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[quote=Anonymous]My DD13 is on Lamictal and has been for over 6 months:  the doctor warned us about Stevens-Johnson and fortunately, it didn't develop.  She was also on Latuda (Bipolar DX although at this age of course it's hard to tell) but the doc took her off of it after a couple of months because there was no real therapeutic impact:  DD's psychiatrist is one of the leading child psychs and was heavily involved in clinical trials for adolescents and Latuda, and I really trusted her to monitor it carefully.

DD also has DX of severe anxiety disorder as well as ADHD, and she takes Intuniv and Sertatraline.  She still struggles with insomnia and so has to take Benadryl or Melatonin occasionally, but she at least CAN sleep now and wakes up refreshed.

Under a previous pscyhiatrist, she was on Abilify (a COMPLETE disaster:  DD was begging to come off of it after two days), Straterra (almost as bad) and Zoloft (which she took for a period of time but which caused such weight gain/appetite increase and which had little therapeutic benefit).

The current combination, along with therpay 1-2 times a week and consults with the psychiatrist twice a month (30-45 minutes, so some therpay there as well), seems to be stable for her.  Her ideation is calmed down considerably and thoughts of self-harm and acting on it are basically dissipated.

OP, I know this is SO hard, but as someone who has acute mental illness in her families -- including both grandparents with bipolar -- as well as alcoholism (my husband/DD's dad and my mom along with grandparent who had bipolar along with my own battle with anorexia and severe depression) we have long ago come to terms with needing to treat DD's illness very aggressively, despite trying every more gentle approach in the book.  It sucks:  it really, really sucks.  I feel so badly for DD and would give ANYTHING if she didn't have to take the meds and live with the pain.  Having said that, I am so grateful that we seem to have found a combination that's livable.

And in terms of college and your DD:  I had to take a gap year before ANYONE was diong that (1983-4) because of the anorexia and depression.  At the time, I thought the world would end -- in fact it occasioned one of my hospitalizations as I had such a hard time with it).  However, once I did go to college a year later, I really struggled, had to take off a term, and can't imagine what would have happened had I gone straight from high school.  But it worked out, it really did, and after earning a PhD and having an amazing career, I am so grateful for super docs and the realization that I needed the year.  It also helped me profoundly when we saw the signs of DD's challenges -- I guess I'm saying hang in there, and if she does need the year before going to college, please know that it really can be okay.  It won't be easy, but it will work out.  I promise.

Good luck to you and your DD.
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