How did you decide to start/not start your child on SSRIs for anxiety?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless my child was non-functioning or suicidal, I would not place a child on an SSRI. They can be very helpful medications, but SSRI withdrawal is extremely difficult and can be almost as bad as the symptoms that the SSRI was prescribed to treat. SSRIs also have a black box warning that they can increase suicide in kids. It's not worth the risk and difficulty, IMHO, unless the problem is severe. I'd try other meds before SSRIs.

Wrong and wrong. Withdrawal under a doctor's supervision is rarely a problem. And the black box warning is, according to every expert I've spoken to, unwarranted. More kids have committed suicide since the warnings began because parents are afraid to use this tool. of course, no one should take an SSRI unless it is warranted, but if it is waiting can only make things worse. And its not always easy to tell with kids how bad the anxiety and depression is.

Have you withdrawn from an SSRI under a doctor's supervision? I have. It was miserable.

Yes, I have. It went very easily. I'm sorry that wasn't the case for you, but for the vast majority withdrawing under a doctor's care isn't a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless my child was non-functioning or suicidal, I would not place a child on an SSRI. They can be very helpful medications, but SSRI withdrawal is extremely difficult and can be almost as bad as the symptoms that the SSRI was prescribed to treat. SSRIs also have a black box warning that they can increase suicide in kids. It's not worth the risk and difficulty, IMHO, unless the problem is severe. I'd try other meds before SSRIs.

Wrong and wrong. Withdrawal under a doctor's supervision is rarely a problem. And the black box warning is, according to every expert I've spoken to, unwarranted. More kids have committed suicide since the warnings began because parents are afraid to use this tool. of course, no one should take an SSRI unless it is warranted, but if it is waiting can only make things worse. And its not always easy to tell with kids how bad the anxiety and depression is.

Have you withdrawn from an SSRI under a doctor's supervision? I have. It was miserable.

Yes, I have. It went very easily. I'm sorry that wasn't the case for you, but for the vast majority withdrawing under a doctor's care isn't a problem.

How nice for you. About 20% of people on an SSRI get discontinuation syndrome. I suppose a "vast majority" doesn't, but if I have to deal with a kid who may suffer discontinuation syndrome, it's a valid concern before deciding to medication. I really don't want to deal with a kid with an ASD who is suffering SSRI withdrawal. My kid is NOT fun to deal with when he is sick or uncomfortable.

You are awfully flip and dismissive of anyone who criticizes any aspect of SSRIs. Do you work for a drug company?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless my child was non-functioning or suicidal, I would not place a child on an SSRI. They can be very helpful medications, but SSRI withdrawal is extremely difficult and can be almost as bad as the symptoms that the SSRI was prescribed to treat. SSRIs also have a black box warning that they can increase suicide in kids. It's not worth the risk and difficulty, IMHO, unless the problem is severe. I'd try other meds before SSRIs.

Wrong and wrong. Withdrawal under a doctor's supervision is rarely a problem. And the black box warning is, according to every expert I've spoken to, unwarranted. More kids have committed suicide since the warnings began because parents are afraid to use this tool. of course, no one should take an SSRI unless it is warranted, but if it is waiting can only make things worse. And its not always easy to tell with kids how bad the anxiety and depression is.

Have you withdrawn from an SSRI under a doctor's supervision? I have. It was miserable.

Yes, I have. It went very easily. I'm sorry that wasn't the case for you, but for the vast majority withdrawing under a doctor's care isn't a problem.

How nice for you. About 20% of people on an SSRI get discontinuation syndrome. I suppose a "vast majority" doesn't, but if I have to deal with a kid who may suffer discontinuation syndrome, it's a valid concern before deciding to medication. I really don't want to deal with a kid with an ASD who is suffering SSRI withdrawal. My kid is NOT fun to deal with when he is sick or uncomfortable.

You are awfully flip and dismissive of anyone who criticizes any aspect of SSRIs. Do you work for a drug company?

No, I don't work for a drug company but I know of a teen who committed suicide. The parents were not aware of the extent of the situation. We have a fear of medication and we should be aware and cautious but I find people aren't afraid of the effects of depression on teens until suicidal ideation becomes explicit. And, unfortunately, it doesn't always become explicit. This is why I think the black box warnings are so misplaced. Teen suicide has gone up as a result. Thats a statistics but its also an enormous amount of pain out there and much of it could have been prevented with intervention.

I also have a child with an ASD and I think decisions will always be different with our kids. Most of the parents in this discussion don't have kids with ASDs. And even with kids with ASDs, you have to be mindful of ALL the dangers. My DS has AS and I know that people with AS have elevated rates of depression and suicide.

I don't think I am being flip. I could say you are with your anti-medication posts. There are pros and cons on both sides that should be weighed.

[Anonymous]

More on problems with drugs and ASDs:

http://www.childmind.org/en/posts/articles/2012-6-19-study-autism-medication-prompts-debate

Kids with an ASD can have atypical reactions to drugs.

[Anonymous]

The Mayo Clinic's page on black box warnings and anti-depressant use for kids:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/MH00059

[Anonymous]

My niece has been on SSRIs for anxiety since she was 8 yrs old. Is 14 now. She also suffers from trichotillomania and has been bald to the point of having to wear a wig several times when her anxiety has been out of control. She only suffers from anxiety with occasional secondary depression, has been evaluated for ADHD, etc with neuropsych evals, and without medication her life becomes miserable. She sees a psychologist 2x wk for therapy and has since she was 8.

[Anonymous]

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/06/08/the-black-box-warning-antidepressants-and-the-risk-of-suicide/

"Untreated depression is a far greater suicide risk than taking antidepressant medications."

[Anonymous]

^What point are u trying to make? Just posting links is annoying...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/06/08/the-black-box-warning-antidepressants-and-the-risk-of-suicide/

"Untreated depression is a far greater suicide risk than taking antidepressant medications."

I posted this link, not the previous one. My point is that the black box warnings are scaring off people who would benefit form these meds, unnecessarily, and that this is a greater problem than the meds ever were.

[Anonymous]

When PPs say low dose, what amount do they mean? Dr is prescribing 25mg Zoloft for DS age 8 with AS, ADHD and depression.

[Anonymous]

How long is it prescribed for? My child has anxiety but not ADHD or any other conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long is it prescribed for? My child has anxiety but not ADHD or any other conditions.

It depends on the kid and what other treatments you are pursuing (talk therapy) and which drugs you are using and the kid's circumstances. This isn't a question we can answer.

[Anonymous]

Based on your obnoxious replies to people who are trying to help you, OP, I think you are the one with untreated anxiety and may be able to benefit from an SSRI. I'm not kidding. I take Lexapro, Buspar and Vyvanse every day and am no longer a crazy bitch.

Signed,
*Formerly* anxious, defensive and overwhelmed individual who is not any of the PPs

[Anonymous]

DS was on generic Prozac for about 1.5 years. He gradually over a month went off the medication and has done well. you can't just discontinue them and it was, as I noted, a month-long gradual process.

As for a PP's question about Zoloft dosage, DS in early 2nd grade was on 25 mg -- it was way too high and had to be discontinued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS was on generic Prozac for about 1.5 years. He gradually over a month went off the medication and has done well. you can't just discontinue them and it was, as I noted, a month-long gradual process.

As for a PP's question about Zoloft dosage, DS in early 2nd grade was on 25 mg -- it was way too high and had to be discontinued.

How is his anxiety since he's been off of Prozac?