My 11 yo DS has ADHD and once we added Zoloft in addition to the Concerta, everything got MUCH better. Now my 12 yo DD is dealing with some anxiety and I'm going to bring up maybe starting her on it as well at her well visit in April.
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Mar 28, 2023 10:42:21 GMT -5
My 11 year old dd just started Zoloft about 2 weeks ago for OCD anxiety (perfectionist/just right specific issues). It's too soon to tell if it's actually helping at the starting dose.
We ended up in the ER due to the suicide attempt, which landed them in a short term behavioral health facility so we got then there.
The ER will definitely be the quickest route and it's not a silly reason to go. It still might take 24 + hours depending on how busy they are, but that's better than 6 months.
styme46 , we will go if we need to but his pediatrician said it would be traumatizing and didn't recommend it. We have an appointment with a counselor at 1:30 (he's home with us now) and then we'll take the next steps based on what he (psychologist) says, but he can't write an Rx.
Post by gretchenindisguise on Mar 28, 2023 11:46:58 GMT -5
We are lucky that our pediatrician staffs a behavioral health doctor. She’s not a psychiatrist, but has more training than a pediatrician.
In lieu of that, I would ask pediatrician to start a medication while you await an appointment with a psychiatrist. If you’ve tried a medicine that has been successful, I would start with it. If you don’t have a family history to go off, talk with doctor to decide which is best - my guess is zoloft or lexapro.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Mar 28, 2023 13:15:39 GMT -5
DD (13) was prescribed fluoxetine for anxiety/depression, but refused to take it.
I want to share that we did end up taking her to the ER several months ago when things were really bad (self-harm, talk of suicide), and though it was difficult (and they ended up releasing her because she tested positive for COVID, ugh, and couldn't go to the adolescent treatment center), I don't regret doing so. It wasn't an immediate fix, but we all needed help.
Post by InBetweenDays on Mar 28, 2023 14:11:14 GMT -5
DD suffers more from anxiety than depression, but she has been on Sertraline for a year and it has really helped. She has been seeing a therapist for a few years and she was the one who recommended anxiety medication. DD's general practitioner was able to prescribe it for her after a video visit.
styme46 , we will go if we need to but his pediatrician said it would be traumatizing and didn't recommend it. We have an appointment with a counselor at 1:30 (he's home with us now) and then we'll take the next steps based on what he (psychologist) says, but he can't write an Rx.
I'm glad you were able to get him in today with someone! I hope he gets the help he needs.
DD is 14 and has been on a low dose of Citalopram for a little over a year. When they were 11-12 they went thru some major anxiety issues and had many panic attacks. Those have all resolved themselves with therapy and meds, but we still maintain a low dose for mild anxiety and depression.
Our pedi wouldn’t prescribe anything without an evaluation, even though DD has seen 3 counselors in as many years. But, I think she’d have prescribed if a psychologist had done an evaluation. She actually referred us to a psychiatrist within the network (Mercy) and we were able to get an appointment for a 2 hour evaluation within about a month.
She had also suggested LifeStance, and I was able to get an appointment there in a similar amount of time, but then realized they weren’t in-network for our insurance. And seeing as I just saw the price of the evaluation and we have a HDHP, I’m glad the amount is at least going to the deductible!
jlt19, we looked into LifeStance this a.m. - thank you for that rec. Mercy won't take anyone without a recommendation from a Mercy doctor (we're seen at St. Luke's). SSM isn't taking new patients at all. WashU/BJC has a six-month wait. We called his pedi and they confirmed they will Rx as a "bridge" on advice from the psychologist. But we still need to bridge to somewhere. What a mess.
A lot of pediatricians will prescribe, ours does not though (she just doesn’t feel she’s enough of an expert). For us, DS2’s therapist (a PsyD so can’t prescribe) works with a psychiatric nurse he referred us to, it’s been a really easy process - we meet with her every 2 months just as a check in on how he’s doing/side effects etc but no therapy from her. Hopegully your therapist or pedi will have a good recommendation for you!
DS is 9 and has ADHD but was experiencing really uncontrollable moods and behaviors. We added Prozac and it seems to help calm him down. We recently upped his dose and his appetite increased but he’s very skinny so this a positive for us.