generalparenting

I had an appointment for my son with his medication doctor and my concerns were whether or not I should put him on a more constant medication or leave him on something as needed. We went in and the doctor asked how he was doing. He answered honestly even though it was probably difficult to tell her his disappointment and fear that the medication was no longer working. He told her that his panic attacks were getting worse and that he was sleeping less.

My son, on a good day, doesn’t fall asleep until midnight no matter how early he gets up. On a bad day he can be awake until four or five in the morning before finally falling asleep. These are things that need considered when dealing with medication with him.

She asked him how his moods were and she looked at me. I didn’t respond until my son replied he has been bouncing up and down, sometimes being real crabby and sometimes being real sad. This is another symptom that needs to be considered when dealing with medications for him. She asked me if I agreed and I simply said yes. I wanted him to have a say in what was going on and I wanted her to listen to him more importantly than me.

She started going over our options. There was Ativan and that would help with the anxiety attacks, or there was Lamictal which is a mood stabilizer but it wouldn’t make him sleepy which he needs, and lastly there was Abilify that is also a mood stabilizer and would make him sleepy. Here we go.. these are my options for my son. Really? Does he need a mood stabilizer, probably. So my decision was Abilify but I let him ask questions about all of the medications and their side effects before I said anything.

I know about all three drugs because I have been or am on each of them at one time or another. I know the side effects are minimal with each and I know how they worked on me. I happened to like each of these particular prescriptions because they worked on me without making me feel zombiefied.

He asked some very good and important questions. He asked about side effects, he asked about weight gain and appetite, he even asked about long term effects. He looked at me and said he thought he wanted to try the Abilify and asked me what I thought. I told him I agreed and he got his prescription called into the pharmacy.

He acted in a very mature mannor yesterday and I’m glad to see he wants to be informed about the medications he is on. He has learned well. I’m not sure if he knew to ask these things or if he has picked it up from going to doctors appointments with me but I am glad he asked the questions he asked and I’m glad he got the answers he was looking for. It’s good to see him make an educated decision especially at his young age.

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