tablets for anger

[hev]

cahms phoned me today they want to see steve on friday as ss told them about the difficulties with his anger,the doctor suggested he go on medication for his anger,do you think they are on about anti ds?i dont want that at all,i was thinking more anger management course or counselling

 

what do you think?

[Stella63]

Hi

 

My 14yr old has just been signed off by camhs as they don't feel he has any mental health problems. Next day he was suspended for a week. He has always had huge problems with anger management and it is the one thing that he wants to change ( when he is in calm mode! ).

 

I took him for an assessment with a private child psychologist who specialises in ASD this morning and he has agreed to go for some weekly sessions.

 

I have more faith in this lady than I ever did with camhs and actually feel a little more confident that he will get the right help. Nobody has at any stage suggested medication and I'm not sure what it would be, maybe Ritalin, but I don't know a lot about that. My younger son is on Prozac for anxiety and OCB and that works really well, but I couldn't see it working for AJ.

 

I will keep posting when AJ has his first proper session

[JsMum]

Hi Hev,

 

I personally wouldnt medicate until other methods have been tried such as Anger Management, CBT and other forms of therapy like a counciller.

 

My only reservations for S in your situation is when you requested he turn down the music and he lost it and hurt you, for that I would say that for may be short term until he has learnt some anger management techneques then it may be an option, I totally understand your concerns about the medication as we are in the same boat but J is a lot younger the fact your son is older may be another reason they are looking into medication, what is his actual diagnosis? they can not give him ritalin if he does not have a diagnosis of ADHD.

 

I would defo look at alternatives however putting something on in a short space of time maybe very difficult and september is a long time before the residential school can do any anger management and therapy so for the six weeks holidays may be see what else could be offered before medication is decided and at the end of the day it is you who has the deciding decision.

 

JsMum

[MichelleW]

J's paediatrician told me that the next time he would see me would be when J got worse and would need medication. From what I have read, Ritalin is for ADHD and respiridone? is for controlling anger in ASD, but I could be wrong. However, I think docs don't like to prescribe respiridone before 8 years of age.

[Moonshine]

My son is 6 and as a last resort he has been medicated with risperidone 0.5mg per day but it has made such a difference and in a very short space of time. His aggression had got so bad that that he was head butting, punching, kicking etc etc etc every member of staff or child at school that got near him (including the Inclusion Manager and Headteacher!) and spent much of his day growling and being restrained. His 'wobbles' are now less frequent and less intense.

 

The paediatrician has also said we may need to also consider ritalin for the ADHD, especially as he gets older, but at the moment we are happy with just the aggressive behaviour being controlled.

 

He is so much happier as a result that every bit of doubt about medicating has disappeared, but I know how difficult it to make the decision to do it.

 

It is lovely to have a bit more of our loveable little boy back.