Kids on Meds?

[SandraC]

Hello All ~ My dd13 has been in and out of hospital....three heart operations, protein losing entropathy and now she has liver and spleen damage and esphogeal varices.

She has been experience moderate to severe panic / anxiety attacks. It runs in my family. I am on meds for anxiety disorder.

I am bring her to the doctor on Friday to discuss a course of action.

Does anyone have experience with a 13-year old on anti-anxiety meds?

Thanks! Sandra

 

[ZPT1022]

No experience but I just wanted to send some to you and to DD. With all that going on I can understand why she'd be having anxiety problems. Best of luck and I hope it all works out for you guys

 

[lsyorke]

How about therapy??? The only current drug "approved" for children is Prozac, and that is not without it's problems(black box warnings for kids and young adults). I would find a therapist for a child this age.

 

[famofsix]

Hello All ~ My dd13 has been in and out of hospital....three heart operations, protein losing entropathy and now she has liver and spleen damage and esphogeal varices.

She has been experience moderate to severe panic / anxiety attacks. It runs in my family. I am on meds for anxiety disorder.

I am bring her to the doctor on Friday to discuss a course of action.

Does anyone have experience with a 13-year old on anti-anxiety meds?

Thanks! Sandra

No experience here but if you have explored other options without success for the anxiety ...she could do a trial with meds and see if it helps.

 

[RitaZ.]

I'm sorry she is going through so much. I hate it when kids are seriously ill.

No useful advice to offer, just for her and you. I hope things get better.

 

[C.Ann]

I believe that medications for depression and anxiety definitely have their place in the world of medicine (my adult DD takes some meds herself) but PLEASE bear in mind that once your DD is diagnosed and treated for anxiety, it will become a permanent part of her medical history and haunt her forever..
The first time they can't make an immediate diagnosis of a problem they will "assume" it's because she's "anxious and depressed"..

It's a double-edged sword.. Danged if you do, danged if you don't.. Just wanted to share what the long-term ramifications may be..

Hope your DD feels better soon.. She's been through way too much already..

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What does her cardiologist say?

My dd was on Celexa at that age for some anxiety stuff...picking, finger moving, behaviors.
We did low dose of meds and some rubber band adversion therapy which really helped.

She was also put on a lose dose of ADD meds, because the doc was SURE she was ADD (no testing, mind you).

It was only temporary because as her Cardiologist said...this is at your own risk, since it does speed up the heart, the ADD meds.

Celexa, she took for 6ish months, I say, and did better.

Not sure what I would do for Panic attacks. That is long term. I would ask her cardiologist and other specialists about the meds for that before taking them.
There is always a risk factor and you need to be informed so you can do the best meds for her.

 

[SandraC]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advise. I really appreciate the time you all took responding to my post.

Dear "The Mystery Machine" [love the name!]; dd's cardiologist is on mat leave, however, I called dd's nurse at Sick Kids [Toronto's children's hospital] and left a message. Hopefully she calls back before Friday's GP appt. dd has TGA, VSD, ASD, pulmonary stenosis. She had a Fontan 9 years ago....two years ago she was diagnosed with PLE [protein losing entropathy] due to the Fontan. PLE is a b*tch. It's causing liver and spleen damage and esphogeal varices. I suffered 30 years of panic attacks before I finally agreed to go on Paxil about three years ago. It saved my life [I gained 100 lbs pounds....but I'm happy]. I went on Paxil with therapy. Whatever the doctor says, I will request therapy for dd.

Thank you all! Blessings, Sandra

 

[Mermaid02]

My son is almost 10 and has been on anxiety meds (originally Paxil but now Zoloft) for 3 years. He is also in therapy weekly. It was the best thing I ever did for him as his Mother. I cried the first time I gave him his medication, but he has thrived on it and is doing so much better.

 

[Forevryoung]

I believe that medications for depression and anxiety definitely have their place in the world of medicine (my adult DD takes some meds herself) but PLEASE bear in mind that once your DD is diagnosed and treated for anxiety, it will become a permanent part of her medical history and haunt her forever..
The first time they can't make an immediate diagnosis of a problem they will "assume" it's because she's "anxious and depressed"..

It's a double-edged sword.. Danged if you do, danged if you don't.. Just wanted to share what the long-term ramifications may be..

Hope your DD feels better soon.. She's been through way too much already..

C.Ann, is the stigma of mental illness that severe in your life that you would say this? I was diagnosed bipolar 6 years ago and I have thrived since then. My diagnosis only has long term ramifications if I let it- it will NOT haunt me forever because I won't let it.

I only tell those who I know well. Nobody who has any control over my life sees my medical records nor my hospital records. I've only accomplished great things in my life and I hope to accomplish many more... my diagnosis is just a label.

 

[C.Ann]

C.Ann, is the stigma of mental illness that severe in your life that you would say this? I was diagnosed bipolar 6 years ago and I have thrived since then. My diagnosis only has long term ramifications if I let it- it will NOT haunt me forever because I won't let it.

I only tell those who I know well. Nobody who has any control over my life sees my medical records nor my hospital records. I've only accomplished great things in my life and I hope to accomplish many more... my diagnosis is just a label.

------------------------------------------------

Has it impacted my life? No.. But it has severely impacted my adult DD's life and her ability to receive proper medical care for "non" depression related illnesses and injuries..

By no means am I saying that anyone who needs these medications should not take them - my DD probably wouldn't even be alive today without them.. However, if a person does take meds for anxiety, depression, etc., they should be aware that they will have to be very persistent when seeking medical care for other issues and also be prepared to have their symptoms ignored or "assumed" to be caused by depression when in fact they aren't..

Were it not for the possibility of drug interactions, my DD would not reveal that information to ANY health professional - other than the doctor who actually treats her depression.. That's certainly not the way it "should" be, but this type of stigma within the medical community still exists and causes unnecessary pain and suffering..

I'm very happy that your experiences have been positive and I certainly hope they continue to be that way..