[Abdulina]

I'm VERY familiar with all kinds of stimulants and antipsychotic drugs. With FAS kids very few have been proven effective. The one on all the boards that seems to help almost all FAS kids immensely is Risperdal. It is like a goldmine find! My two sons started it in January and I can't tell you enough the change in their lives and ours as a family. Incredible. Now, we are adding Focalin to our older son's regimen for focusing and appetite control. I pick it up tonight actually. We could not survive without them. Risperdal has almost literally NO side effects for any kids. Only a rare one that happens once in a blue moon. Now, with any ADHD stimulant, you ARE definitely going to have a fast heart rate. That's a given. However, these drugs are really safe. ONly reason pharmaceutical company would even say that is to CYA. Your neurologist checking your daughter out I'm sure is highly qualified to dispense the drugs. Better to be safe than sorry I know. I will warn you though, it takes a long time for some kids to find the right dosage and/or the right drug for them. With Max, it took us months to find the right combo. Don't get fustrated with that part of it. When Max went on STraterra, pure evil came out. Called the neurologist immediately and said either you take him off of it or put me on something--LOL.

Definitely trust your neurologist and develop a relationship with him/her. It will be long term and will make a difference with schooling. Are you a member of any of hte yahoo FAS sites? I can give you some if you aren't. My oldest FASer is 13. And she is just becoming a handful. We are in for a long haul and it definitely helps to talk to others who've been there. I wish you all the best. You will most likely find medication to be a lifesaver to your daughter and you as well. When on medication, the true child you always knew was in there comes out somehow and for the first time, you relax and enjoy your child fully with no fears of the condition they have. good luck to you.

Take care,