Comments for raising4boys.com http://www.raising4boys.com parenting tips, tricks and commentary Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:03:57 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 Comment on The Best Time of Day to Take Intuniv by Sher http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/02/09/best-time-of-day-to-take-intuniv-tenex-guanfacine/comment-page-1/#comment-25915 Sher Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:03:57 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=717#comment-25915 My son is 16 years old. He is severely autistic. With puberty came horrible seizures and unbearable aggression and hostility. He is unable to attend school, so I home school him. He started to hurt himself horribly and when I would try to make him stop, he would come after me. On a whim and out of sheer desperation, his seizure specialist gave him intuniv. We just started the 2mg tabs last night. He is sleeping right now, but I am ok with that. We have had only minor outbursts since we began this treatment. I sincerely hope this drug works for my son. I don't know much about this drug so any input from other parents out there would certainly be appreciated. My son is 16 years old. He is severely autistic. With puberty came horrible seizures and unbearable aggression and hostility. He is unable to attend school, so I home school him. He started to hurt himself horribly and when I would try to make him stop, he would come after me. On a whim and out of sheer desperation, his seizure specialist gave him intuniv. We just started the 2mg tabs last night. He is sleeping right now, but I am ok with that. We have had only minor outbursts since we began this treatment. I sincerely hope this drug works for my son. I don’t know much about this drug so any input from other parents out there would certainly be appreciated.

]]> Comment on The Best Time of Day to Take Intuniv by Jen http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/02/09/best-time-of-day-to-take-intuniv-tenex-guanfacine/comment-page-1/#comment-25914 Jen Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:13:01 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=717#comment-25914 Renee (and others) - Hang in there! It took my daughter several weeks to adjust to Intinuv. Everything was going well and then we had reports that she was falling asleep in the afternoon at school (she is 6 1/2 and hasn't napped since she was 3). We talked to her doctor and have adjusted her meds further. She actually takes 1 mg one day and 2 mg the next day. This adjustment seems to be going well. But I have learned in the past year since her ADHD/oppositional defiant disorder diagnosis, that it's just something that we have to keep an eye on and adjustments are inevitable. I can know this - but it doesn't make the process of doing what's best for her any less frustrating. Renee (and others) – Hang in there! It took my daughter several weeks to adjust to Intinuv. Everything was going well and then we had reports that she was falling asleep in the afternoon at school (she is 6 1/2 and hasn’t napped since she was 3). We talked to her doctor and have adjusted her meds further. She actually takes 1 mg one day and 2 mg the next day. This adjustment seems to be going well. But I have learned in the past year since her ADHD/oppositional defiant disorder diagnosis, that it’s just something that we have to keep an eye on and adjustments are inevitable. I can know this – but it doesn’t make the process of doing what’s best for her any less frustrating.

]]> Comment on The Best Time of Day to Take Intuniv by Renee http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/02/09/best-time-of-day-to-take-intuniv-tenex-guanfacine/comment-page-1/#comment-25913 Renee Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:30:26 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=717#comment-25913 Wow! My son just started the intuniv a week ago. Teachers are reporting that he's exhausted at school and his ADD symptoms are in overdrive (he's on 1 mg). He doesn't sleep at night - poor child hasn't since he was born. He's been on numerous ADD meds and they work for awhile or they help "a" symptom, but not all of them. I am absolutely heartbroken and discouraed at this point. He suffers either way - taking meds and dealing with side effects or not taking meds and dealing with the frustration for himself and from the people who work with him all day. ADD is such a difficult diagnosis. You think once they are diagnosed, it's going to get better. Still has not! I can empathize with all of the parents on here. Wow! My son just started the intuniv a week ago. Teachers are reporting that he’s exhausted at school and his ADD symptoms are in overdrive (he’s on 1 mg). He doesn’t sleep at night – poor child hasn’t since he was born. He’s been on numerous ADD meds and they work for awhile or they help “a” symptom, but not all of them. I am absolutely heartbroken and discouraed at this point. He suffers either way – taking meds and dealing with side effects or not taking meds and dealing with the frustration for himself and from the people who work with him all day.

ADD is such a difficult diagnosis. You think once they are diagnosed, it’s going to get better. Still has not! I can empathize with all of the parents on here.

]]> Comment on The Best Time of Day to Take Intuniv by Christie http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/02/09/best-time-of-day-to-take-intuniv-tenex-guanfacine/comment-page-1/#comment-25912 Christie Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:44:38 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=717#comment-25912 My son will be 10 this month. He is the sweetest, funniest, affectionate, loving boy. Then he is the rudest, disrespectful, demanding, defiant boy. He struggles in school in math and writing and is totally disorganized with his schoolwork. I held him back last year, so this is his second year in third grade, with the kind of teacher who does not seem to help matters or care about his success. The disorganization and frustration have gotten worse this year than the first time around, it seems. He has ADHD and has been on Concerta or some ADHD med since he turned 4. A couple of years later, he was put on Clonodine to help him sleep nights. We would switch off Concerta every couple of years to try something "new", but always went back because nothing new worked as well. He was on Risperdal for a year when he turned 8, because of such severe moodswings and agression, but is now off that (it worked well at the time). He now takes generic Zoloft for anxiety and possible PTSD, and it has worked wonders for his anxiety and nightmares and “daymares”. The Neurologist added Intuniv 2 weeks ago, saying the Clonodine (for sleep) may not be needed once this "gets in his system". I also feel like my son is a guinea pig. This is the FOURTH drug, although each one works for the specific symptoms, and I am thinking of giving the Melatonin instead of the Clonodine for sleep if he still needs it after another week. At least it is natural. Tomorrow will be the end of week 2 on Intuniv. The first week he took the 1mg; this past week, 2mg. He has only gotten sleepy once at 8:30 without having to take the Clonodine, but has eventually had to take 1/2 to 1 pill each night when he still wasn't sleepy at all by 9:30, and actually last night he took Clonodine at 7:30 and was still up at 11:00 (it usually works in 2 hours max). I am unsure what to think. I am giving the Intuniv to him in the mornings with Concerta and Zoloft (ugh, so much med). The first morning of giving him 2mg, he had a stomach ache about an hour later. No side effects before or since. I do know that since increasing to 2mg, there has been tremendous improvement in his mornings and evenings when the Concerta is not in his system. Doc said keep him on 2mg through the third week, then see if that is enough. If not try 3mg, but from what I've read here, I am skeptical about going up to 3mg. He also said we may be able to decrease the Concerta dosage (now at 72mg!) because of the Intuniv, but still too early to tell. My son will be 10 this month. He is the sweetest, funniest, affectionate, loving boy. Then he is the rudest, disrespectful, demanding, defiant boy. He struggles in school in math and writing and is totally disorganized with his schoolwork. I held him back last year, so this is his second year in third grade, with the kind of teacher who does not seem to help matters or care about his success. The disorganization and frustration have gotten worse this year than the first time around, it seems. He has ADHD and has been on Concerta or some ADHD med since he turned 4. A couple of years later, he was put on Clonodine to help him sleep nights. We would switch off Concerta every couple of years to try something “new”, but always went back because nothing new worked as well. He was on Risperdal for a year when he turned 8, because of such severe moodswings and agression, but is now off that (it worked well at the time). He now takes generic Zoloft for anxiety and possible PTSD, and it has worked wonders for his anxiety and nightmares and “daymares”. The Neurologist added Intuniv 2 weeks ago, saying the Clonodine (for sleep) may not be needed once this “gets in his system”. I also feel like my son is a guinea pig. This is the FOURTH drug, although each one works for the specific symptoms, and I am thinking of giving the Melatonin instead of the Clonodine for sleep if he still needs it after another week. At least it is natural. Tomorrow will be the end of week 2 on Intuniv. The first week he took the 1mg; this past week, 2mg. He has only gotten sleepy once at 8:30 without having to take the Clonodine, but has eventually had to take 1/2 to 1 pill each night when he still wasn’t sleepy at all by 9:30, and actually last night he took Clonodine at 7:30 and was still up at 11:00 (it usually works in 2 hours max). I am unsure what to think. I am giving the Intuniv to him in the mornings with Concerta and Zoloft (ugh, so much med). The first morning of giving him 2mg, he had a stomach ache about an hour later. No side effects before or since. I do know that since increasing to 2mg, there has been tremendous improvement in his mornings and evenings when the Concerta is not in his system. Doc said keep him on 2mg through the third week, then see if that is enough. If not try 3mg, but from what I’ve read here, I am skeptical about going up to 3mg. He also said we may be able to decrease the Concerta dosage (now at 72mg!) because of the Intuniv, but still too early to tell.

]]> Comment on Intuniv for Treating Tics and Twitches by Stacee http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/01/28/intuniv-tenex-guanfacine-lexapro-escitalopram-for-treating-tics-and-twitches/comment-page-1/#comment-25911 Stacee Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:19:50 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=712#comment-25911 Hi! My son will turn 10 on Wednesday. He has had tics and funny little movements for several years. Diagnosed this past year with Tourette syndrome and OCD. He has been on Abilify for about 6 months which has shown positive results. Due to the tics still showing up in full force about once per month for about 3 really bad days....Dr. just added Intuniv to the mix. We are in the first week so I haven't seen any changes yet. Look forward to reading about your son and updating you on mine:) Best of luck....God Bless. Hi! My son will turn 10 on Wednesday. He has had tics and funny little movements for several years. Diagnosed this past year with Tourette syndrome and OCD. He has been on Abilify for about 6 months which has shown positive results. Due to the tics still showing up in full force about once per month for about 3 really bad days….Dr. just added Intuniv to the mix. We are in the first week so I haven’t seen any changes yet. Look forward to reading about your son and updating you on mine:) Best of luck….God Bless.

]]> Comment on Top 5 Reasons Boys are Better Than Girls by lin http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/05/07/top-5-reasons-boys-are-better-than-girls/comment-page-2/#comment-25908 lin Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:34:05 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/2007/05/07/top-5-reasons-boys-are-better-than-girls/#comment-25908 general comment: it is hard to compare, it mainly depends on how you raise them.( i guess) boys: generally easier( clothing..etc), someone you can rely on later, they are cool, more practical and less complicated emotionally. as for problems, i am sure they have their on issues yet having a sister and 2 girls i canot really tell you girls: less trouble makers, emotional support, yet, PMS . i think they are also smarter in the sense of solving problems and get life going ( not in the sense of math and science) the list can go on..and on.. i guess the best thing is to make the best of the qualities you have weather you are a male or female, and teach your kids the same thing.. that is just my opinion general comment:

it is hard to compare, it mainly depends on how you raise them.( i guess)

boys: generally easier( clothing..etc), someone you can rely on later, they are cool, more practical and less complicated emotionally. as for problems, i am sure they have their on issues yet having a sister and 2 girls i canot really tell you

girls: less trouble makers, emotional support, yet, PMS . i think they are also smarter in the sense of solving problems and get life going ( not in the sense of math and science)

the list can go on..and on..
i guess the best thing is to make the best of the qualities you have weather you are a male or female, and teach your kids the same thing.. that is just my opinion

]]> Comment on The Best Time of Day to Take Intuniv by Laura http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/02/09/best-time-of-day-to-take-intuniv-tenex-guanfacine/comment-page-1/#comment-25905 Laura Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:49:19 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=717#comment-25905 Hey there! As I write this, my son is taking a nap because he has been up since 3:00. Again. He sleeps well every other night because he is so overtired from not sleeping the night before. We did change him to an evening dose, and bumped him down to 2 mg, but still we struggle. Tonight I try melatonin. For those whose kids take Intuniv and are also autistic, have you noticed a difference in behavior and/or eye contact? I am not sure if what I am seeing can be attributed to the Intuniv because there are quite a few other factors messing with my little boy's head, but I was curious to see if other autistic kids on Intuniv are experiencing some mild regressions. Or increased agitation/aggression? At the end of this bottle (since I wasted $150 on the 3-mg bottle only to use four tablets before figuring out that my son cannot handle that dose, then having to pay another $150 for the 2 mg less than a week later) I want to bump him back down to 1 mg and see what happens. I appreciate everyone's input on this message board! It really helps me brainstorm what might be best for my kiddo - thanks! Hey there! As I write this, my son is taking a nap because he has been up since 3:00. Again. He sleeps well every other night because he is so overtired from not sleeping the night before. We did change him to an evening dose, and bumped him down to 2 mg, but still we struggle. Tonight I try melatonin.

For those whose kids take Intuniv and are also autistic, have you noticed a difference in behavior and/or eye contact? I am not sure if what I am seeing can be attributed to the Intuniv because there are quite a few other factors messing with my little boy’s head, but I was curious to see if other autistic kids on Intuniv are experiencing some mild regressions. Or increased agitation/aggression?

At the end of this bottle (since I wasted $150 on the 3-mg bottle only to use four tablets before figuring out that my son cannot handle that dose, then having to pay another $150 for the 2 mg less than a week later) I want to bump him back down to 1 mg and see what happens.

I appreciate everyone’s input on this message board! It really helps me brainstorm what might be best for my kiddo – thanks!

]]> Comment on Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera Review by G Phillips http://www.raising4boys.com/2009/11/01/panasonic-lumix-dmc-zs1-zs3-review-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-25904 G Phillips Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:48:37 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=691#comment-25904 How does it hold up with use? Any issues with the LCD or problems with the camera after several months of use? How does it hold up with use? Any issues with the LCD or problems with the camera after several months of use?

]]> Comment on The Best Time of Day to Take Intuniv by Kim http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/02/09/best-time-of-day-to-take-intuniv-tenex-guanfacine/comment-page-1/#comment-25903 Kim Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:54:33 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=717#comment-25903 Hi, my son started taking Intuniv right before Christmas 2009. We had been using stimulant drugs such as Concerta and more recently Focalin XR. However, his tics became so bad that he literally looked like he had tourettes syndrome. I am not exaggerating either. So our doctor suggested Intuniv. We stopped his dosage level at 2 MG and he takes is everday at 4:00pm. Two weeks ago I got an e-mail from his teacher at school about some behavior problems he was having and so his doctor recommended we go up to 3 MG. The first few days there didn't really seem to be any side effects to the change in dosage. However, during the last 5 days, he falls asleep as soon as he arrives home from school and will sleep two hours, he fell asleep at school and had to be awakened, he either wakes up several times a night or he wakes up really early and stays awake. He has been having trouble eating. His doctor told us to take him back down to 2 MG for a few days and then try the 3 MG again. Besides the side effects, his ADHD symptoms have definitely minimized since taking the drug. He still has some tics but they seem to be more prominate when he gets stressed. Keep posting your updates. It helps to know others who are experiencing the same things you are. Hi, my son started taking Intuniv right before Christmas 2009. We had been using stimulant drugs such as Concerta and more recently Focalin XR. However, his tics became so bad that he literally looked like he had tourettes syndrome. I am not exaggerating either. So our doctor suggested Intuniv. We stopped his dosage level at 2 MG and he takes is everday at 4:00pm.

Two weeks ago I got an e-mail from his teacher at school about some behavior problems he was having and so his doctor recommended we go up to 3 MG.

The first few days there didn’t really seem to be any side effects to the change in dosage. However, during the last 5 days, he falls asleep as soon as he arrives home from school and will sleep two hours, he fell asleep at school and had to be awakened, he either wakes up several times a night or he wakes up really early and stays awake. He has been having trouble eating. His doctor told us to take him back down to 2 MG for a few days and then try the 3 MG again.

Besides the side effects, his ADHD symptoms have definitely minimized since taking the drug. He still has some tics but they seem to be more prominate when he gets stressed.

Keep posting your updates. It helps to know others who are experiencing the same things you are.

]]> Comment on The Best Time of Day to Take Intuniv by Laura http://www.raising4boys.com/2010/02/09/best-time-of-day-to-take-intuniv-tenex-guanfacine/comment-page-1/#comment-25902 Laura Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:01:08 +0000 http://www.raising4boys.com/?p=717#comment-25902 The jury is still out on Intuniv for us, but there are so many other factors that make it a complicated question to answer. In December we had to stop Risperdal and switch to Abilify because of metabolic side effects from Risperdal. At the same time, we stopped Adderall because of issues with agitation and night terrors. A month later, he lost his aide at school and had a number of subs fill in over the last few weeks. So, it's kinda complicated to judge just the Intuniv in the middle of all these other factors. I can tell you that the 3-mg dose was an absolute nightmare for us. The day after upping it, my son had to stay home from school because he was sooooo lethargic. I actually took him to the doctor because I was afraid he was ill - pneumonia is going around our area right now. He was fine! The behavioral doc still asked me to try and hang in there for a week and see if the side effects lessened. I made it only three more days before I took him back down to 2 mg. The insomnia got worse, and he was either catatonic or psychotic. Either way, it was terrifying to watch. Happily, on 2 mg given at about 6:30, after supper but before bed, things are seeming to switch around. Only once in the last three days has he gotten up at 3:00 in the morning for the day. Once he got up at 6:00 am, just the right time, but was so tired that he missed the bus. But he's holding his own at school. Not too agitated but no longer acting as if he has lost his joy, either. In fact, today his math teacher and his speech therapist both used the word "mellow" to describe him. Veronica, I know what you mean about it being scary. I always feel like I am abusing my son, using him like a lab rat. Then I remind myself that the option of doing nothing is worse for him. I hope Intuniv goes okay for you, especially if you are already familiar with melatonin. Let me know how that goes, okay? We still haven't done the melatonin yet. If things keep going like they are, I would say it is doing a decent job. The stimming is starting to settle down and he is no longer trying to get someone's attention by smacking them. His last three behavior reports from school were all marked excellent, on a scale of excellent, good, fair or poor. Good luck!!! The jury is still out on Intuniv for us, but there are so many other factors that make it a complicated question to answer. In December we had to stop Risperdal and switch to Abilify because of metabolic side effects from Risperdal. At the same time, we stopped Adderall because of issues with agitation and night terrors. A month later, he lost his aide at school and had a number of subs fill in over the last few weeks. So, it’s kinda complicated to judge just the Intuniv in the middle of all these other factors.

I can tell you that the 3-mg dose was an absolute nightmare for us. The day after upping it, my son had to stay home from school because he was sooooo lethargic. I actually took him to the doctor because I was afraid he was ill – pneumonia is going around our area right now. He was fine! The behavioral doc still asked me to try and hang in there for a week and see if the side effects lessened. I made it only three more days before I took him back down to 2 mg. The insomnia got worse, and he was either catatonic or psychotic. Either way, it was terrifying to watch.

Happily, on 2 mg given at about 6:30, after supper but before bed, things are seeming to switch around. Only once in the last three days has he gotten up at 3:00 in the morning for the day. Once he got up at 6:00 am, just the right time, but was so tired that he missed the bus. But he’s holding his own at school. Not too agitated but no longer acting as if he has lost his joy, either. In fact, today his math teacher and his speech therapist both used the word “mellow” to describe him.

Veronica, I know what you mean about it being scary. I always feel like I am abusing my son, using him like a lab rat. Then I remind myself that the option of doing nothing is worse for him. I hope Intuniv goes okay for you, especially if you are already familiar with melatonin. Let me know how that goes, okay? We still haven’t done the melatonin yet. If things keep going like they are, I would say it is doing a decent job. The stimming is starting to settle down and he is no longer trying to get someone’s attention by smacking them. His last three behavior reports from school were all marked excellent, on a scale of excellent, good, fair or poor.

Good luck!!!

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