Welcome to CABF.  My ds15 had a manic reaction to a stim and an AD when he was 7.  We then treated him for BP.  As he got older it became clear that there were other issues at play, and he was eventually dx'd with AS.  Over the past few years the AS has become more prominent as far as sx go, and we have actually weaned down many of his BP meds.  Since he has never had a clear manic episode since he was young, I thought we would be able to get him completely off the lithium, but he developed severe anxiety when we tried to remove the last 225mg.  I don't know if he really has BP, or if he had "mood dysregulation", or if he's just prone to BP under the right circumstances.  I will certainly teach him not to ever take an AD again.

Lamictal can be transiently activating when it is first started and with each dose incr.  But as you get to a therapeutic dose this should not be a problem.  If you are seeing some improvement (shorter tantrums) it is probably worth continuing. 

Has he had a comprehensive neuro-psych exam?  It is often very difficult to figure out a dx in a young child, and sometimes, if not almost always, the dx's change over time.  Besides medication, there are other things you can do to help mangage him, most of them environmental modifications.  You probably have already figured out what makes things worse and what helps--overstimulation in the form of loud places is often a trigger for meltdowns.   And I know of parents who have learned to say no without actually using the word "no".

Hope that helps a little.

--

Brenda,51, CABF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 16, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel
E, 15, BP,AS: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, inositol
B, 13 & H, 11
Married 17 years to DH, 50

FROM CABF: 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. Information presented here should not replace the considered judgement of a doctor who knows you or your child.

Thank you so much, Brenda, for posting.  What you had said about each change of the Lamictal dose is the first I've heard of it.  I actually just had to pick him up from school, as his teacher said he was so not himself, crying and arguing with her and refusing to do something (OT) that he otherwise loves.  I am so freaked out, I just don't know what to do. This is so not like him.  As far as shortening the duration  of his temper tantrums, it doesn't because they never last anyway.    There just isn't any improvement at this point, only worsening of behaviors and emotions.  In fairness, the end of the school year is coming and Chris has such a hard time with transitions.  All of this could actually be a result of that.  I would actually like to discontinue his medication, because his baseline was better by leaps and bounds.  Am awaiting a call from his psychiatrist.

No, he has never had a neuro-psych exam.  I didn't even know such a profession exists.  We are, however, going to see a second psychiatrist who specializes in Bipolar Disorder simply because the guy we are using now is not instilling much confidence with all of this experimentation....on such a young boy.  My heart aches for this kid.  What started out as quirky-ness has ended up being so complicated.  There was only some anxiety and simple difficulty with mood regulation.  A few months later I do not recognize my own son.  Now they suggest he may be Bipoar.  And this is what brings me here...

I have done essentially all I can in the area of environmental stressors including diet. 

Thanks again, Brenda...I appreciate your time.

Yes, I think you'll find here who have kids like yours. My younger daughter (wrote a book describing her) was gifted-LD, highly sensitive, non-violent (until later when she became psychotic - very paranoid, and then it was because she was terrified). She cried a lot. There were other issues - poor sleep, migraines.  I did my best to put her in low-stress environments. But even happy things are "stress."

--"Naomi"
Older dd: formerly(?) teen-onset bipolar: After over 13 years - stable off psych meds over a year. Now fine on just diet changes and higher thyroid levels after healing - addressing gut issues/Candidal overgrowth while using EMPowerPlus and other supplements.
Younger dd: formerly(?) Childhood-onset schizoaffective, TS, OCD with disabling migraines since infancy. After over 15 years, is "recovered" for 4 years after treating endocrine issues, food sensitivities, gut issues, sleep issues, nutritional/mitochondrial needs.

I have a son who is 8 and he was just diagnosed yesterday.  He sounds just like your son.  He is also gifted with sensory integration issues and is very sensitive.  He has not started any medicine yet.  The doctor is going to go over our options next week. 

We started this whole process in the spring taking to a counselor for issues with crying  and perfectionism.  Now I also feel like the doctors are guessing on why he is having those issues.  I don't want to change his personality and I am extremely nervous about this whole process.  I don't want my child to be a science project.  Please keep me posted.  You are the first person I have read about who has a child like mine and I am so lost.

PANDAS may be something to 'rule out' -

 http://www.pandasnetwork.org/impactdad.html

http://www.pandasresourcenetwork.com/about-pandas/pandas-faqs.html

http://www.u-ok.net/Pandas.html

You may also want to check out 'Healing the new childhood epidemics' by Dr. Ken Bock for other 'rule-out' suggestions.

My son started out with an OCD dx, along with sensory integration disorder, and general anxiety.  As his moods elevated, and his behaviors got more violent, it developed into a BP dx.  

--

Darryl - parent volunteer, dad to
Levi, 12, stable using supps and diet exclusively since June 07. Previously treated and stable with med combo inc. lithium, 900mg seroquel, and small amounts of risperdal, luvox and focalin after being dx'd at age 3 1/2.

Wow my son sounds similiar to your son as well,  He was 6 in May and has been diagnosed gifted with severe emotional behaviors, OCD, ADHD, possible ODD.  I am so tired of labels! and tired of trying so many meds, he was put on respiradone last fall and started weighing 55 pounds and by spring was 83 pounds.  I insisted they take him off that and try something else, it wasnt working the best anyway, they then put him on Ambilify which worked the best so far and he put on 7 pounds in 3 weeks! Again asked to try something else, this weight is NOT good on his heart or body, and his bio mother is obese to start with (we adopted Zak at 13 months old) He has MAJOR crying fits I call meltdowns, he can not take the word no, everything has to be his way or no way.  They ended up putting him on an IEP at school for behavior.  He is a VERY smart boy has an IQ of 138 and sometimes knows more then I do (though I woudnt tell him that)  I really feel sorry for him as he is a great sensitive boy and after a meltdown he will talk about it and he knows what he did was wrong and he knows what he should have done but its like he can not help it.  If something doesnt go EXACTLY like he wants it to he will have a major meltdown too.  We learned playing with Lego's does NOT happen here, after him wanting me to build some car he had in his head and I couldnt do exactly what he wanted he threw the lego's, his shoes, socks and got under a table having a crying fit, and that was at the Physchologists office! I have been searching for idea's and help and knowing his bio mom is bipolar I am REALLY questioning that he is as well, We are seeing a Child Phychiatrist and go back to him on the 26th of July and I think I'm going to ask about BP as a diagnosis, again I don't want the labels I want the help, medication or whatever I need to do for my son! Any advice would be awesome! I am 48 years old and am stressing out to fast! 

--

Cathy

 The quirkiness and sensory issues along with shorter length, non-violent tantrums make me think of Aspergers.  Have you and your pdoc explored ASDs?  However, some of the reactions to the meds also indicate Bipolar from what I have understood about the way many BP kids can react to different types of meds. It is hard to say and I am no expert... However, I will say that if your gut says that it is wrong or doesn't fit your child then don't let the pdoc give him the official dx!  Tell him you just aren't sure.  Stick with mood disorder.  The pdoc can always treat the Mood Disorder according to the BP Guidelines and you can observe the results.  Your ds is only 6 so whatever is going on may become more defined as he gets older... then you may feel more confident in a BP Dx or in another Dx.  Or maybe the BP meds will work wonders and you will never really have cause for a label!  But the point is your ds is young and you have time and you don't have to have the label to treat.  Don't ever allow a Dx you are not comfortable with!  You know your child better than anyone! Stick with your gut!  Atleast until your gut is convinced to change the way it feels! ;o)  Better to have a more vague and broad Dx that is treatable in the exact same way as the more defined Dx than to get such a STRONG, HEAVY Dx that will impact your ds for the rest of his life, is treated the exact same way, and then 5 years down the road you realize it was the wrong Dx!  The treatment is more important than the label.  If you have a good pdoc that will medicate and treat it... No need to rush the label! 

As far as being afraid of the meds... Meds should alter the behavior and reactions, but should NEVER CHANGE their TRUE PERSONALITY!  If that is the experience you have then it is the wrong med or wrong dose!  Call the pdoc and express your concerns!  Never keep quiet about something that is concerning you!  (I will advise that you give the meds a fair adjustment period, though.  Many meds may 'drug' your child or 'knock them out' when it is new to their system, but will not have that effect when their body adjusts to it!)

Good Luck!  Stay strong and keep us updated!  Support is here for you!

--

Lauren -Mother of 3 boys
ds - 7 year old - ADHD/ Mood Disorder NOS/ PDD-NOS
Meds: Risperodine 1mg 1X per day, Adderall 20mg, Clonidine 0.1 mg at bedtime and prn

Hi Guys!

I am new to this site -but boy do I need it! YES ! This sounds like my 8 year old son. Very quirky, sensitive, creative, prone to meltdowns, anger episodes. In second grade we decided to take him to a psycologist because of 2 hour crying jags at school, sadness, goofy, distracting behavior in the classroom, etc... After an IQ test which was superior (surprise surprise) , and other tests, family history, interviews and parent / teacher surveys a psychiatrist  diagnosed him with a mood disorder or bipolar. We started on lamictal and saw positive changes in 2 weeks. We were cruising at 50 mg until a few weeks before school started and we had to go up to 75 because of the anxiety of the upcoming year. Now we have to take seroquel at night to help him sleep.  Since school has started focus is still an issue , not bringing home what he is supposed to, getting in trouble on the bus for being obnoxious, messing with his brothers more than usual- I am just at a loss. Taking away privelidges does not work at all. We did just get an invite to a 6 week social skills group, I am wondering if that will help.

He is still the amazing , creative quirky kid thank goodness but the thought of putting him on yet another med. for ADD type symptoms is breaking my heart!!!

So a long answer to your ?, yes there are children who sound like your son!