Of all the antidepressants, only fluoxetine (Prozac™) has been FDA approved to treat pediatric depression. For obsessive compulsive disorder in children and teenagers, FDA has approved only fluoxetine (Prozac™), sertraline (Zoloft™), fluvoxamine, and clomipramine (Anafranil™) .
Also asked, should I put my teenager on antidepressants?
Effectiveness in Teens Most importantly, because depression can lead to suicide, it is extremely important to effectively treat teens with depression who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Antidepressants may be most effective if your teen is also working with a therapist or psychiatrist.
is Zoloft safe for my teenager? Other drugs the researchers analyzed — including Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, and Cymbalta — showed no benefit over placebo for this age group. About 3 percent of children under 12, and 6 percent of teens worldwide are believed to have depression. It’s not clear how many of them are on medication.
Likewise, people ask, can a 16 year old take antidepressants?
Antidepressants are not licensed to treat depression in children under 16. If your doctor does prescribe you an antidepressant while you are under 18, they should be very cautious about the dose and take your physical size into account.
What is the best antidepressant for a child?
There are two antidepressants that the FDA has approved for use in children or teens to treat depression: Prozac (fluoxetine) for kids 8 and older and Lexapro (escitalopram) for kids 12 and older.
14 Related Question Answers Found
What are the cons of antidepressants?
The negative effects of antidepressants do not stem from addiction or withdrawal. Rather, the danger resides in side effects some users experience. Some mild to acute side effects for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs,) including Zoloft and Prozac include fatigue, tremor, nausea, weight gain and insomnia.
Can a 15 year old be prescribed antidepressants?
Antidepressant drugs are often an effective way to treat depression and anxiety in children and teenagers. However, antidepressant use in children and teens must be monitored carefully, as rarely there can be severe side effects.
Does genetic testing for antidepressants work?
Genetic Tests for Depression Treatment Aren’t Effective, Experts Say. Their products — pharmacogenomic tests — aim to predict how someone with depression will respond to medications based on that person’s genetic makeup, sparing them from the trial-and-error that often comes with selecting an antidepressant.
Do Antidepressants Make You Fat?
While experts may not be certain about why antidepressants cause weight gain, they do know that switching drugs may make a difference. Some antidepressants may be less likely to affect weight. Effexor and Serzone generally do not cause weight gain, while Wellbutrin can cause weight loss.
How can I track my teenager?
Here is a list of some apps that will help protect your cover as you track your teens’ online comings and goings: mSpy? mSpy is the top used cell phone tracking app worldwide, according to TopTrackingApps. The Spy Bubble. The Phone Sheriff. Mobicip. MamaBear.
What is the safest antidepressant?
These medications generally cause fewer bothersome side effects and are less likely to cause problems at higher therapeutic doses than other types of antidepressants are. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro).
Is depression hereditary?
Depression is known to run in families, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing this disease. However, research into the genetics of depression is in its early stages, and very little is known for certain about the genetic basis of the disease.
What age can you get antidepressants?
The use of antidepressants is not usually recommended in children and young people under the age of 18. This is because there’s evidence that, in rare cases, they can trigger thoughts about suicide and acts of self-harm in this age group.
What do antidepressants do to a normal person?
Most antidepressants — though not Wellbutrin — are in a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. They prevent the body from re-absorbing the naturally occurring chemical serotonin, thus increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
Will antidepressants make me happy?
Antidepressants help relieve the symptoms of depression and associated anxiety. They do not make you euphoric, but simply help you react more realistically in your emotional responses. You may notice, for example, that you take in your stride little things that used to worry you or get you down.
Can you be on antidepressants for life?
If not, they could try tapering off after a year and see how they do. But people who have three or more episodes should stay on antidepressants for the rest of their life, as the chance of a relapse is about 90%.”
Is taking antidepressants bad for you?
Although generally less unpleasant than those caused by older antidepressants, the unwanted effects of newer pills such as Prozac include insomnia, agitation and loss of libido. Many doctors think that antidepressants are worth a try, and they can always be stopped if side effects get too bad.
Are Antidepressants dangerous?
Antidepressants and suicide risk There is a danger that, in some people, antidepressant treatment will cause an increase, rather than a decrease, in depression. In fact, the FDA requires that all depression medications in the U.S. include a warning label about the increased risk of suicide in children and young adults.
Are antidepressants expensive?
Fear: Antidepressants are expensive and aren’t covered by insurance. Fact: Antidepressants are usually covered by insurance plans with prescription drug coverage. The cost of antidepressants varies widely, depending on the dosage, the drug you are taking, and whether it is available as a generic.