Namenda for Autism

[wide awake]

We just started DS 20 on Saturday. We are seeing some good changes already, and he is only on 25% of the dose he will have. Initiation, control of anger, and even some extra speech! I hate to get my hopes up, we've tried so many things, but it really does seem to be working. Namenda is prescribed for Alzheimers, but there are many studies being done w/ ASD kids. Thought I'd pass it on...

 

[lucigo]

Update us and let us know how it goes! I have ready studies about its use in autism.

 

[kirstenb1]

Thanks, this is the first I've heard of it.

 

[nyrebecca]

I wish you the best of luck ! Give us updates!

 

[wide awake]

DS continues to do well. We are on day 9, we upped the dose as of last night...he is now at 50%. I'm anxious to see how he is when he wakes up. As of late yesterday, more speech, and he is putting his own words together, not echolalia. Not a lot, not age appropriate..."itch my marks" was to get me to scratch his mosquito bites...but it was speech that he generated. Stimming wayyyy down, and mood excellent. I've read that several families have been using this for years, and their child continues to improve.

 

[junebugTN]

How exciting! I'm glad to hear things are improving, and I hope they continue. It was great of you to share your good news, and I'm sure it will help other families as well.

June

 

[kylmac]

I too am wishing you luck-our ds is on Guanfacine. It still works but would love to know other products as well that work. Just want something to help with the mood (and aggressive behaviors).
Take care-Elizabeth

 

[wide awake]

Hi,
DS continues to improve...we upped the dose again yesterday, he is now at 75%. He is MUCH easier to live with. Yesterday I had to have him sign 3-4 pieces of paperwork because I didn't realize until late Friday night that his passport expired. We are leaving for Barcelona on 7/18, so as you can guess I was a basket case. Anyway, he jumped through all the hoops necessary to get a new i.d. and passport w/o any meltdowns. Granted, he didn't sign his name, but he let me do hand over hand...which is huge for him. Something weird too...his appetite is normal. He isn't binging.

 

[wide awake]

Update. DS continues to do well w/ Namenda. He is using new words in novel sentences, and he is SO much calmer. We did the 10 day Med cruise and he was so good...pointing out the characters pictured on the menu, engrossed and curious about how things work...traits we haven't seen in 20 years. At home he is actually watching TV and movies and laughing. DH has even started trying to buy novel things to amuse DS...something he hasn't done in years...what was the point when we knew DS wouldn't enjoy anything out of his preferred zone?

 

[spacepixie2]

WOW-- such breakthroughs are such a blessing!!!

 

[satorifound]

That is absolutely amazing.

 

[ratlenhum]

Can I ask what your son's dose is and how much he weighs? My son takes it and I can't help but wonder if he's getting enough for us to see benefit.

 

[wide awake]

Hi,
He is about 200 pounds, has been on 25 mg/day for the past three weeks.
Update...still doing really well. We just got home yesterday from WDW. DS was imitating behaviors, he hasn't done that since he was three years old...sure, at the table, but spontaneously...nope. The big thing...he knows how to spell, so I am guessing he knows how to read. Who knew? I found this out when we were floating in the tubes at Typhoon Lagoon. Language still coming in slowly, but it is progressing. He has started to use personal pronouns correctly. Not consistently, but experimenting w/ them, and he is starting to be right more often than not. New combos of language all the time. He is actually trying to put words together, which he never has before. Before, not his issue or worry, now he seems to see the sense in communicating more than wants/needs. His mood is SOOO much better. He is also calmer about upsets, for example I stepped on his flipflop which caused it to fall off...normally that would be a huge deal...not a problem, he was annoyed, but not a meltdown.

 

[It'sOffToDisneyWeGo]

Thank you for sharing. I hope you continue to get positive results. This story makes me happy!