Wellbutrin for ADHD

[HT's Mom]

Hi everyone,

We are two months post IVIG # 2 for our ds16, and so far so good. As far as we can tell, he seems so much better in terms of PANDAS type symptoms. Few tics, no outward signs of OCD, calmer, more engaged and conversant, etc. But last night he said to me "What if I don't get better?", and then refused to elaborate. I think he doesn't even know what is normal anymore, it's been so long, and the stress and anxiety of school and a general malaise about it all is what is getting him down. He may be having intrusive thoughts still that he can't control, but it is hard to tell if this is PANDAS or anxiety or distraction or what. He and his twin brother both have ADHD. He will not use traditional stimulants due to the increase in tics they cause (his brother takes vyvanse) so I am wondering about Wellbutrin to help with both depression and ADHD. He is missing so much in school and having to teach himself and play catch up all the time, and can't read for long periods of time without ticcing and distraction (The Scarlet Letter, anyone??) Ugh.

 

So if anyone has any experience with this one, or other suggestions, I'd appreciate your input!

Thanks.

[LaurenK]

Hi everyone,

We are two months post IVIG # 2 for our ds16, and so far so good. As far as we can tell, he seems so much better in terms of PANDAS type symptoms. Few tics, no outward signs of OCD, calmer, more engaged and conversant, etc. But last night he said to me "What if I don't get better?", and then refused to elaborate. I think he doesn't even know what is normal anymore, it's been so long, and the stress and anxiety of school and a general malaise about it all is what is getting him down. He may be having intrusive thoughts still that he can't control, but it is hard to tell if this is PANDAS or anxiety or distraction or what. He and his twin brother both have ADHD. He will not use traditional stimulants due to the increase in tics they cause (his brother takes vyvanse) so I am wondering about Wellbutrin to help with both depression and ADHD. He is missing so much in school and having to teach himself and play catch up all the time, and can't read for long periods of time without ticcing and distraction (The Scarlet Letter, anyone??) Ugh.

 

So if anyone has any experience with this one, or other suggestions, I'd appreciate your input!

Thanks.

 

 

Would it be possible to do IVIG every 8 weeks?

[LNN]

I don't have any experience as it relates to Pandas, but DH took Wellbutrin for a few months when he was trying to quit smoking. It didn't help in that regard (Chantix did). But he said afterward, it made his sub-clinical OCD drastically and permanently better, even tho he only took it for a short time. Now, it had been getting better on its own as he got older anyway, but wanted to pass along his experience.

[HT's Mom]

4

 

Would it be possible to do IVIG every 8 weeks?

 

 

Not really. We have done them with Dr. K, and can't fly to Chicago over and over. Plus, although Anthem has paid for the first two, we recently got a letter saying no more. So, unless he gets seriously worse again, we will not go that route for the time being.