What, in your opinion, is the best and safest medication to treat depression in adolescents?

Question

Which anti-depressants have your adolescents been prescribed, and how did they work? Were there any dangerous side-effects?

If you are a healthcare professional and prescribe anti-depressants, what anti-depressants would you recommend, based on the least dangerous side-effects and effectiveness?

Answer 1

I'm 16 & i use to be a student councilor in my secondary school.

I must say the safest medication, and the best, to treat depression is no drugs!

Set his posure right. Get the teen to start talking, let him express his feelings and everything. Help him vent his frustrations and anger in a healthy manner. Help him see things in a new light. Let him know he has your support and he should talk to you about anything.

Lots of talking and interaction will lift him up. No side-effects.
Drugs may make the teen even more miserable. He will be thinking some of these.
"i'm pyshco & i'm taking medication"
"i'm not normal"
etc etc....

Answer 2

Sorry, I am not a Dr., but I do know each person reacts to medications differently. The bigger problem is children and adolescents have a greater risk of becoming more depressed and possibly suicidal. Once they start medication, they must see their Dr. on a regular basis and as a parent, you should be very aware of their mind set.

There are tons of different medications available, just make sure you have a good relationship with the psychiatrist.

I have to add, if there is someone who would benefit from medication and therapy, then that is the route you should take. If a child is suffering from depression or bi-polar, exercise will not magically solve it (it can help but is not the end all). The decision needs to be made between you, your child and your doctor.

Answer 3

That's an extremely variable thing. Different anti-depressants work differently on people and what works for one person may not work at all for someone else. Even doctors guess as to which anti-depressant to use for a particular set of symptoms. My daughter was prescribed low-dose Prozac a few years ago for trichotillomania, depression and anxiety. This happened to work for her symptoms without side effects, but may not for someone else. Prescribing for teens and children is even more iffy.

To be perfectly honest, the drug comapny who just gave the doctor their medication samples and literature (and lunch, concert tickets, all-expense paid vacation, etc.) might just be the one that is given to your child.

I would do some serious research online to determine what medications are given for your child's particular problem. What does the prescribing information say about giving it to teens? If you ask a psychiatrist, they will probably admit that it's always an educated guess as to what medication might work for an individual. That's why there's so much changing of prescriptions when people are trying different psychiatric medications - trying to find the right one at the right dose can take some time.

Answer 4

I am a healthcare provider and find that adolescents respond well the to class of antidepressants called the 'SSRI' category. Prozac is in this class as well as paxil,celexa,lexapro, and zoloft. Side effects are simular. Each healthcare provider usually has one they prefer to start with. I would like to tell you that despite the bad press that these medications get...they are effective for a lot of people, including teens and can make thier lives whole again. My own daughter became depressed and even had a suicide attempt. She was started on Prozac and counciling and within two months she was herself again. She is maintained on Prozac and has some occational complaints of fine hand tremors....but it is a small price to pay to have my beautiful daughter again.

Answer 5

do not take drugs! they'll make anyone feel 5000 times worse, trust me. they have the worst side effects. herbal remedies are best. st. john's wort is just as effective with hardly any side effects. i highly recommend it!... really helped me. look it up!
=)

Answer 6

I would have to say EFFEXOR. My psychiatrist buddy says he starts his patients on EFFEXOR for a 6 month trial.
I have taken EFFEXOR for about a year now after being on PROZAC, WELLBUTRIN, and CELEXA. I haven't noticed any side effects. Ask your doctor about it.

Answer 7

Drugs are crap. Get them involved in some sort of physical activity and take them to see a nutritionist.

Answer 8

Exercise

And a purpose to delicate themselves too.

Answer 9

not alot of them cause antidepressant meds cause suicidal thoughts feelings when a teen on them