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Post by Renee' on Feb 4, 2008 20:59:31 GMT -5
How much do you guys give? I am going tomorrow to the Dr. I need sleep
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Post by momofrussell on Feb 4, 2008 21:36:56 GMT -5
I am sure it's based on weight and what it could be used for? Poor Renee!!! I am sooo sorry you are going through this!
Keep us updated ok? I want to know what the doc says.
A.
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Post by Jenifer on Feb 4, 2008 21:37:55 GMT -5
Joy gets 1 tablet at bedtime, which is .01 mg, I believe. They started her off at 1/2 tablet, but it didn't help at all, and her ped upped it to a whole tab within a week of writing the prescription. Joy weighs about 50 pounds. I don't know if this is a dosage that is dependent upon weight.
Good luck to you!!
Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy
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Post by Renee' on Feb 4, 2008 21:38:05 GMT -5
I am afraid he will say no because she has heart issues. It is really bad. She was falling asleep at dinner and won't eat breakfast now. Not to mention I am falling asleep.
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Post by Jenifer on Feb 4, 2008 21:40:51 GMT -5
I don't think it would interfere with heart function. Not sure about that.
The way the nurse described it to me was that the Clonidine slows the kid down so that he/she functions at the same speed as the rest of us. And that's what it did for Joy. She just leveled out and is now a good sleeper, and good at school.
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Post by momofrussell on Feb 4, 2008 21:47:53 GMT -5
Would it be like Risperdal? Could that be an possible option too? I know it's more for behaviors but from what the Jenifer said about the nurse saying what Clonidine does, it sounds like what Risperdal is used for also.
That said, Russell is WAYYY more relaxed and subdued now that he is on Risperdal. He actually goes alseep MUCH better and we don't have to weigh thim done... But the kicker? HE STILL WAKES UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!!!!! So then he is doped up and subdued and awake for an hour or two, then goes to sleep only to wake back up for school and more meds...so he is a mess at school some days!!!! We actually had to cut his pill in half because he was SO tired this past few weeks!
Again, good luck Renee because I REALLY feel for you!
A.
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Post by Emilysmom on Feb 5, 2008 7:04:57 GMT -5
Clonidine is used in adults to control high blood pressure. However, the doctor who started Justin on it many years ago was a cardiac surgeon (long story, but this guy had a son with ADHD and had never found a doc who knew very much about ADHD so he studied it thoroughly in an effort to help his son. He then devoted a portion of his practice to helping kids with ADHD. So, I always felt that he knew first hand about how ADHD affected kids and parents..........and I felt secure that he was knowledgable about heart issues too). He said Clonidine didn't have the effect of lowering blood pressure in children. We kept an eye on Justin's blood pressure for all the years he took it, and it was never abnormal. At one point, I asked a pediatrician from our church about Clonidine, and he said "Clonidine is actually a very POOR medication for blood pressure.......but it works wonders for kids who have ADHD and can't get the sleep they need".
Susan
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Post by lespring on Feb 5, 2008 8:37:04 GMT -5
Risperdal does have a sedating effect, which usually wears off after a few months. It is an antipsychotic and used for people who have very aggressive tendencies.
When Angela first started taking it, we couldn't keep her AWAKE for the first 3 weeks. Then she started waking up again. After awhile Risperdal has ZERO effect on hyperactivity, which is why many people add guanfacine or depakote. Angela takes guanfacine, but even with all that, she still doesn't sleep at night, so she also takes clonidine. She takes a large dose than my 18 year old son did!!! She takes 1 1/2 tablets (which puts her at .15 mg I think...can't remember)
About the blood pressure effects of clonidine, I wonder when the body decides that children are now adults and it starts affecting blood pressure?
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