have a 12 year old niece who is a survivor of brain cancer, though not yet in full remission

due to all the radiation (entire brain and spinal column) and all the chemo for several years, and a brain shunt, her system is quite messed up... hormones, ability to handle stressors, etc...

she is a 5th grader, has an IEP, and if the environment is right and no rapid changes suddenly... she is very "normal"

she has a level of awareness, though she is developmentally delayed to a degree... and she knows she is "different" than the other children... when the other children pick on her... she tends to lash out

she is currently seeing a child psychologist that specializes only for those children with cancer or have survived cancer... she is responsive to him and enjoys visiting with him

her school counselor... insisted she be seen by an MD and medicated due to the possibility of "lashing out" and her coping skills

so, my sister has taken her for the last month and the MD has prescribed 2 stimulants thus far... YET, the MD hasn't diagnosed her with anything - sis says.

The MD is prescribing the med as a means to dampen the impulsivity and possible anger issues... only now my niece doesn't sleep at night.  SHE used to sleep at night, my sis says, BEFORE the meds.

My sis has spent nearly $125 on meds this month and $340 on doc visits... the side effects are horrible on my niece - sis says.  Except for my niece now not able to sleep at night thus, agitation increased... no other sign of any improvement has been noticed.  You see.. when niece is in "right environment" and no rapid changes or high stimuli... she is "normal" and fairly well behaved.

So...my sis is now at wits ends.

The school counselor insisted niece be seen by MD... not the child psychologist working with her.