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Suggest Treatment For Asperger's Syndrome
Question: Yes, I hope you can help. I have a son who is an attorney. He is 50 years old. I NOW realize he was high on the spectrum of aspergers. He now has a son who is 18 and has just started college. He has had him to a counselor (actually a couple). The Dr. there prescribed some pills (sorry I don't know the name) however, my grandson says he wants to handle this with prayer! He has one semester of college behind him, as he is very intelligent, but my son refuses to pay for another semester unless he takes these meds. I say, let him take the college courses and if he finds he is having trouble he may reconsider. My spouse says at least have that prescription filled and available. What do you have to say! By the way, my son was far worse that my grandson, however 50 years ago asperger's wasn't a common vocabulary word. My son got into college on probation only.....all the way. He went to law school 10 years later .....when he grew up a little and learned how to deal with his problems.
Approx. how many children (or rather young adults - college age) are diagnosed with Asperger's?
Approx. how many children (or rather young adults - college age) are diagnosed with Asperger's?
Brief Answer:
Please mention the clinical symptoms of your grandson.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing to HEALTH CARE MAGIC for your health related queries.
I can understand your concern.
Your grandson of 18 years was taken to a counsellor and later he was prescribed some pills. He is refusing to take the pills saying that he would handle his symptoms with prayer. But your son (his father) is refusing to pay for fee unless he takes the medicine. You have mentioned that your son have some traits of Asperger's (?). You have not mentioned the clinical symptoms of your grandson in query, if possible then please mention them in follow up question so that I can comment more assertively.
As per my opinion if he is refusing to take medicines and your son is fixed on the condition that he will not pay for his fee if he would not take medicines, there are two things that can be done-
- A lot of medicines prescribed in psychiatry are available in liquid preparations in tasteless and odourless form. These medicines can be mixed with food or liquids and can be given to patient without knowledge. You can consult his doctor again and if he agrees you can start these medicines. This will solve purpose of both. (If you can mention his clinical situation and medicines I can comment more)
- Request your son to pay for his semester because, refusal to pay will affect his education and career and this will worsen his symptoms and clinical situations. He is refusing medicines because he is ill and he has no insight. This is not that he is knowingly refusing the medicines. Ask your son to consider him a patient who is in bad phase of life.
Now coming to your main question-
About 2-3 children per 1000 population have symptoms of Asperger's. The number is based upon various studies and it may vary a little depending upon country, race or ethnicity. Asperger's run in families and risk is high in children born to parent of Asperger's.
Thanks, hope this helps you.
Ask again for more doubts, and please provide more details about his clinical symptoms.
Please mention the clinical symptoms of your grandson.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing to HEALTH CARE MAGIC for your health related queries.
I can understand your concern.
Your grandson of 18 years was taken to a counsellor and later he was prescribed some pills. He is refusing to take the pills saying that he would handle his symptoms with prayer. But your son (his father) is refusing to pay for fee unless he takes the medicine. You have mentioned that your son have some traits of Asperger's (?). You have not mentioned the clinical symptoms of your grandson in query, if possible then please mention them in follow up question so that I can comment more assertively.
As per my opinion if he is refusing to take medicines and your son is fixed on the condition that he will not pay for his fee if he would not take medicines, there are two things that can be done-
- A lot of medicines prescribed in psychiatry are available in liquid preparations in tasteless and odourless form. These medicines can be mixed with food or liquids and can be given to patient without knowledge. You can consult his doctor again and if he agrees you can start these medicines. This will solve purpose of both. (If you can mention his clinical situation and medicines I can comment more)
- Request your son to pay for his semester because, refusal to pay will affect his education and career and this will worsen his symptoms and clinical situations. He is refusing medicines because he is ill and he has no insight. This is not that he is knowingly refusing the medicines. Ask your son to consider him a patient who is in bad phase of life.
Now coming to your main question-
About 2-3 children per 1000 population have symptoms of Asperger's. The number is based upon various studies and it may vary a little depending upon country, race or ethnicity. Asperger's run in families and risk is high in children born to parent of Asperger's.
Thanks, hope this helps you.
Ask again for more doubts, and please provide more details about his clinical symptoms.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
My grandson was taken to a bona fide Psychiatrist. He spent several hours just talking to him and deduced this conclusion. My grandson has very few friends; he isn't really anti social, but lives in a gated community where there are few others his age. He wants to "stand his own ground" with my son (which I don't blame him since he is 18). He does not reach out to find friends (according to what my son told me). He did take it upon himself to join the 7th DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, which as you know has very good dietary habits. My son considers this a problem because he won't eat meat. I said he was doing the right thing in this area and my son would do well to follow suit. They live in California and we live in Utah, so there is only so much I can say!
Brief Answer:
Age related behavior
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for writing to us again
He has joined 7th Adventist Church and this could be due to over religiosity. He has beliefs that he wants to stand on his own grounds but he is just 18. The beliefs of his can be due to normal aggressive behavior seen at this age.
As per my opinion to some extent there is lack of understanding on some points between your son and grandson. Like if he wants to follow a particular dietary habit then this is his personal choice. Your son needs to change his beliefs to some extent. If your grandson develop any aggressive behavior, or he show any abnormal behavior only then he will need medications.
From the symptoms you have mentioned one can't ask him to take medicines. Still as you have said that you are not living with them, there could be possibility of other symptoms.
In such case if his therapist has prescribed him medicines and he is not taking them, you can ask your son to visit his therapist again and ask for some liquid or tasteless medicines that can be given by mixing with food.
Thanks, hope this helps you
Age related behavior
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for writing to us again
He has joined 7th Adventist Church and this could be due to over religiosity. He has beliefs that he wants to stand on his own grounds but he is just 18. The beliefs of his can be due to normal aggressive behavior seen at this age.
As per my opinion to some extent there is lack of understanding on some points between your son and grandson. Like if he wants to follow a particular dietary habit then this is his personal choice. Your son needs to change his beliefs to some extent. If your grandson develop any aggressive behavior, or he show any abnormal behavior only then he will need medications.
From the symptoms you have mentioned one can't ask him to take medicines. Still as you have said that you are not living with them, there could be possibility of other symptoms.
In such case if his therapist has prescribed him medicines and he is not taking them, you can ask your son to visit his therapist again and ask for some liquid or tasteless medicines that can be given by mixing with food.
Thanks, hope this helps you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
There is, indeed, a great lack of understanding on the part of my son vs. grandson. As I stated earlier my son has symptoms of Asbergers of which I'm sure he is in denial. His work stresses him out enough, and he just can't seem to handle any extra stress. Truthfully, I think he's the one who needs the medication, but that would be even harder than getting my grandson to take it. I told him that considering the circumstances I didn't think it would be tooooo
unethical to slip it into his (Daniel's) food or drink. He would rather be open and honest about it, but .... at this point he (grandson) is just too stubborn....like his father. I might add that my son is divorced and has been for 9 or 10 years, and his son, XXXXXXX has lived with him all of this time. His mother recently remarried and said XXXXXXX cannot live with her and her new husband. By the way there is a history of
schizophrenia in his mother's family. Her mother (the other grandmother) was affected as well as a daughter that they completely lost track of. And I was mistaken earlier. My son informed me that XXXXXXX IS anti-social with very few
(if any) friends.
I think the name of the medication subscribed by the psychiatrist was ristarone or possibly risperidone (as we looked it up on the computer). Will let you know tomorrow if I find out differently! Thank you so much for your help!
I did speak to my son about this (the religion issue and the medication). He said he will get the exact name of the medication and let me know tomorrow, and then I will send it to you so you can tell me if it is available in a liquid form or if a similar generic might be available in a liquid form.
unethical to slip it into his (Daniel's) food or drink. He would rather be open and honest about it, but .... at this point he (grandson) is just too stubborn....like his father. I might add that my son is divorced and has been for 9 or 10 years, and his son, XXXXXXX has lived with him all of this time. His mother recently remarried and said XXXXXXX cannot live with her and her new husband. By the way there is a history of
schizophrenia in his mother's family. Her mother (the other grandmother) was affected as well as a daughter that they completely lost track of. And I was mistaken earlier. My son informed me that XXXXXXX IS anti-social with very few
(if any) friends.
I think the name of the medication subscribed by the psychiatrist was ristarone or possibly risperidone (as we looked it up on the computer). Will let you know tomorrow if I find out differently! Thank you so much for your help!
I did speak to my son about this (the religion issue and the medication). He said he will get the exact name of the medication and let me know tomorrow, and then I will send it to you so you can tell me if it is available in a liquid form or if a similar generic might be available in a liquid form.
Brief Answer:
If the medicine is Risperidone then its available in liquid tasteless form.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing again.
Yes, it is possible that your son also need medicines but presently we have to focus on your grandson because his carrier is at tender point of life.
He is 18 years old and you and your son are his primary caregiver so it would not be unethical to give medicines to him without knowledge. You can discuss with his psychiatrist for these medicines. The medicines will be given to him for his welfare only.
Due to problems in his parents, and stubborn attitude of his father his problem has aggravated to such extent. Family history of psychotic disorder in his maternal side further increase the risk of psychotic disorder in him.
If the medicines, as you have mentioned in question is RISPERIDONE then I can tell you that it is available in liquid, tasteless and odourless form. It can be given to him by mixing with food or liquids. This will solve purpose of both your son and grandson.
Thanks, you can contact me again with exact name of medicine.
Take Care
If the medicine is Risperidone then its available in liquid tasteless form.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing again.
Yes, it is possible that your son also need medicines but presently we have to focus on your grandson because his carrier is at tender point of life.
He is 18 years old and you and your son are his primary caregiver so it would not be unethical to give medicines to him without knowledge. You can discuss with his psychiatrist for these medicines. The medicines will be given to him for his welfare only.
Due to problems in his parents, and stubborn attitude of his father his problem has aggravated to such extent. Family history of psychotic disorder in his maternal side further increase the risk of psychotic disorder in him.
If the medicines, as you have mentioned in question is RISPERIDONE then I can tell you that it is available in liquid, tasteless and odourless form. It can be given to him by mixing with food or liquids. This will solve purpose of both your son and grandson.
Thanks, you can contact me again with exact name of medicine.
Take Care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Yes, the medication is risperadone. I will let my son know that it is available in a liquid, tasteless and odorless. Thanks so much for your help!
Brief Answer:
Risperidone is available in tasteless preparation
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Yes Risperidone is available in liquid tasteless and odourless preparation in strengths of 1 mg/ml. Consult his psychiatrist for exact equivalent doses. I hope he will improve.
Thanks, take care
Good Luck
Risperidone is available in tasteless preparation
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Yes Risperidone is available in liquid tasteless and odourless preparation in strengths of 1 mg/ml. Consult his psychiatrist for exact equivalent doses. I hope he will improve.
Thanks, take care
Good Luck
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank-you so much! This intervention just might save a life.....at least a productive one! Bless you!
Namaste,
XXXXXX ...........we will consider the case closed now!
Namaste,
XXXXXX ...........we will consider the case closed now!
Brief Answer:
Its my pleasure to answer you
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Its my pleasure to help you. You can contact HCM again for your health related queries in future.
Wish you a good health and Happy New Year
Thanks,
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
Kindly close the query if you have no further questions.
Its my pleasure to answer you
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Its my pleasure to help you. You can contact HCM again for your health related queries in future.
Wish you a good health and Happy New Year
Thanks,
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
Kindly close the query if you have no further questions.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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