Okay.
Two months ago Jacob's behavior started getting more erratic, more aggressive, and more annoying.
Three weeks ago we finally met with a psychiatrist who was supposed to help us through all of that. His course of action was to replace his current medications with Concerta.
Two weeks ago Jacob began developing strange fears which quickly evolved into what I can only describe as nightly psychotic episodes.
Four days ago we discontinued use of the so-called "wonder drug".
Today Jacob has slept for the past three nights hearing no noises whatsoever. He's forgotten all about the robbers and killers that were surely waiting right outside the window for him every bit of those two weeks.
Phew.
$160 for the initial psych appointment
$79 for the follow-up appointment
$26.15 for a 10 day supply of Concerta
$8.65 for 10 Zoloft
$65.00 for the 90-day supply of Concerta I never should have filled
$238.90 to drive my child crazy for two weeks.
But the fact that he is now again "normal", and by normal I mean, inattentive, loud, and a little bit lazy.....well, priceless I guess.
He is currently taking the Metadate again, although my mom just today halved his usual dose and my plan is to have him off of even that one by the time he returns home on Sunday.
The rest of the summer might be really unpleasant, but I think it's something we have to try.
His therapist really does think he has an anxiety disorder. I've always thought so myself, too, even before Medicine Induced Breakdown 2010 occured, so I want him off of the stimulant medicines that Dr. Google assures me can cause anxiety to see if he actually has anxiety.
And then we'll go from there.
I may have him reevaluated. I may not.
It really just depends on what the next few weeks bring.
It makes me so sad to think I gave my kid drugs that completely altered his thinking.
I know the Metadate really helped him and we'll most likely return to it as school starts but for now, he'll be living drug-free.
Oy.
3 comments:
well, it sucks that he was prescibed drugs that affected him so badly.
But, at least it is summer time, and you are able to wean him off the drugs.
And, maybe it is good to have a clean start, and see if there's a better solution for him, better than the one that you had before the new Dr.
I think my son has anxiety too but so far we have just tried to work thru it without meds. Hope it gets better for ya and your little guy.
Oh my what a frightening few weeks. I'm not a huge fan of psych meds for children but each child must be evaluated individually. I know naturopaths believe behavior is affected by diet. The guy that taught my A&P classes was a no dairy/no wheat believer...just a thought. I know I don't have all the answers.
Schizophrenia can be genetic but typical age for onset tends to be later teens FYI and it would be more likely if you or your spouse was schizophrenic.
I hope all of you get some sleep and every one is calm for the next few weeks.
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