My daughter is on Empower plus and doing better, but anxiety still rears it's ugly head.  She is also Adhd.  I'm trying L-theanine with my daughter - 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg in the evening.  100mg twice per day did not seem to help.  There is one study that has been completed with 100 boys, age 8-12, with adhd- they gave 200 mg L-theanine a day.  I can't find the actual study, but have read after some time, maybe a couple months, it helped with focus, cognitive skills and sleep.  

L-theanine comes in a pill or powdered form and from what I read is a bit sweet and easily put into a sweet drink.

If anyone has access to research maybe they can find the study.  I beleive the name of the study is L-theanine attention deficit hyperactivity disorder boys.

Also, I read a lot that L-theanine should help with mood/anxiety.  That is actually why I am giving it to my daughter, for anxiety.  She also has focusing problems, and hyper as well, but these are not so much of a problem that we get calls from the teacher.  So if it helps with Adhd that would be an added bonus for us.

I had previously tried Inositol for her anxiety - a 650mg tablet in the morning and the same in the evening.  She had very restless sleep when she took this.

When my younger daughter was a moody, irritable and emotional 7 year-old, I wish I knew then what I know now.  Wow, how different her life would have been... Oh my goodness, and we'd have so much more money today because no amount of testing would've cost more than all the years of  out-of-pocket expenses for therapy, medications and other treatments for an ill child (x2 since the older one was sick as well, just starting at a later age).

One huge thing would have been to address allergies... look for food sensitivities, check for environmental reactions, not use BPA and pthalate laden plastics. We would have concentrated on healing her gut. We would have vigorously addressed sleep problems. We would have checked hormones... REALLY checked them, not the piecemeal BS stuff so many endocrinologists do.

 Omega-3 fatty acids, (there are some pudding-like ones),  probiotics, etc.

His limited diet may be causing his brain symptoms. There is psychological treatment for children with severe self-inflicted diet limitations. I do not know what it is called but I see articles and TV features ocassionally on it.

--Jeanie aka "Naomi"
It's Not Mental--The Book
Older dd: formerly(?) teen-onset bipolar (morphed into ultradian cycling): "Recovered" after over 13 years - stable off psych meds almost two years. Now fine on just diet changes and higher thyroid levels (after healing - addressing gut issues/Candidal overgrowth while using EMPowerPlus and other supplements). She added a little EMpowerPlus back on as a multivitamin simply because she feels better on it - gets sick less often.
Younger dd: formerly(?) Childhood-onset schizoaffective, TS, OCD, anxiety, PTSD, migraines. After over 15 years, is now "recovered" for almost 5 years after treating endocrine issues, food sensitivities, gut issues, sleep issues, nutritional/mitochondrial needs.

I have a 6 year old that sounds very similar.  We had HUGE success with eliminating FD&C and D&C dyes in our diet and home.  I mean, HUGE.  Beofre this, we ha a child who raged, was aggressive and couldn't write/color well.  It wasn't legible and coloring was generally one color with scribble all over the paper.  We now have a child who (as a 1st grader) writes neater than most 3rd graders, and colors beautifully, using a variety of colors all within the lines.  We found the Feingold Program and now follow Stage 1 as we realized he reacts to tomatoes, plums, and apples which are high salicylates.  It's made a world of difference with him.  Perhaps this may be something beneficial for your family as well.  The support given to us from the Fiengold folks is beyond amazing.  You certainly won't be alone in your journey!
--

Kimberly, 47, mom to E: ADHD, Sensory Integration Disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder taking Empower Plus, Aminos, Inositol, Choline Bitartrate, Salmon oil, Inositol, and Vitamin C; melatonin at bedtime as well as Feingold Program
DH, 46

First things first:  I would question the stimulants .  You have BP in the family and the stimulants aren't working.  I would get a second opinion and trust your judgement.  It is also my understanding that a true diagnosis is difficult at age 7, and BP is often misdiagnosed as ADHD.  Stimulants are generally the absolute wrong meds for true BP and could possibly be causing his symptoms.

This is what we are doing for BP and I think a pretty similar approach is also applicable to ADHD (although I don't have first hand knowledge).  We found success with diet + supplements, although we are not 100% of the way there yet and still have a tiny amount of meds left with hopes of being off them soon. 

At one time, our daughter's diet was about 75% bread or milk products.  We had originally cut out wheat and dairy and had a huge success, although that success slipped and we had to try other things.  It is my understanding and our experience that the more a food is craved, the more harm it is doing.

We don't have any artificial food coloring, food preservatives, or anything you can't read on a label.  No natural flavorings or monosodium glutamate.  All these things have caused huge incidents.  Like after a bright red Sonic Burger slushie, or Memmorial Day hotdogs.

We then also cut out soy and corn, which was harder that the wheat and dairy.  Now we have pretty much have cut out all grains and starchy foods. We cook everything ourselves.

For the most part, the changes were oh my god---if we don't get this under control right now, we are back in the hospital again.  So this wasn't completely a methodical planned out approach. 

Our daughter is also super fussy, but once the diet is changed, she believes in it and tries really hard to keep her health.

Another thing is, have you done any metabolic testing?  We certainly have and have adjusted supplements and added stuff as a result.

The other things we added was Inositol, melatonin, and NAC.  The melatonin results were striking, and adding that was her last really bad rage.  The inositol has mellowed out her  anxiety.  NAC simply has quite a bit of research behind it.

One we don't do is fish oil.  A lot of people do, but for us, it seemed to cause a manic rage.  Although at that time, she was being quite unstable.  I would like to get it back in the diet for the long haul.

Best of luck,

Brian

--

Daughter 7 BP/violent rages. Unsuccessful with multiple meds. Now reasonably stable (with a few regressions) on Risperidone + Intuniv + Restrictive diet + EMPowerPlus + AminoPowerplus + NAC + Q10 + low dose lithium + melatonin + inositol
Son (5) Normal
Wife (CathyK now also on TBMF) BP, & trying to wean off the meds.

P.S.  Here are a few articles on the TH web site:

http://www.truehope.com/truehope_bipolar_disorder_research_empowerplus_11.aspx

http://www.cnsspectrums.com/aspx/articledetail.aspx?articleid=2613

http://www.truehope.com/depression_disorders/add_adhd.aspx

--

Daughter 7 BP/violent rages. Unsuccessful with multiple meds. Now reasonably stable (with a few regressions) on Risperidone + Intuniv + Restrictive diet + EMPowerPlus + AminoPowerplus + NAC + Q10 + low dose lithium + melatonin + inositol
Son (5) Normal
Wife (CathyK now also on TBMF) BP, & trying to wean off the meds.

Sarahsmith - I tried the L-theanine this morning and he was able to get the capsule down. Thanks for the info! Hope it helps a bit. Time will tell.....

Jeanie - We don't use BPA plastics, but he does eat a lot of processed food. What type of heath provider would I see to help with finding food sensitivities, and hormones? A DAN Doctor? I live in S. California, 45 minutes outside of Los Angeles.

Kimberly - I have used the Feingold diet before with my older son. I even recently renewed by membership to get to newest copy of the foodlist. Trouble is, my younger son is already Soooo limited with food. I think he'd starve. Maybe if he gets off the stimulants, he'll have more of an appetite and not be *as* fussy. Then I would love to do Feingold with him.

Brian - I called Dr. today - the stimulants have got to go. You're right. I have noticed a real increase in his aggression this week and this marks the 4th week he's been on these. I will look into the supps you suggested. What type of Doctor do you use for your daughters CAM treatment?

Thanks for everyone's responses! I am so new to this and don't want my younger son to have to go through all that my older son did.

~ Cassie
DS, 10, Pediatric Bipolar, Possibly not BP (PDD-NOS?) Was Dx'd: ADHD, Anxiety, ODD. Lamactil (225 mg.), Risperdal, 1 mg (started both 10/26/11 after a severe reaction to Concerta) Doing well for the most part now. Started Empower (15/day) and Aminos (6/day) (also probiotic) - 12/22/11.
(Did have 3 hrs/week in home therapy for 6 months, but we just stopped it b/c he was so unstable, it was a waste of money at that point)
DS, 7, ADHD which severely affects all processing and very low fine motor skills. Takes Amph. Salts 2 times a day. BP is a possibility, but we need to see how much behavior is learned vs biological. Hope to see that once big brother is stable on the new meds.
DD, 2 years - happy and mostly easy, but still very much a toddler
My Blog: http://www.wereswimminginalphabetsoup.blogspot.com

Jeanie - We don't use BPA plastics, but he does eat a lot of processed food. What type of heath provider would I see to help with finding food sensitivities, and hormones? A DAN Doctor? I live in S. California, 45 minutes outside of Los Angeles.

The L.A. area seems to be a Mecca of Integrative doctors. Many of these MDs and DOs bill themselves as "Integrative and Anti-aging." You may wonder how someone involed in "anti-aging" can help our children, but it is amazing the overlap with diminishing mitochondrial function, hormones, nutritional status, sleep problems, thinning bones... and these doctors test for things.

I recently looked via the Internet for an Integrative doctor in another state for a family member who lives in that state. I looked for them via Internet, then called about 8 of them, asking questions about the type of testing and treatments.... Do they use Spectra Cell labs? Genova Diagnostics? Great Plains?  ZRT? There are many questions we can ask.... Have they ever used EMPowerPlus? Do they have supplements there? etc.   One family member in L.A. wanted an Integrative Gastroenterologist, and found one right near his apartment!

Different Integrative doctors have different areas of interest. Many areas of the country are lucky if we have even one in the vicinity. Some may even restrict their clientele to those with cancer, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

By the way, I heard some lectures by Jame Greenblatt, MD who treats many kids with eating disorders. If I recall correctly he said something about them often having zinc deficiency(?)  Here is an example of a conference he had in the past:

http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home/eng/conferences/Eating%20Disor...

And yes, you can look for a DAN! doctor.

--Jeanie aka "Naomi"
ItsNotMental-Facebook
Older dd: formerly(?) teen-onset bipolar (morphed into ultradian cycling): "Recovered" after over 13 years - stable off psych meds almost two years. Now fine on just diet changes and higher thyroid levels (after healing - addressing gut issues/Candidal overgrowth while using EMPowerPlus and other supplements). She added a little EMpowerPlus back on as a multivitamin simply because she feels better on it - gets sick less often.
Younger dd: formerly(?) Childhood-onset schizoaffective, TS, OCD, anxiety, PTSD, migraines. After over 15 years, is now "recovered" for almost 5 years after treating endocrine issues, food sensitivities, gut issues, sleep issues, nutritional/mitochondrial needs.

The limited diet may also be caused by food sensitivities!  I am a member of some GFCF yahoo groups and many of the kids are on the autism spectrum.  They say that kids with sensitivites tend to crave what makes them not feel well, but they cannot relate it.  Like Brandon, he was a HUGE dairy freak!  Same with pasta.  Well he is gluten and casein intolerant!!!!  And not just a little, we are talking a lot!!!  A lot of Brandon's vitamin deficiencies are actually falling in line with a dx of Celiac Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that involves gluten and there is increasing research that this has a roll in mood disorders and schizophrenia!  So yes, diet is HUGE!!!!  Yes, he will fight you all the way, but maybe if you get the IgG testing done, he will agree to change his diet.  This is what we had to do for my son.  I also learned ways to make his favorite meals gluten/dairy/soy/egg/peanut free.  I now can make basically anything, aside from deviled eggs, without these things, including mac and cheese.

Food colorings are suspect in many disorders, from epilepsy (met a parent today), to autism, ADHD, Bipolar, etc!  And they are in EVERYTHING!

Also, I suspect you may be dealing with another child with BP, except that child displays differently from your other child.  I have freinds with multiple children with BP and they are all different.

--

Kim 34 Co-Mod Military with Katie and Heather
brandonsmom_1996@msn.com
Army wife and BSW student
PLMS, Insomnia, Severe D-IBS, Special diet
Iron and Mirapex for PLMS, Lunesta, Zyrtec, SAMe
Brandon 15, BP 1, ADHD, Schizoaffective?, PDD?, IgG allergic gluten, casein, soy, eggs, peanuts
EMPower Plus 5 caps TID, AminoPowerPlus 4 BID, Vitamin D 10,000 IU/day, Garlic, Choline and protein shakes prn, Synthroid, Melatonin 6-12 mg
8th grade (held back) homeschooled-Meridell Achievement Center 4/28- 9/25
Chris, 34 dh since 9/10, Army
Cheeto the cat: Hyperthyroidism (radioactive iodine 2/8), Separation Anxiety, and Chronic UTIs, rx diet Mystic: The princess of the house and HATES Brandon
Jackson: Lab, DOB 1/13/11, training to be psychiatric service dog eventually
Fort Bragg, NC
FROM TBMF: Do not start, stop, or change medications or other treatments for yourself or your child based on what you read on this Website or elsewhere on the Internet.