Teen depression and antidepressants

[The Mystery Machine]

I cannot express the fundamental need to talk this over with a psychiatrist.

I have to agree there Rich. A counselor has no business prescribing this kid drugs like he is a gerbil.
I would consider that foolish and stupid.

Now if he already had a clear treatment plan, different story.

 

[ducklite]

What are some of the mood stabalizers called? I want to do a search.
I want to give my SIL as much info as possible when she speaks with the doctor

Thanks

That's something best discussed between the patient and doctor. There are many of them out there, not all are appropriate for everyone, and it would be pretty irresponsible for me to really go further into it.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I have to agree there Rich. A counselor has no business prescribing this kid drugs like he is a gerbil.
I would consider that foolish and stupid.

Now if he already had a clear treatment plan, different story.

I agree 100%. And it MUST MUST MUST be a psychiatrist with experience with adolescents--even if it means travelling a couple hours to get to one. We went through four psychiatrists with DS until we found the right guy--and I can't tell you how many therapists--most of them were useless, utterly and totally a waste of skin. When we found the right doctors the changes were quickly noticable.

Anne

 

[Horseshoes]

...

Also why is he angry????

We dont know why he is angry. It could be something as innocent as "how was your day" and that makes him mad. To be asked how was your day. He certainly isnt living a horrible life. He says he doesnt care about anything, that there is no point to anything. And that he has given up.

When we ask given up on what? he just says he doesnt know, just has given up.

He is happy when he is around his friends, laughing and talking with them.
He says he doesnt like to be home. But his parents are good to him, they arent treating him badly or anything like that.

The family councelor has said he is clinically depressed and can go on meds, but they cant prescribe them. So this is why SIL is now looking for a psychiartrist.

 

[Horseshoes]

Lots of drugs fall under the category of "mood stabiliser" - be careful with them.

Try http://www.crazymeds.org/

As for the "anti-depressant of choice", it HAS to be Fluoxetine (brand name Prozac), as it has the longest half life of all the SSRIs and exhibits a stimulant effect.

I cannot express strongly enough the fundamental need to talk this over with a psychiatrist.

There are many, many drugs out there. As far as anti-depressants go, there are SSRIs, SSNaRIs, MAOIs, RIMAs, TCAs, NARIs and a shedload more, each exhibiting their own side effect profiles. Some are first line treatments (SSRIs or TCAs) whilst others are for the worst cases only and could actually kill you (MAOIs).

As far as mood stabilisers go, there is an equal plethora of drugs, ranging from the simple (lithium) to the extreme (typical anti-psychotics).

Never dabble in psychiatric drugs unless you have to.

It's a dangerous playground to be messing with. At the present time, SSRIs are being prescribed all over the place to more moderate cases of clinical depression and quite recklessly, I think.

Anti-depressants are for people who are depressed as fudge and who desperately need them. They should never be relied on in place of psychotherapy and should only be prescribed in conjunction with the aforementioned therapy.

I'm deadly serious. All anti-depressants can mess with your brain chemistry and have the capacity to do immense harm when not properly monitored. The same applies even more to anti-psychotics, frequently prescribed as a first line (!) mood stabiliser.

Talk it over with the psychiatrist. Be careful. Please.



Rich::

Thank you for your advice, Rich. I will pass this on to SIL. It sounds so scary.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

He doesn't like to be home? Wow...I wonder what is going on in his head or at home???

Are the parents going through "issues", perhaps? Bullies, bad grades, school pressure, college, growing up to an adult, homosexuality, are all things that could be "roots" of the problem.

Medications are only a help, remember that. Since he can "pin-point" home as his issue I would say it is something specific. Something he does not want to face.
That is pretty telling.

Oh, I have a 14yodd and teen years are tricky stuff.

 

[lsyorke]

The reason why the suicide tendency rate when one is on SSRI (I'm not sure of the rate of non SSRI meds) is because the patient is still having the same depressed thoughts they were having before but the meds have increased the energy level where previously they were too depressed to kill themselves.

Sorry this is NOT the case in most ssri suicides. The suicides that have been reported were put on ssri's for a multitude of reasons. Headaches, anxiety, abdominal pain, warts(yes warts),anorexia. The clinical trials for paxil excluded anyone with a history, or family history of suicidal ideation and still came up with an increased risk. This is why the black box warning is now up. The reported suicidal risks were NOT consistent with the prescribing diagnosis.

My son was NEVER suicidal.. just anxiety yet attempted suicide twice on paxil... paxil gone.. suicidal thoughts gone. I could relate hundreds of other situations where this is also true.

 

[dcentity2000]

Sorry this is NOT the case in most ssri suicides. The suicides that have been reported were put on ssri's for a multitude of reasons. Headaches, anxiety, abdominal pain, warts(yes warts),anorexia. The clinical trials for paxil excluded anyone with a history, or family history of suicidal ideation and still came up with an increased risk. This is why the black box warning is now up. The reported suicidal risks were NOT consistent with the prescribing diagnosis.

My son was NEVER suicidal.. just anxiety yet attempted suicide twice on paxil... paxil gone.. suicidal thoughts gone. I could relate hundreds of other situations where this is also true.

It's a sad truth. Here in the UK SSRIs are illegal to be prescribed to minors with one exception, Fluoxetine, which is now under fire.



Rich::