Hi. I need intelligent, thoughtful responses to this, so posting here...
DS2:8 has asthma, he is on multiple high-dose meds for it. We started one 4 mos ago, and the effect was significant, we could see obvious improvement in daily functioning, and he has not been hospitalized since he went on it (down from a lifetime avg of 4x/allergy season). We also saw immediate, negative mood effects. The drug is proven to produce depression and suicidal ideation in a significant (statistically, yes, but also just to my mind) proportion of seniors who take it, there are reports in younger populations, but I could find no decent studies in younger age groups. There is a family history of depresson on both sides. I have a complex history of bad side-effects and drug resistence, both asthma meds, and other drugs.
We took him off the new med on a trial basis three days ago.I though I saw an improvement in his mood. I didn't get a chance to talk to DH about it. His uncle came over last night and, before getting his coat off, he said "oh, are you trying the other drug, [kid] seems more like himself?" He didn't even know we had an appt comming up, let alone that we had gotten clearence to switch, only that we'd said, three mos ago, that we might try sometime in the winter if the Resp. though it was a good idea. Basically, I don't think that was wishful thinking, I think he really saw something. DH isn't sure he's seen an improvement, but he HAS commented on DS's good behavior 4 or 5 times a day since. So I'm not convinced he really isn't seeing something, he just hasn't clued in yet. When I pointed that out, he said "yeah, I have been saying that a lot, haven't I?" and got all thoughtful.
There is an alternate drug, but it addresses the problems less directly. It is unlikely to work as well, but it will probably work. We won't know 'till he's in the hospital if it will work well enough to keep him off the heavy drugs (oral corticosteriods). Every hospitalization has the potential to become life-threatening, because DS's asthma becomes very severe very quickly, and in the past he has consistently needed max doses of multiple drugs to get out of an exascerbation.
We will continue the trial of the replacement drug for at least 11 days, under the circumstances, we will likely go longer. How would you approach the problem of deciding between the two drugs by mid February (the latest safe date to switch back to the original drug) if it were your kid?
Thanks, sorry for being off topic, I just need the kind of thinking I won't get most other places, and I need it from people who don't know us personally.
-Mich
