Any parents of Bipolar children?

My daughter is 6.When she was 3the doc said she had ADHD and never tested her.A few months ago I had her tested and found out she is Bipolar.We are still in the trying part for meds.She is on Topamax 100mg a day.I would just like to be able to talk to other parents that are going through the same things. Kristal

I am a social worker and just went to a conference where the Psychiatrist said that in different parts of the country Drs. are getting "bipolar happy" and some kids just have a behavioral or conduct disorder... Of course, I dont know if this is your child's case, but the Dr. also said that the meds we have dont work on kids that young and to watch out because we dont know the long term effects of these medicines on this age of children. I have a Bibliography of some things you should read and he also said that there is a Psychiatrist based in Seattle I think that is discovering this trend and writing about it... I have a niece being tested for bipolar as well so I understand some of the things you may be going through... I hope all works out with your child! I dont want to be discouraging, and hope you find the help you need.

I AM NEW TO THIS SIGHT I JUST READ YOUR MESSAGE AND I DO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH.IN MY CASE MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD AT ABOUT4 YEARS OLD.I PUT OFF THE MEDICATION UNTIL HE WAS IN SCHOOL,AND I STARTED GETTING CALLS FROM THE TEACHER EVERY DAY.THE ADHD MEDICATION HELPED BUT FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS I ALWAYS KNEW THERE WAS MORE TO IT THAN ADHD.THIS YEAR HE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR.THEY PUT HIM ON RISPERDAL IN COMBINATION WITH HIS ADHD MEDICATION AND IT HAS IMPROVED HIS BEHAVIOR. MY SON WAS VIOLENT AND COULD NOT CONTROL HIS TEMPER.HE WOULD HAVE FITS OF RAGE AND TEAR UP THINGS ,THROW THING*****H FURNITURE AND BRUISE HIS KNUCKLES.SINCE HE STARTED MEDS FOR BIPOLAR HE DOESN'T DO THAT ANYMORE AND THATS BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.IT WAS HAPPENING ABOUT ONCE A WEEK OR MORE.I KNOW THIS IS VERY STRESSFUL. DOES YOUR DAUGHTER ALSO HAVE MOOD SWINGS OR ANGRY FITS?

my daughter was 18 months when we KNEW there was a problem, took her to one pediatrician , and he told me she is a toddler will out grow it, took her to another one when she was 25 months and i was told" she is a spoiled little brat deal with it". FInaly i got her into see a behavioural specialist after pledding with my family doc and a nother ped that there was a problem, she was diagnosed with ADHD, but as the time went on it was Sever disruptive behavioural disorder with ODD, SDBD is ADD ADHD and Bipolar. she has been on clonadine/adderal xr/dexadrine/concerta/strateria/clorahydrate/Rispital, she was just reciently put on rispital and dexadrine but that did not work. Right now all she is on is risptial, she takes 0.25 mil, she takes 2 pills in the morning 1 .5 at 12 and 1 at night and 2 gravel to help her sleep. IT was so bad in the begining she was kicking screaming yelling slamming her door, calling me a ****** ***** head and her father. she wa****ting herself, sleeping only a few hours at a time getting into everything, eating everything in site and drinking alot more then normal. at 18 months she stoped having naps and would only sleep 2 hours at a time at night and stay up for 2 sleep for 2 and up for 2, then stay up all day..... The RIspital has worked so far, but we got back again to the specialist. as long as the rispital is working i am goign to keep her on it, because each of the ADHD drugs she has been on has made her depressed. Kaitlynn doesn't seem to have the ADHD symptoms so much as she does the biplar, one minute happy the next she is flying off the handle....... IT is just as hard on parents to handle as it is for the children. I Find 3 simple words work. (STOP/LOOK/LISTEN) in that order and counting from 5 to 1 depending on how things are going that day will depend on how much i have to say those. i found along time ago that spanking doesn't do much nor does making her stand in a corner... just makes her madder.. talking helps and asking her how SHE IS FEELING. IF u every want to talk email me., i live in windsor ontario and am new to this board [email protected] surgery date oct 25 2005 334 pre-op hoping to be 160

kristal, hi, i know im alittle late on this discussion but i wanted to offer my help too. my son is 12 now and was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 2 1/2 and later with bi-polar. he also has a language learning disability -receptive and expressive. when he was younger he would wander off from the house while i was asleep. i made the decision to put him on meds so he could try to have a 'normal' life. i could tell you more bout the things he has done but i dont know if i have enough space!! lol anyways, if u ever want to talk or just vent to someone who understands than feel free to email me. my email addy is: [email protected] i will tell you this: i know they can be so very frustrating during the 'episodes' but its just as hard on them. and it does get better, but only with lots of work. but hey, this is your child.... and they are worth it!!! good luck and keep a happy heart! lisa

well my son is now 10 years old we have been on every medicine used for adhd and bipolar the dr is out of suggestions now. My husband his step dad is very short with him and stays angry. I have to deal with both of them. I can deal with my son by ignoring alotof his outburst but my husband can't. He says I am too easy I should be screamed at and talked to the way that my son does. I don;t know what to do any more I just try to smile and keep on going it is hard some days but good others. I just see if Kolt is angry when he gets up and call his teacher to give her a heads up on what kind of day it is going to be. Just smile and love your daughter.GOD MADE THEM SPECIAL FOR A REASON, WE MAY NOT KNOW RIGHT NOW WHAT HTAT REASON IS BUT IT WAS HIS DECISION . I try to love my son out of it every day.