Transition from Prozac to Cymbalta

My son who is 16 years old has been diagnosed with severe depression and social anxiety.  He has been on 40 mg of Prozac for about a year.  He stopped taking it around Christmas and ended up in the hospital.  When he got out they raised his dose to 60 mg but he was telling them that he felt even worse (more anxiety and depression and thoughts of suicide).  At our last appointment they told us to taper off the Prozac for 2 weeks by going to 40 mg for a week and then 20 mg.  Problem is my son still says that taking it makes him feel really bad.  They want him to try Cymbalta (which I take with good results) but I am so afraid of what will happen if something does not help him soon.  Any suggestions on good medicine for teens with depression/anxiety?  Any help will be appreciated- I CAN NOT LOSE MY SON!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The best thing you can do for your son is to get him into the hands of a good psychotherapist/psychiatrist.  The over reliance on medication can give you false hope, and medication alone is not sufficient, especially in teenagers who are feeling worse on medications.  Take your time and find the right person for him.