Posted by bleauberry on October 12, 2008, at 15:33:15
In reply to ? about meds for my son, posted by Lorenzo05 on October 11, 2008, at 18:37:13
If your son, or anyone, is doing a lot better on their med, don't mess with. Don't change dose, time of day to dose, or anything. Definitely don't change the med or add another one. I say this because it is so common to change something, mess it up, and never be able to get back where you were. These meds often do not work the same a second time around after stopping or changing doses. If stable, keep it stable.
The appetite is a tough side effect to deal with. I am real skinny so I can relate to that. The best thing I can think of is to get foods packed with calories and proteins into your son when he eats. A tablespoonfull of peanut butter for example, twice a day, is loaded. When he does eat, make sure he eats quality. Veggies, mostly raw or slightly cooked, proteins, and carbs that have nourishment (whole grain pastas/breads/cereals). A multivitamin/mineral would be a good idea, though it doesn't have to be a megavitamin. Something with 100%RDA is fine, or even half that. Maybe spend some time in a google search to find the highest calorie foods you can, for people called "hard gainers" (too skinny and can't gain weight). Good oils are also loaded with calories. Things like capsule fish oil, spoon flax oil. Contrary to what today's trendy advice is, pure butter and cream are actually good for you, with lots of good oils and calories. It's the bad oils, such as hydrogenated oil (check ingredient labels) and anything except olive oil for cooking that do the heart clogging and cholesterol damage. Eggs also are very good in calories and nutrition, but make sure to get the grain-fed free-roaming ones at the supermarket, which are loaded with good oils and have no antibiotics or chemicals. Regular eggs provide a lot less nutrition.
Some things taste better than others even if there is no appetite. Find out what he likes the most, and use those more often.
In the herbal category ginger root might be worth google searching and trying. It is known for calming nausea and stimulating appetite.
I guess the best I can say is be happy you have found stability and improvement with your son, as there are thousands of people who cannot find that welcome place. Deal with the appetite side effect with strategic choices of foods. You might even be able to invent a powerful milkshake that has favorite fruit, veggies, peanut butter, raw organic egg, etc in and tastes good because of the strawberries or bananas or whatever flavoring you use.
Ahh, and I forgot chocolate. Dove dark is actually healthy stuff and high in calories.
poster:bleauberry
thread:856971
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081006/msgs/857085.html