Adopting My Son: Part 3

In the realm of medicine, while it can be beneficial, I often reflect on the saying, "Too much of a good thing can be harmful."

Too Much Medication

In the previous installment, I recounted an instance where I disguised a Sweet Tart as medicine to alleviate my son's harmful thoughts. My concern was that, given his existing medication regimen, he might recognize that what I offered wasn’t genuine medicine. While medication can indeed assist with certain disorders, many prescriptions are more about psychological influence than providing a cure. For some individuals, medicine can be a blessing, but I stand by my belief: "Too much of a good thing can be harmful."

One significant issue we encountered early in our journey was my son's excessive sleepiness. He was often in such a deep slumber that waking him proved challenging. At times, he would cry out in his sleep with phrases like "Get off me" and "No," which made me question the experiences he had faced prior to joining my family. When I would pick my eldest son up from work, I had to rouse my son from sleep to guide him to the car, only for him to doze off again en route home.

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I recognized the root of the issue quickly but was uncertain about my authority to act. He was on an excessive amount of medication—specifically a combination of Depakote, Thorazine, and Melatonin, all to be taken three times daily. It seemed that the intention was to sedate him to the point that he could not express any behavior issues. After just two days, I felt uncomfortable with the dosage and opted to administer medication only in the morning and evening.

Disclaimer: For foster parents, it is crucial to understand that regulations vary by state. While my decision to adjust his medication was permissible in my state, it may not be in others. I recommend maintaining close communication with a healthcare provider and securing a doctor's guidance if you are unfamiliar with your child's specific condition.

Based on my discussions with his caseworker when we first met, I believed he required more structure and discipline rather than medication. However, I feared that ceasing his medication could result in his removal from my home. After a week of observing his excessive daytime sleepiness, I decided to limit his medication to nighttime only. The results were immediate; he began to wake during the day, engage with peers, and appeared more vibrant.

Initially, he was frightened about missing his morning dose, convinced that he would perish without it. Thankfully, I was able to reason with him, pointing out that he had survived all those years without it, so why would it be different now? After a few days without the medication, he no longer expressed concern. I retained the pills and simply removed them from sight so that, in case a caseworker inquired, it would seem as though he was still taking them.

Despite these improvements, we still faced the issue of his nighttime screams. It was unclear whether these disturbances stemmed from trauma or the medication. I decided to eliminate the Melatonin, having read enough concerning reports about its use to feel uneasy about it. Almost immediately, the screaming ceased. However, a few days later, he confided that he struggled with sleep and awoke too early. He earnestly pleaded to resume the Melatonin, claiming he couldn't sleep without it. Having encountered individuals with addiction issues before, I recognized the signs in him—he was indeed grappling with dependency.

That night, I gave him the Melatonin again, only to find the screaming resumed. Determined to help him wean off it, I resorted to using an Altoid, which resembled a white pill. Since he had become accustomed to swallowing pills without tasting them, he was none the wiser. The result was remarkable: no more screaming, no complaints about waking early, and the end of Melatonin usage.

Eventually, I arranged for a visit with a doctor to discuss my concerns about the medications. His primary challenges were hyperactivity and impulse control. While Depakote is known to assist with impulsive behaviors, Thorazine lists impulse control issues as a side effect. The doctor admitted he had never seen a child on this specific combination and deemed it excessive but did not alter the prescription. However, he reassured me that I could adjust the dosage if I deemed it necessary, confirming I wasn’t violating any rules by limiting it to nighttime.

As we approached the adoption stage, I made the decision to discontinue all medications entirely. I began using placebos, confident that the medications were primarily psychological and recognizing his dependency on them. I substituted a Vitamin C tablet for the Depakote and a B12 vitamin for the Thorazine, both closely resembling the original pills. There was no observable change in his behavior, and he continued to sleep soundly. After a month, I revealed the truth about the pills he had been taking, and he agreed that he no longer required any medication.

Removing his medications resolved most of his behavioral issues. I suspect that Thorazine's impulse control side effect was overshadowing the benefits of Depakote. Without the medications, he no longer exhibited those symptoms. While some behavioral challenges were addressed through structured routines, I believe the bulk of his issues stemmed from the excessive medication he had been receiving. It has now been over a year since he last took any mental health medication, and he is thriving.

Thank you for continuing this journey with me as I share the story of my son’s adoption. There is much more to come, so stay tuned. Be sure to follow my updates and click the email button or request to be tagged for the next installment. Up next: Family Visits

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