What is your opinion about teens needing antidepresent medication?

[Forevryoung]

This touches my heart because I've been there and without medication and therapy and my parents/family, I would not be here today.

Keep him on medication, it will help. Heed warnings and do research for the best medication and if he starts getting worse again contact his neurologist. Dont be afraid to get a second opinion.

Good luck.

 

[ducklite]

My son has been on antidepressents for several years. He's bi-polar, and taking Wellbutrin and a mood stabalizer (plus an anti-psycotrophic, but that's something different altogether)--what a diffference! We tried several different combo's until we found one that works. I think that Tom Cruise can go to hell, and if medication can help someone live a better life, then there's no reason they shouldn't take it.

Tell your sister to freaking butt out and MYOB. Seriously. It's none of her business, and if it's helping your son, that's REALLY all that matters.

(Can you tell I've got very strong feelings on this issue LOL!)

Anne

 

[DisneyPhD]

DisneyPhd-Thank you for your response. My son and I are a family together. As Stitch would say, Little but Good. We made this descision together and discussed it openly with his doctors and therapist. We have both noticed a slight change for the better. Lets just say that the weekend of Christmas should have been an emotional roller coaster due to his father and this year it wasn't quite as bad. He is having weekly and somtimes depending on scheduling, biweekly therapy sessions and seeing the phychiatrist on a monthly basis. He is being monitored well. If at any time my son feels uncomfortable taking this medication I will contact the doctor and we will discuss weaning him off.

Shannon

Disney mama, it sounds like you are on top of things and handeling the right way. Medication as PART of the treatment plan can be a vital step. (rather like using the right tools to get a job done.) It can give you the boast needed to make the changes. It can be difficult to find the right doses and combonations. Side effect warnings can be scary. Medicaitons are getting cleaner though, and more effective.

As far as Tom Cruise goes. Come on, even people who know nothig about pyschiatry can guess that Tom might be in need of some mania medication himself. The truth is MANY successful people are bipolar. Most are more manic then depressed and for the most part make it work for them. However there are many tragities and we continue to see them. The book. "New Hope for Bipolar" goes through many famous cases. The key is blance.

(my rant about bipolar doesn't have anything to do with your son, just socieites view and the stigma on mental illness and treatment.