Post by empeg1 on Apr 21, 2014 23:26:46 GMT -5
I recently came back from Vancouver and a wonderful conference on FASD and adults. One of the talks I attended, a double, 3 hour session, was on sleep disorders. The team presenting was from a sleep clinic and lab at the U of British Columbia. Sleep disorders occur in about 80% of individuals with a FASD. And, sleep disorders also occur more frequently in ADHD than in the general population. Specifically, the head of the sleep center, a physician, was making the point that professionals often look at daytime behaviors first when they should be looking at night time behaviors, given the importance of deep sleep to brain function. I thought I would mention that Restless Leg Syndrome (WED) is by far the most common sleep disorder in FASD. Restless Leg Syndrome also occurs more frequently in individuals diagnosed with ADHD. Of note, specific psychotropic medications worsen the symptoms of Restless Leg, including stimulants, anti-psychotics and SSRI's.
I spent 90 minutes the following day with the physician heading the UBC sleep center talking about my daughter, who does appear to have the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome. The sleep doc and pediatrician was a real mensch; he offered to act as a consultant to her psychiatric nurse practitioner and physician in California, pro bono. Restless Leg Syndrome often is associated with an iron deficiency with iron supplements the first line of medication for this sleep disorder if such a deficiency is found. The next step? it is Neurontin. The patients in their study were put on Neurontin, all other medication was slowly withdrawn, sleep stabilized and daytime functioning skyrocketed while behavioral difficulties diminished significantly.
Just thought I would pass along the connection of Restless Leg Syndrome to ADHD.
Empeg
I spent 90 minutes the following day with the physician heading the UBC sleep center talking about my daughter, who does appear to have the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome. The sleep doc and pediatrician was a real mensch; he offered to act as a consultant to her psychiatric nurse practitioner and physician in California, pro bono. Restless Leg Syndrome often is associated with an iron deficiency with iron supplements the first line of medication for this sleep disorder if such a deficiency is found. The next step? it is Neurontin. The patients in their study were put on Neurontin, all other medication was slowly withdrawn, sleep stabilized and daytime functioning skyrocketed while behavioral difficulties diminished significantly.
Just thought I would pass along the connection of Restless Leg Syndrome to ADHD.
Empeg
