effexor and adolescents?

Hi...was wondering if anyone had experience with placing a teenager on Effexor for depression...He is already on Abilify for a help with anger issues, which has helped him a lot...Now the psychiatrist at the school has placed him on Effexor as well, as he told the doctor he felt sad and depressed as well...He is currently in a boy's school finishing the school year for discipline issues as mandated by his original school district, and the courts...he has done very well at the school..straight A's and they love him...I am his Aunt, just concerned about the Effexor.

[LIZZIE LOU]

I just read your post...hope you are still checking back since it has been a couple of weeks since your post.

My son suffers from extreme depression and anxiety.  When he was 17, he was put on prozac...this only made his depression worse.  Then he was put on effexor and over time was taking the highest dose...believe it or not Wellbutrin (at the highest dose also) was added on top of that.  This really freaked me out.  I had to have faith in his psychiatrist BUT I still didn't like it.  He stayed on this combination for about a year and a half.  During this time I never really saw any improvement.  It wasn't until he went to rehab for an addiction to crack cocaine that he was weaned off these meds.  He is now 20 years old and is taking Cymbalta - 60 mgs.  This drug has been a god send.  It also works well on his anxiety.

I wish I had some good advice for you.  This is only our experience.  Every one reacts differently to different drugs.  What works for one may not work for another.  My advice to you is to be very careful.  Since your son is away at school, this might not be so easy.  It has been proven that antidepressants in children can make them more depressed.  Just make sure that someone there keeps a close eye on him to see how he is doing.