Help Child bipolar

Hi i just need some help we went to the dr on monday with my middle man and after a long process and note reading he said that he strongly believed that my boy had a mood disorder - Bipolar im totally crushed by this as i also have the illness and know what a stuggle i go through and now i dont want him to go throught the same as me it breaks my heart.

Does anyone out there have a little one with this my boy is just turned 5 years old.

The other thing is that he also want him to be put on rispredine ( sorry bout spelling) what are your views on this med

Pleasssse Help

I can't really help too much as don't have a child with bipolar though do have it myself. I have been on risperidone and am nearly off it. I found it worked. Not sure whether I would give it to a young child though, it's an anti-psychotic, I would of thought they would of looked at a mood stabiliser first. From what my psychiatrist told me risperidone is only used short term in most cases.

In saying that I'm guessing they'll put him on a fairly low dose and monitor him pretty closely.

Best of luck

hay lc thanks i understand im also bipolar that is half the problem i understand how hard the illness is the doc did say that he would be only be on it for 6-12 months and he would be on a .25dose i have read it is an anti-psychotic and that is what worries me as he is only 5

That does sound like a fairly low dose. I must say that's what worried me about it when you said they looking at putting him on risperidone. Did the doctor say that they will keep a close eye on him?

yes he said he would see him weekly i have decided not to put him on the med i think i just need to learn ways to cope

dear mumto3

Please in the name of God do not commence your five year old child on an anti-psychotic.

I am not a doctor but if your child is presenting with a disorder of mood and / or behaviour let a child developmental specialist have a go first please m-3.

All 5 year olds are thought disordered anyway most of the time.

Please keep us up to date on what you decide to do.

Martinexx

mumtothree wrote:yes he said he would see him weekly i have decided not to put him on the med i think i just need to learn ways to cope

I think you have made a wise choice. Do you think he has bipolar?? I would worry about one so young being on such strong medication. I'm sure you'll find things that will help, and we're always here to talk to.

I didn't think they gave this kind of medication to kids so young. I'm curious now, what age did you guys realize that you were bipolar?

i HAVE ONLY BEEN BIPOLAR FOR 1 YEAR

I've only been diagnosed at bipolar in the last 10 months but suspect it's probably been since I first remember getting depressed at around 13 yrs old.

I'm pleased so many of you have spoken against giving your wee man anti-mad meds.

I don't have the skill or knowledge to say its a good idea. All I know is, my gut feeling is that it would be very wrong to start labelling a child as young as yours, with having mental illness, of any flavour on the basis of one consult.

Moi? I didn't 'get busted' and Labelled till I was in my 30's but that was more good luck than good management.

Just if ya can', let your boy be him, a five year lad with lots happening in his life - there is maybe school, different routines, all kinda stuff which can each contribute and we face or turn away from those challenges differently.

Kia Kaha, M23.

Paddy.

thanks guyz it was more than one visist we have been going to cafts for 8 months so they had observed and worked with us as a family and we also saw a ped and then the psych was the last one on the list and he reviewed all the information and interviewed us for a long time before he came up with this. part of it was through ruling out oother things.

I have defently decidied to NOT to druds as i also believe that once i start down this line he will be labeled forever i dont want that and he is only five no he is not like normal 5 year olds but if i can find a way to cope and manage this behaviour before anyone gets seriously hurt in my house i will fight tooth and nail to keep him off, im stuck as well as the person i trust his phycologist is away so i have not has the chance to talk it over with her either.

so again thanks for your support i know it is the right choice for my middle man,

I think you have made a wise decision M23, he is far to young to be labelled. I hope the docs all support your decision.