Weaning out of medicines from Depression for a boy of 16 years?

Question

He was studying 10th standard last year(2006). He had an attack of Typhoid in October 2006. He was not able to attend school for around 5 days. After attending school he found that he was way behind his friends in his studies. (He was in the top 5 ranks upto 9th standard). He had a fear of exams and he was afraid to attend Practical exams. Some how we persuaded him to fight it out, but he was not willing to accept the moral support. He was adamant and aggressive in his behaviour where we came to a conclusion that he must have the support of medicines. The medicines were started in Dec'2005 and it was continued till Jan'2007. So far no problem, but still he is not have interest in studies. Now on Feb 1st of 2007 he had a mild attack of Chicken pox. The doctor had recommended us to stop the medicines until he is cured from Chicken pox. So far he is fine without medicines, though he has little tantrums and the teenage behaviour's and aggression. Can we continue without medicines. Suggest

Answer 1

You're supposed to tapper of the meds, but it's a little late for that now as he's been of them for 17 days already. He's well past the withdrawal stage at this point, so there's no physiological reason for him to go back on them. The only issues are the psychiatric reasons he was on them in the first place. If he's doing fine without them then there's no reason to go back on them, but that should be assessed by the doctor that prescribed them in the first place. If the medications were helping, and he was doing better on them than he is now, then I'd recommend starting them again, after talking to the doctor that prescribed them.

Incidentally, if the doctor told you to just stop giving him the meds entirely, without weaning off them, when he got the chicken pox, I'd recommend not going back to that doctor. Stopping antidepressants suddenly can cause significant and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Stopping antidepressents puts additional strain on the body, and is a really stupid way to treat an illness. Antidepressants generally shouldn't be stopped without tappering off, and an unrelated illness is probably the absolute WORST time to stop medication.

Also, chicken pox is generally an infection of early childhood. It's rare for a 16-year-old to contract the infection, especially as there's been a vaccine available for well over a decade. Has he ever had chicken pox before? Or did he have the vaccine? If he's had either the vaccine or the disease in the past, you might want to take him to an immunologist as it's quite an unusual infection for a teenager to have and could be indicative of an underlying problem.

Answer 2

I mean, it's possible that some parents are okay with it. My parents never really preached abstinence. They just told my brother, sister, and I to always be safe about it. They've let my girlfriends come over and go in my room alone with the door shut since I was 15. Neither my brother nor my sister had kids until they were ready. I'm 18, almost 19, and it's never caused any problems.

Answer 3

If he has been off of his medication since the first of February and you don't want to put him back on it, then I don't see where there would be a problem in continuing without it since you say it hasn't helped him get motivated in his studies. If he has trouble handling his emotions and seems to not be able to accept that he cannot be perfect, then maybe you should seek a good counselor that will help him cope. The teen years are full of moodiness and being "hard headed", but continue to encourage him and support him. You can always talk to the doctor about putting him back on the medication if you feel you need to.

Answer 4

I think its better to stop the medcins as u said it didn't help and morover the doctor suggested. After he has recovered from chicken-pox i would suggest you to take your son to a good yoga teacher or start some yogic asanas to boost your son's mental health. It may seem absurd but it will help your son to a great extent. Its good for all members. You can start the yogic sessions in your home itself from the show of Guru Ramdev Baba on India TV at 7:30am and afternoon at 1:30 pm. Force him to do that, it will show positive results within two months if done strictly...Check your son doen't start the habit of smoking out of mental hazards.May God cure him soon..

Answer 5

Only a qualified physician can make this decision taking advice from a know it all novice here can cause severe damage up to death, If I live to be 100 years old I will never understand why snot nose children do the things they do in yahoo!

Answer 6

You should talk to the doctor that first prescibed the meds, because this doctor may not be an expert in them. Usually you have to taper off depression meds.

Answer 7

you could because the meds may help in one part of the body and destroys another part