Autism Medication and My Son: Intuniv and Concerta

Like many other children with  high-functioning autism, my son also has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and requires medication.

Vyvanse Capsules
Image by Champlax CC-BY-SA-3.0

Intuniv

The summer before my son entered kindergarten, it became apparent that in order to succeed in a regular school setting, my son would need medication. In daycare he was unable to sit still and he couldn't focus on tasks unless he was doing an activity he liked such as playing with cars or blocks.

The doctor recommended that we start my son on the lowest dose of the blood pressure medicine Intuniv. In clinical trials, many autistic children  showed improvement in attentiveness. After a few weeks on the Intuniv, my son did show a little improvement in his ability to focus.

My son started kindergarten in a mainstream classroom a few months later and immediately the teacher had problems getting my son to focus. After repeated attempts by the teacher to get my son to participate in activities, he would have a meltdown and I would be summoned to school to get him. North Carolina does put much emphasis on funding its schools, and the poor teacher had no assistance from qualified special-ed teachers. She had her hands full with the other 24 children in the classroom.

Concerta

After another call to the doctor, my son's Intuniv  dose was increased, but it had little effect. Three months into the school year, the Intuniv was stopped and my son was prescribed Concerta, a stimulant used  for ADHD.  The change in my son was dramatic - he became very quiet and was able to focus and sit still for long periods of time. It did make me sad to see my son so solemn and quiet - but it was also a relief to have a break from the boy who could not sit still unless he was stimming with his toys.

Concerta side effects

Concerta did have two unwanted side effects - appetite loss and throat clearing. My son was born skinny and has stayed skinny. He would eat first thing in the morning, but after the Concerta took effect, he would not be interested in eating until the evening. He initially lost a pound or two, but by letting him eat whenever he wanted, he stabilized and lost no more weight - but he also never gained any in the year he was on Concerta.

The throat clearing started within a month of starting the Concerta. I hoped it was temporary, but it continued the entire time he was on the medication.

No help for his anger

The Concerta had no effect on his anger or meltdowns. He was always prone to self-destructive behavior such as head-banging and slapping himself, and he frequently went into rages at home over minor annoyances. Toys were thrown, stomped on and otherwise destroyed. Furniture in his room was marred and tipped over.  If he ran into a wall he would rage at the "stupid wall" that was trying to hurt him.

Although my son could now sit still at school, he ultimately failed kindergarten.

My next post will discuss Vyvanse, clonidine, and risperidone.

10 Snappy Comebacks to Silly Statements: Help for Parents of Autistic Kids

10 Snappy Comebacks to Statements Made About Autistic Children

Updated on August 19, 2016

Grin and bear it!

Some times you just have to grit your teeth and smile!

Parenting an autistic child can be extremely stressful. But a lot of people make it worse because they still don’t “get” autism and say things that will make you feel like smacking them alongside their head.

I have written a list snappy comebacks I am tempted to use in response to these people but haven’t…. yet.

Someday I may just snap and I am going to figuratively smack these people across the face with snappy comebacks to their silly statements.

1. He doesn’t LOOK autistic…

Snappy comeback #1: It's the way we dress him that hides it.

Snappy comeback #2: You don't look ignorant, but here we are...

2. If it were MY child, he wouldn’t act like that.

Snappy comeback: "I didn't realize you had a degree in child psychiatry"

3. He doesn’t act like that when he’s with me.

Snappy comeback: Wonderful! How about you take him for a week or two and see what happens?

4. Autism wasn’t around when I was a kid.

Snappy comeback: Neither were velociraptors but that doesn’t mean neither existed,

5. Autism is being over-diagnosed right now.

Snappy comeback: That’s a relief. My child’s doctors, teachers, child-care providers, and behavioral and speech therapists are probably just looking for an easy answer to a behavioral problem.

Autism and discipline

One very disheartening aspect of parenting an autistic child is the blame heaped on you by other people accusing you of being too permissive. Please, if you haven't walked in my shoes, don't judge me.

6. He just needs more structure.

Snappy comeback: Slap your forehead and say "Well, bless your heart….Why didn't I think of that."

7. What is HIS problem?

Snappy comeback: His problem is people sticking their noses into other's business.

8. If that were MY child acting like that, I would spank his butt.

Snappy comeback #1: I’ll look the person up and down and say, “I’m sure you would.”

Snappy comeback #2: I may try that since the cattle prods didn’t work.

9. My friend’s child was cured of autism by following a special diet.

Snappy comeback: And to think scientists haven’t been able to replicate this in studies. It must be a conspiracy by the pharmaceutical industry!

10. Just ignore his behavior and it will go away. Meltdowns are just a way of getting attention.

Snappy comeback: If I ignore you, will you just go away?

Okay. I probably will not say these things because I try to never hurt someone’s feelings. Sometimes people say these things because they are trying to be helpful, because they have not dealt with an autistic child, or because they are just a judgmental poophead. I will give them the benefit of the doubt - the first time.

Have wonderful day.

The humorous side of Aspergers

A must read for parent and caregivers of autistic children.

Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew: Updated and Expanded Edition

 Buy Now

If you have a child who is newly diagnosed as autistic, or just need a book to help family members understand your child, 10 Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew.

This book not only helped me with understanding my son, it also gave me strategies for helping him.

I highly recommend it for educators and friends as well!

More examples of outrageous comments about autism

• 15 Most Unsupportive Remarks Moms of Kids With Autism Hear From Loved Ones | The Stir
  Failing to see eye-to-eye with loved ones -- especially when it comes to how you parent -- can be frustrating and upsetting. But moms with kids who ha...

About Autism: What to Do if you Think Your Child May be Autistic

If you suspect your child is autistic, you may not know what to do. I have compiled a list of what I did when I first thought my son was autistic.

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My son at age four.

Source: Author's photo

Trust your instincts

I knew something was “off” with my son when he was about 8 months old. At first, I chalked it up to his being a boy – after all, he had two older sisters and boys are different creatures than girls. Later the guilt set in: I returned to work too soon, I wasn’t being a good mom, I was being too strict or not strict enough.

But by age two and with my son having a significant language delay, I could no longer shrug it off to "bad parenting." I had to seek answers for my son and myself.

Don’t let your self doubt delay help for your child.

Speak up!

Tell the pediatrician, the nurses, local mental health providers, everyone. You want documentation of all the symptoms you are concerned with in as many places as possible. This will help when your child is eventually tested.

Keep a journal of all your concerns

Is your child not babbling or smiling yet? Write it down. Is he/she obsessive about certain objects, or does he/she react strangely to external stimuli? Write it down. Include the age of your child when this happens – you will need this information when filling out paperwork later. Memory is fallible.

Has your child been diagnosed with autism?

Seek help

The earlier the intervention, the better! Many states have early childhood intervention programs. Contact your local county health department, or ask your your child’s pediatrician for a referral. Many programs are free to low income households. If your child is school age, request testing. A diagnosis is essential to creating an IEP (individualized education plan) which will structure your child’s education to his/her needs and abilities.

Don't give up if your young child isn't correctly diagnosed. When my son was first tested at age 2, the psychiatrist said he was not autistic. He was finally diagnosed as autistic at age four by a different doctor.

Because I had documented all his behaviors and had reported all his odd behaviors to his pediatrician, the new psychiatrist had more to base her diagnosis on then simple observation and testing.

Let your child stim

Stimming is common in autistic children. Wikipedia defines stimming as: Self-stimulatory behavior, is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, or repetitive movement of objects common in individuals with developmental disabilities, but most prevalent in people with autistic spectrum disorders.

Yes, some stimming behavior is distracting but It is believed that stimming is soothing to an autistic child in a loud and unstructured world. If she taps obsessively, let her tap. If he loves to line up cars or other objects, let him. Let the hands flap and the legs move!

Stimming explained

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Keep your child’s day structured

Transitions are disturbing to many autistic children. Having a set schedule helps them anticipate and accept change.

If there is going to be a change in the routine, tell your child in advance.My son is much more accepting of change if he mull it over in his head for a while.

Read, read, read!

There is no such thing as too much information. As no two children with autism are exactly the same, reading blogs, seeking out autism websites, and reading books on autism can help you relate to your child and find new strategies in parenting.

Be patient

This may be hard to do, especially during an emotional meltdown. But remember your child is not bad! Meltdowns are common and may be frequent in the younger child.

Realize that it usually results from frustration due to the inability to communicate his/her needs. Let it happen, while protecting your child and possessions. If a meltdown is too violent, wrapping the child in a blanket (do not cover the head!) can prevent harm and may actually soothe the child.

Develop a thick skin

Friends, family and strangers will judge you and your child. You will deal with those who feel your child is a brat, those who feel you are too permissive, and those who do not think your child is autistic at all. It hurts, but life goes on.

Try to educate family members, but if it doesn't work, avoid the topic. DO NOT let their ignorance influence your parenting strategies. Only YOU know what is best for your child.

Make time for yourself

Join a support group, go for a walk, just get out by yourself. Parenting an autistic child is stressful and challenging. You need time to relax and not be “on call” all the time.

There is so much more that can be said. If you have thoughts, questions, or strategies, feel free to comment below. Good luck, and enjoy your special child.

My son has always shown artistic ability.

Source: Author's photo

Advocate for autism education

My son has high-functioning autism. He attended a mainstream kindergarten class in North Carolina and failed. My son and I then moved briefly to Indiana and discovered a more supportive school system. My son attended a classroom with other autistic children and did wonderfully.

We are now living in my hometown in North Dakota which has an incredibly supportive school system. My son is in a regular classroom and has an aid who shadows him throughout the day. She reinforces positive behavior, keeps him focused, and calms him down when he get overstimulated. He is now attending all of his classes but gym.

With 1 in 88 children diagnosed with autism every year, autism has become a global epidemic. The cost of caring for autistic children in the U.S. is estimated at $137 billion a year, according to WebMD. The sooner a child is diagnosed and receives help, the better his chance to be able to function normally in society.

Federal funding for research into the cause of autism needs to be increased, and states must make education of autistic children a priority. We as a society can pay a little more now for research and prevention, or we can pay much, much more later for the lifetime support of our special-needs citizens

Venting after a Meltdown

I knew it was going to be bad when Liam got off the bus. He threw his bookbag and stomped to the house. One thing lead to another until I had to wrap him. It was like a scene from the exorcist:  screaming, cursing, crying. I don’t know what I’ll do when he gets bigger. I’m not as young and strong as I used to be. I didn’t realize how emotional this makes me. I want to run off and cry. When will this stop?