View Full Version : Imipram
simplyred
4/10/06, 11:56pm
Does anyone have any experience with this medication? I googled it, but I am looking for first hand stories. My three year old has been suffering what can only be described as night terrors. These episodes go way beyond night mares. They last all night, she is impossible to wake from them, all the while crying and screaming heart wrenching cries of fear, and they come in exactly that "episodes" (meaning for 3 to 4 nights at a time). They render us both completely exhausted. As a result her relationships with her playmates become effected and her teachers comment that during these times she isn't on top of her learning game. I brought this to the attention of her doctor today and this is what he prescribed. I am very leary of giving my daughter of three years old an anti depressant. His purpose for prescribing them is to keep her out of completely DEEP sleep so she is not bothered by her dreams. So, I am looking for any experiences out there with the med.
Thanks!
Dude, I'm so sorry for Payton...and you too. I don't know anything about the medication but if it gives her some peace then it can't be bad.
That has got to be a real bummer for the both of you. Don't know anything about the drug myself. I assume you have googled the hell out of it. Does she ever say what her dreams are about?
First Question:
Would you actually heed the advice of some guy
out in the desert with a screen name of Winky? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricyclic_antidepressant)
simplyred
4/11/06, 11:49am
That has got to be a real bummer for the both of you. Don't know anything about the drug myself. I assume you have googled the hell out of it. Does she ever say what her dreams are about?
She says a variety of things. Monsters, her "Daddy Camel" (a stuffed animal that had a voice box with her Dad's voice in it telling her that he loves her), her Daddy, a Monster Tree. Mostly Monsters. Thing is I haven't let her watch ANYTHING assoicated with monsters. I even limit certian Disney movies with scary villians, ie Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, ect. She mostly watches Maisey, Blues Clues, and Noggin. I talked to a pshcologist friend and he said that children manifest things that are bothering them into things they understand. Whether she has been exposed to Monsters or not, she understands that they are scary and things that are bothering her may turn into scary monsters in her dreams. Talk about give you the feeling that you F**Ked your kid up!
I'm just very leary of giving my child such a drug after what I have read about it. I really don't feel like the doctor was "listening" to me, and just handed me a prescription to shut me up. You know the old, "hey my kid is hyper" well here is the rittilan...I know this stuff is also used to help bedwetting so I thought maybe other mothers had had some experiences with it. Looks like I am off for a second opinion.
Professur
4/11/06, 12:19pm
There is another plan of attack available .... if you're willing to take it. Give her the scary movies. They resolve themselves in the end, with the evil vanquished. Give her something to fear, and then have her defeat it.
A few things
1) Kids believe in magic and guardians etc... With my kid, he's got his guardian bear. It's a small teddy bear that he keeps on his bed. He went through a series of night terrors and nightmares a while back. I explained about guardian/dream totems, and it did the trick. He doesn't have bad dreams that he can recall. It's been a year since his last episode.
2) You don't want to keep the kid out of deep sleep, just out of REM sleep.
3) Catnip tea. It's a relaxant in humans... makes you drowsy, sleep deeper and wake less often. It's also safe for kidlets. Dry the catnip first (or buy it dry from either a pet store or health food store)...grow it yourself if you prefer. Let it cool and mix it with OJ or something. The taste is easily coverable.
A nice hug before bed helps too...but I don't need to tell you that :)
Do you keep a night light on in her room?
i dont have any first hand experience with that drug either.
i would recommend finding someone that specializes in sleep disorders and consulting them first before starting a 3 year old on tri-cyclics.
Looks like I am off for a second opinion.
Best thing I've heard yet. Find someone else who's actually trained in the field, air your concerns, and find out for real.
simplyred
4/11/06, 08:32pm
A few things
1) Kids believe in magic and guardians etc... With my kid, he's got his guardian bear. It's a small teddy bear that he keeps on his bed. He went through a series of night terrors and nightmares a while back. I explained about guardian/dream totems, and it did the trick. He doesn't have bad dreams that he can recall. It's been a year since his last episode.
2) You don't want to keep the kid out of deep sleep, just out of REM sleep.
3) Catnip tea. It's a relaxant in humans... makes you drowsy, sleep deeper and wake less often. It's also safe for kidlets. Dry the catnip first (or buy it dry from either a pet store or health food store)...grow it yourself if you prefer. Let it cool and mix it with OJ or something. The taste is easily coverable.
A nice hug before bed helps too...but I don't need to tell you that :)
I've never heard of the catnip tea, the "daddy camel" was the guardian bear so to speak as most of these night mares started when Dad went on his first 6 month deployment. Thanks for all of the help. I'm really going for the second opinion. I spoke with someone today who recommended a "play" thearpist. That way if something is really bothering her rather than this just being typical childhood woes she can work it out there. That makes me feel better than drugging my three year old on antidepressants...what is it coming to when you ask your peditrician for advice for bad dreams and he throws drugs at you???
Professur
4/11/06, 08:34pm
what is it coming to when you ask your peditrician for advice for bad dreams and he throws drugs at you???
I could answer that, but I'd offend three quarters of the membership.
i dont have any first hand experience with that drug either.
i would recommend finding someone that specializes in sleep disorders and consulting them first before starting a 3 year old on tri-cyclics.yeah, that.
My oldest did the night terrors thing. We just left it alone. Now he sleepwalks. And I think I'm gonna leave that alone too for the time being.
She doesn't need therapy, or less scary movies, or anything along those lines. It's a sleep disorder. That is what needs fixed, if of course she doesn't just naturally grow out of it like most do.
I know this stuff is also used to help bedwetting so I thought maybe other mothers had had some experiences with it.again, a sleep related disorder.
In the meantime, regiment her sleep hours. Naps like clockwork, bedtime at exactly the same time every day.
Your doctor is actually on the right thinking path. Some of us will consider drugs to be a laster resort than this, although there really isn't a heck of a lot more to be done about night terrors than that.
yeah, that.
My oldest did the night terrors thing. We just left it alone. Now he sleepwalks. And I think I'm gonna leave that alone too for the time being.
She doesn't need therapy, or less scary movies, or anything along those lines. It's a sleep disorder. That is what needs fixed, if of course she doesn't just naturally grow out of it like most do.
again, a sleep related disorder.
In the meantime, regiment her sleep hours. Naps like clockwork, bedtime at exactly the same time every day.
Your doctor is actually on the right thinking path. Some of us will consider drugs to be a laster resort than this, although there really isn't a heck of a lot more to be done about night terrors than that.
Wetting the bed is not always a sleep disorder. My brother had an underdeveloped bladder which caused it to not completely empty when he went to the bathroom but then when he was sleeping and his body relaxed the muscles that hold your pee in relax too and he'd wet the bed...
Professur
4/17/06, 05:41pm
Wetting the bed is not always a sleep disorder. My brother had an underdeveloped bladder which caused it to not completely empty when he went to the bathroom but then when he was sleeping and his body relaxed the muscles that hold your pee in relax too and he'd wet the bed...
So, can we call him up and make fun of him?
So, can we call him up and make fun of him?
He wouldn't care. He had a physical issue with his bladder when he was younger...he went to a specialist and it's been resolved...it doesn't embarass him.
Professur
4/17/06, 05:54pm
He wouldn't care. He had a physical issue with his bladder when he was younger...he went to a specialist and it's been resolved...it doesn't embarass him.
Wanna bet?
*ring**ring*
*Nixy's brother*Hello
*Total stranger* Hey, I read on the internet that you peed the bed until you were eight. Is that true?
*Nixy's brother* What? who is this?
shall we continue the conversation?
Wanna bet?
You don't know my brother.
Professur
4/17/06, 05:58pm
So totally true. Bring him along. I'll either like him, or you won't have to deal with him anymore.
So totally true. Bring him along. I'll either like him, or you won't have to deal with him anymore.
You'll like him if he's having a good day. He can be a pretty cool kid. If he's having a bad day though he'll get on your last nerve. The Parsons temper...both him and I got it but me being female have learned to control it a little more...my dad and my grandfather both had it til their dying day and my brother prolly will too.
Oh, and if I bring him I gotta bring his gf (nothing against his gf she is a very nice girl, I like her) and that will make for 4 plus me (if Les and Paul come) which is gonna make for a VERY crowded drive.
Professur
4/17/06, 06:09pm
But more people covering the tab.
If I can handle the missus and V2.0's temper at the same time .... your Parson's temper isn't gonna impress. Besides ... I've got this big ol' lake should he need to cool off a bit.
Rent a van, and bring Les's boys too. Teach 'em to swim, the fun way.
But more people covering the tab.
If I can handle the missus and V2.0's temper at the same time .... your Parson's temper isn't gonna impress. Besides ... I've got this big ol' lake should he need to cool off a bit.
Rent a van, and bring Les's boys too. Teach 'em to swim, the fun way.
Well, a van holds 7 people and that would make 8 people...plus I'm not about to drive to Montreal with a van full of people...I have to much road rage to deal with that many people.
Not to mention that I couldn't rent a van because i'm under 25. I looked last year when we went to Concordia and I couldn't find anywhere that will rent anything but cars to those under 25 and even then you pay extra for insurance.
Well, a van holds 7 people and that would make 8 people...plus I'm not about to drive to Montreal with a van full of people...I have to much road rage to deal with that many people.I think you're thinking of a minivan. Real vans hold up to 15 depending on configuration.
I think you're thinking of a minivan. Real vans hold up to 15 depending on configuration.
Well, I'm not renting one of those either. If I'm coming it'll be in my own car with a maximum of 3 other people. Otherwise there ends up being to many stops and to many needs to co-ordinate.
if I don't wanna be in a car with my kids for that long, I certainly wouldn't wish it on anyone else! :eek:
if I don't wanna be in a car with my kids for that long, I certainly wouldn't wish it on anyone else! :eek:
Would they cause my already horrible road rage to sky rocket through the roof?
Really...you guys are gonna be like "Are you SURE you're not a smoker who's having a nic fit?!"
simplyred
4/24/06, 03:38pm
Just to update, we have actually had some resolve! I got a second opinion, and REALLY felt comfortable with this doctor. She spent time talking to Peanut about her nightmares and about school, home, ect. She dosen't seem to think Peanut actually has a sleep disorder, but maybe is just so thrown off key. Peanut's life has been so regimented since she was born...meals, bath, bed all at a certian time. And in the last two years everything has changed. Mommy and Daddy split, we moved in with family, Daddy left for over seas (she didn't see him for 6 months), we moved into a new home, she got a new man in her life, new sibiling figures who come and go...all very changing and confusing. Also, three very key people in her life, my mother, grandmother, and grandfather, became very sick this year and her relationships with them changed a great deal. Now, while all of this will teach Peanut that life changes and that is good, this doc believes that the confusion of it all has manifested itself in the form of bad dreams. As she settles into her new life and matures and understands more she should outgrow them. In the mean time she suggested VALERIAN ROOT to help calm her into restful sleep. We used it last night and both of us slept all night IN SEPERATE BEDS! I feel like a new woman!
Professur
4/24/06, 03:41pm
Great news.
Good for the both of you.
Slim Pickens
4/25/06, 03:45pm
Oh, happy day! What did Jarrod have to say...how did she sleep?
simplyred
4/27/06, 12:30pm
Oh, happy day! What did Jarrod have to say...how did she sleep?
Jarrod was pleased and she is sleeping well.
Winky? Why are you sorry to hear that? THIS IS GOOD!
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