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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Celexa effects on 7 year old w/Anxiety
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Celexa effects on 7 year old w/Anxiety
by zoebug, Apr 11, 2006 12:00AM
My 7 yr daughter has been suffering from anxiety since 3. Tried Zoloft at 4 yrs old resulting in hostile and unsettling thought process. Took her off b/c of this. Anxiety is very bad and she obsesses about unbelievable things daily. Undergoing Behavioral Therapy. Referred to Pyschiatrist who wants to try Celexa or Prozac. He knows what happened with the Zoloft at 4. Can anyone help me with information regarding Celexa in children?? Has anyone been in a similar situation and had a positive result from medication (at such a young age)? My husband & I are agonizing if we should try the meds or not. We hate seeing her suffer daily with her thoughts and anxiety. Behavioral Therapy is just not enough.
Dx is anxiety w/OCD (she has "sticky" thoughts not so much the rituals)
Any help or information would be so appreciated.
Zoebug
Dx is anxiety w/OCD (she has "sticky" thoughts not so much the rituals)
Any help or information would be so appreciated.
Zoebug
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Apr 13, 2006 12:00AM
, Apr 13, 2006 12:00AM
Sorry, wish I could help, but have no experience with children...a tough decision, my bias is against medications in children this young, but there are special and appropriate cases..you might consider getting a second expert opinion from a child psychiatrist to help you make the decision....
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/files.htm
I hope you will find it useful..
As for the other post regarding the link, I have heard and researched about the horror stories many times. This is why the decision for my husband & I is so difficult. We only want what is best for our daughter, both physically and emotionally.
zoebug
The doctor put her on Celexa starting at 5mg and gradually increased to 20mg. I started noticing changes in her within 3 days. She started playing with friends, wanted to go to the public pool and stopped hiding. The panic attacks became fewer and fewer and by the second week in Sept she was in school again full time. The only negative thing I noticed was that although she is very intelligent, she has trouble organizing her thoughts.
The doctor tried taking her off Celexa to see if she was over the anxiety and panic. We started in late January decreasing by 5mg every 2 weeks. About 2 weeks after stopping Celexa she began having panic attacks and we are now back to 20mg and trying to get her back into school.
To me, the results have far outweighed any risk. Just seeing this bright girl surrounded by many friends and enjoying life was worth it.