Lithium and PANDAS

[Concetta]

Our 17 year old PANDAS child (diagnosed at 14 1/2) is having major depression and anxiety issues. Recently we have seen agression and anger issues arise. During this spike in behavior 2 of our other children had strep throat, one had mono, and just recently we discovered that our PANDAS son has mono! Before we got the mono diagnosis his doctors (we go to All Children's in FL and he sees Dr. Murphy and associates) put him on Risperdal. They said when we go back next week, they might decrease his Celexa and put him on Lithium. When we found out he had mono our pediatrician put him on 5 days of prednisone. Within 24 hours of being on prednisone the "edge" was off and our son even said he felt better (except he is still depressed). My question is, should we still go with putting him on Lithium?

 

His currents meds are: Augmentim XR 2000mg, Celexa 40 mg., Abilify 7.5 mg., Risperdal 2 mg, plus MANY vitamins.

[tpotter]

Our 17 year old PANDAS child (diagnosed at 14 1/2) is having major depression and anxiety issues. Recently we have seen agression and anger issues arise. During this spike in behavior 2 of our other children had strep throat, one had mono, and just recently we discovered that our PANDAS son has mono! Before we got the mono diagnosis his doctors (we go to All Children's in FL and he sees Dr. Murphy and associates) put him on Risperdal. They said when we go back next week, they might decrease his Celexa and put him on Lithium. When we found out he had mono our pediatrician put him on 5 days of prednisone. Within 24 hours of being on prednisone the "edge" was off and our son even said he felt better (except he is still depressed). My question is, should we still go with putting him on Lithium?

 

His currents meds are: Augmentim XR 2000mg, Celexa 40 mg., Abilify 7.5 mg., Risperdal 2 mg, plus MANY vitamins.

 

 

Are they suspecting Bipolar? That's what lithium is for, and we used it as well as 3 other meds to rule/out bipolar. disorder. It only made DS very nauseous (the others did nothing for him.)

 

Using abx, steroids, and then treating for strep, lyme, bartonella and other co-infections, using PEX and IVIG has made my son so much better. Personally, I think your son's spike in behavior is due to the mono and strep, and who knows what else.

 

My DS no longer takes any psychotropic meds, and he's way better for it.

[LNN]

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question. I only wanted to mention that high copper levels can cause bi-polar-ish symptoms, so it may be worth checking copper levels prior to moving to another medication.

 

FWIW - my daughter is fighting Epstein Barr (closely related to mono) and she has episodes of rage and irrationality. Her copper levels are high and we are using zinc to bring it down (zinc and copper move in opposite directions, so if you supplement zinc, copper will drop). It isn't without drama, but her numbers are moving in the right direction.

 

Best of luck - sounds like this is a very hard situation for the whole family.