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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
9 yr.old son on Celexa for O.C.D., anxiety, tic disorder
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
9 yr.old son on Celexa for O.C.D., anxiety, tic disorder
by pegnanie, Jan 17, 2006 12:00AM
My 9 yr. old (soon to be 10) son is on Celexa for OCD and anxiety, and is doing very well. A friend of mine who's son is also on Celexa noted that her sons penis seemed to have shrunk while on this medication. I thought she was being ridiculous, and ignorant!! ( this was last year) Then my little guy went on meds. It might sound crazy but recently my son was doing a quick change of clothes in his room. I looked up and noticed how tiny,tiny ( he always seemed to be on the average to large size) his penis was. I was shocked!!!! It's not just my imagination. His penis seems to have shrunk. I know that Celexa can cause sexual dysfunction in adults because the Celexa effects testosterone, and I've been told that young boys need testosterone for growth and normal genitilia growth. I'm really frightened. I'm not concerned with his eventual sex life as an adult. Hopefully he'll be off his meds, I don't know. But he already struggles with issues, I'd hate for him to have another one, especially this kind of physical one! Have you ever heard of this side effect on children. I know adderral and some stimulants can stunt growth, so maybe this is possible, I hope not. Any info. you can share with me would be greatly appreciated. I'll wait for a response. In addition I will be seeing his Psychiatrist and his Pediatrician within this month and will broach the subject.
Thank you,
Pegnanie
Thank you,
Pegnanie
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Jan 18, 2006 12:00AM
, Jan 18, 2006 12:00AM
No, the medication does not affect penis size. What you more likely observed was the impact of the body/room temperature. The testicles will be drawn upward in cool air in order to maintain suitable temperature, and the same process can make it appear that the size of the penis has changed. It really has not. This apparent change is a response to body temperature (obviously affected by the temperature of the surrounding air).
And please note that antidepressants in general (SSRI medications) can have critical effects on children, but they will never be off the market, unfortunately physicans will never admit it either. The doctor who prescribed it, probably denies it also, but do some researches yourself, and you`ll see it.
Pegnanie
Sorry, couldn't help myself. Good luck with the problem.
Best of luck!
I do go with my instinct. I'm still not convinced that the Celexa is not interfering with normal genitilia growth in a child. Lots more research to do,and Doc. app. to attend. I did wnat to say that when I put my boy on meds. it was one of the hardest things I've ever done! With him it wasn't simply lifes hardships that were causing these symtons, there is a huge biological piece in his makeup, and his neurological wiring from birth. He needs help. And he's getting it with an IEP in school, meds for his OCD/anxiety-tourette's, and therapy. Yes, stress can exasberate a generalized anxiety disorder etc..... but some kids and people need meds, just like a diabetic needs insulin. Were a very open family, hugs, talking, crying, no denial here. We don't believe in a quick fix with a pill! My son still will face hardships and does everyday with his learning disability. He will find the strategies he needs and hopefully come off meds someday? I don't know. One day at a time.
For your peace of mind ... Your son with Tourette's will learn to cope with this struggle. He will become an adult and ease into acceptance and comfort within himself of who he is and who he intends to be.
Find a psychiatrist who actually TALKS TO and LISTENS TO your son to help him with his fears and personal limitations of anxiety. One in ten doctors will do this, the other nine will call his visits "medication management" and whisk him out the door to figure it out on his own.
The one who TALKS and LISTENS will be hard to find. Keep looking.