > > From: <kristenwallen@...>> Subject: ( ) Son stopping Lithium, is this mania or just happiness?> > Date: Saturday, November 6, 2010, 11:25 PM> > > > Hello everyone,> > We decided that the

lithium that my 13 yr old son has been taking for the past two years hasn't really been doing much other than upset his stomach so after seeing the psychiatrist we decided to stop it and try an antidepressant.> The pdoc seems to think that the majority of my sons issues stem from his Aspegers and sensory integration dysfunction and that an anti depressant will help with the constant anxiety and obsessive thoughts. He didn't deny that my son does have some Bipolar traits (and also having bp'ers on both sides of the family) won't completly dismiss the BP diagnosis.> > My question is about the way he's been behaving the past couple days...I know the antidepressants havne't kicked in yet so it's not them causing this but I'm concenred the lack of lithium may be the culpret. He's been very active, like adhd active (but still is able to sit and play his computer games) But...he's been very wiggly, bouncing around, loud and basically

acting happy. I never thought the lithium changed him but now I'm wondering, I forgot about my bouncy bippity-boppty son and on lithium he wasn't this way. He's even making his funny little comments and asking silly little questions again. Yesterday he even walked up to me, smiled and hugged me, completly out of the blue. I'm not complaining one bit (even though the drumming everything in site is a bit annoying) I just have that little voice in the back of my head warning me "WATCH HIM CAREFULLY" He stillis having his periodical meltdowns over little things but for the most part he's more bouncy and giggly. Has anyone else experienced anything like this when stopping a mood altering medication?> > >