a Psychiatrist per scribed Zoloft to my 7 year old daughter and she won't give me any answers to my questions

Question

My ex-wife has taken my daughters to a psychiatrist that first mis-diagnosed my 9 year old as bi-polor only to get a second oppinion from UNI at the U of U and find out she has adhd and now she perscribed zoloft to my 7 year old daughter. How can I find out if my childern need this medication?

Answer 1

get a second and third and fourth opinion. unless you have no custodial rights, you should take them to your own choice of doctor.

and since psychs get money for prescribing medications like this, i'd really question if it's necessary or just in the doctor's interest. these kinds of meds are not good for young bodies.

Answer 2

I've was diagnosed with ADD when I was 12, I was on Ritalin for a long time but stopped taking it when I was 19. Recently I went to seek getting medicated again and I learned a few things, 1. Stratera is the best and safest medication in most cases if it's effective, if they haven't tried Stratera look find out why, often you don't even need a psychiatrist for Stratera.

I also went to a psychiatrist who kept trying to feed me the bi-polar crap. So I did some research on that, I really might have believed her except for two things, she never let me finish a sentence so I didn't trust her ability to diagnose me. Also from what I understand the main difference between bipolar and ADD is bipolar involves random personality and mood swings not related to circumstances. With ADD any mood swings should be related to a stress full time or time of day, something like that. They are more predictable.

The zoloft thing seems a bit strange, I believe that's for depression, so perhaps there's complicating factors that make them not want to give her something for ADD specifically, everything but stratera is pretty heavy stuff and could be dangerous if your daughter is also thought to have other issues like depression or bi-polar.

Answer 3

What!? Zoloft is not recommended for children. I had been prescribed it when I was a teenager, and it eventually led to my hospitalization due to suicidal thoughts and overall drug intoxication. My body could not take this medication. I would get a second opinion to find out if she really needs this before going any farther. ADHD is not treated with these type of medications either, Adderall, Ritalin, and a few other medications or made to treat this problem exclusively. Bipolarity is dealt with different medications as well. Therapy also works sometimes without physical medical intervention. It'd be a pain, but it might be an option. If she does need this medication for sure, make sure she has a low dose, and that the medication is working. You could also ask for a different medication altogether. Good luck.

Answer 4

Most answers here are valid. Never trust a doctor that won't answer valid questions. Get a second opinion. Did she go through all the channels encouraged by the AMA like other opinions, independent sessions with not just psychiatrists but psychologists. And did she take all the written I.Q. and verbal tests required along with the computer aided tests before taking the Rx. She is also required to try different medications in controlled studies to study the different effects on her. Zoloft is a very mild med but ask a pharmacist. They are well more educated on prescription drugs than doctors.

Answer 5

I don't believe SSRI's which is the class of anti-depressant's Zoloft is from has pediatric approval, off label use. In fact Prozac and other drugs in this class have black box warnings. ADHD will not be treated by Zoloft if I remember right. Okay what do your custody papers say about medical care? Look that up, you never know what your ex-wife said about you and over the phone medical professionals as well as psychiatrists and psychologists can not give confidential information HIPPA laws. If you want to discuss it with her take the court papers and get something written by her honestly I would take both children if you are able to a medical doctor and psych and get evaulations yourself. Highly rare to have ADHD and depression? one and the other in both children I feel for you. Divorce can cause stress but somethings fishy. poor kids...good luck (if you don't have anything which you should in your custody papers get in touch with a family law attorney you have the right to this information). Also grounds for a new custody case

Answer 6

You really need to get your daughter off of the zoloft ASAP. It is not approved by the FDA for use in children under 18. I began taking it when I was 14 (now 21) and it was the worst thing for me ever. I began having crazy thoughts of suicide and other things that would completely hurt me. I've now done research on the drug and realize there is no way for a child to handle a dose of seraltine at all. Take her to a child pyschiatrist. Most of these doctors are hessitant to put a child on any medications especially SSRI's. Also, see what you can do to red flag the doctor who prescribed it to your daughter. And finally tell your ex-wife to do some research before she puts her child on any more drugs.

Answer 7

Wow Chris, that's pretty scary. I would certainly take the 7 year old to the doctor of my choice for a another opinion. I feel that too many children are given drugs that they don't need. The only way I would even consider medication is if I could see for myself that the child was hyper and then maybe it could be only a behavior problem. Which some people don't want to deal with so they medicate.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, I too take anti-depressants, and it is very important to find a psychiatrist that really studys medicines, and isn't real quick to prescribe just anything. I prefer a DO (doctor of Osteopathic medicine) which believes in a holistic approach along with traditional medicine. It is scary to think a doctor would give Zoloft to a 7 year old. Please get another opinion.

Most children that are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, simply need to be challenged more, and have no problem concentrating when doing something they enjoy. Our society is too quick to pump medicine into people. Good luck.

Answer 9

hello, i am on psych meds right now for a couple of different things. i have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia since i was 6 years old along with ADHD and Bi Polar. I am on lithium geodon and an anxiety medicine called visterill. when i was younger i too went to counseling and i was about 8 years old. they talked about sticking me on medication then and they decided not too until i was 16. my mother and father are divorced and my mom tried to find out how i was doing from the doctor and the doc told her she couldn't tell her anything because of the patients right act or something like that.. i have seen young kids put on medications. i can think of two right now off the top of my head. they have behavior problems amongst other things. if you are not satisfied with what is being done then take the child to your own doctor and like others have said get a second opinion. its hard for children to be separated from their parents and she maybe suffering from depression because of the divorce. talk to your children and ask them yourself how they are be kind and gentle you are their father i am sure they can tell you what is going on with them. if you want to contact me you at [e-mail] that would be ok and we can talk about this more. good luck to you my friend and hope everything works out....

Answer 10

First off just because they are under 18 does NOT mean that they can discuss mental health issues with you. Your children have the same rights to privacy with they health provider as you do. Secondly since your ex-wife has the custody of the children she MAY be the one entitled to this information and not you. Again when it comes to health issues with children the parent does NOT always have the right to know unless the docotr believes that not telling the parent might place the child in harms way.