Bipolar & ADD - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

goody2shuz · 08-06-2007, 12:55 PM

Hi all

As some of you already know, our 16 year old daughter, Erin, has Bipolar and a comorbid diagnosis of ADD (inattentive type). She is doing quite well and for the past 3 months hasn't required any med changes for her Bipolar doing well on Lamictal 200mgs/day and Seroquel 575mgs/day in divided doses. We are seeing our pdoc tomorrow and I expect that he will be happy once again as we are with Erin's progress.

The only thing that seems to be a problem is Erin's lack of concentration, forgetfulness, some impulsiveness and inability to stay focused as far as reading goes. She seems to lack confidence with reading for some time now and is also at times easily distracted and disorganized.

I am thinking that she may need something to address the ADD but am sooo afraid of upsetting the applecart. Her grades last year were great but a bit lower than in pervious years. She ended up with a 86 GPA which was weighted to a 90 GPA due to some Honor's courses that she was taking which I feel is wonderful for all that she has been through. Thing is, I sense a lack of confidence when it comes to reading and organizing her thoughts and that perhaps the ADD needs to be addressed.

So I guess I am asking for some advice on what to do....should we pursue this with the pdoc now that we have the BP stabilized about perhaps perscribing something for the ADD??? And if anybody has ADD what med would you recommend works well....I am afraid that we will trigger some mania adding a stimulant or perhaps I am wrong but I could use some advice from those of you who may have BP comorbid with ADD.

Thanks everybody for your continued support.

((((HUGS)))) ~ Goody

rudiraven · 08-06-2007, 01:15 PM

Goody,
I have never posted here before but I have read and followed all the postings of others. First, I would like to say that your daughter is making very good grades! Congratulations! If she is doing that well in school after having been diagnosed ADD, I'd say you were doing the right thing so far and I wouldn't "upset the applecart" with another med. Perhaps for her disorganization, you could get her assignment notebooks and help her get organized that way. Also ask her teachers to email assignments so she/you can check to make sure she has the proper work. For her reading, maybe hire a tutor to help her a few evenings a week or try something like Sylvan. Just a few ideas so she can avoid anymore medication than is absolutely necessary.

Paige1989 · 08-06-2007, 02:02 PM

Hey,

I don't know much about it, but when I brought up the possibility of being ADD with my pdoc and how a certain med had made me manic (I can't remember what it was, but I'm no longer on it), she said that if I was ADD, the only med she would recommend was Straterra (sp) because it wasn't technically a stimulant or something like that so I'd advise that one...I've never taken it so I'm only going on advice...

Paige

goody2shuz · 08-06-2007, 02:21 PM

Rudiraven I sooo appreciate your response. I am also anti meds unless absolutely necessary, however, I have tried the things you have mentioned but I see a lack of confidence in Erin....we encourage making lists and writing things down and I have bought all sorts of things to encourage organization. Thing is, nothing really seems to help. She seems overwhelmed with the clutter and tries to keep things in order but to no avail.

I have read on the ADD board some adults that had such low self esteem when their ADD went undiagnosed and untreated and how once they were on the right meds that all improved. Her grades are great as you see but I do worry about her self esteem and confidence. As a mom, we always want to do the right thing for our kids and I worry that by not treating the ADD I may be holding back on her feeling more confident and less overwhelmed with a cluttered mind that if medicated could make all the difference in the world.

On the otherhand, I still worry about "upsetting the applecart".

Paige ~ I have heard that the Strattera is a good one as well as this new one called Vyvanse which is a non-stimulant and with minimal side effects. Thanks for the heads up.....after one of the hospitalizations Erin was placed on Concerta (the doctors perscribing it more for her ) but since the antidepressants triggered the mania she was taken off of it until they could get her BP stabilized. I was told that in many cases when the BP is treated the ADD symptoms are taken care of as well, however, in Erin's case that doesn't seem to be the case since she still exhibits inattentiveness, impulsivity, poor concentration and disorganization.

I am still in LIMBO....we could wait but if we are going to start something I would much rather see how she does with it BEFORE starting school so that I can monitor things a bit more closely.

Still confused and weighing in on the pros & cons.

~ Goody

langlee · 08-06-2007, 04:03 PM

Hi Goody,

First of all, hello! I'm still not back in the swing of things, but wanted to respond to this post.

As you may remember, Zac's pdoc gave him Concerta in addition to all of the BP meds and, at first, Zac said he noticed a big difference in his ability to concentrate. But, at least for him, that has worn off to some extent and it really never helped him with his disorganization or impulsivity or any of the other issues Erin is exhibiting. I think it was worth trying, but the meds are not the panacea we had hoped and, despite working with studies skills teachers, he still struggles with many of the same issues Erin is struggling with.

I don't know if it's because we have still been playing with the doses of his BP meds, or if the Concerta is really helping, but Zac was hoping for more, and we had higher hopes than what it has turned out to be.

Just my thoughts - especially since Erin has had so many sensitivities when trying new meds.

I'm still trying to figure out what's going on with everyone after so many days of no connection. How is Kait doing now?

Love,

Hope