Mental medications prescribed to children

[Star]

When our daughter started to run away, the first thing we wanted to do is find out why and how we can fix this problem. We took her to counselling where she talked to several counsellors and a psychiatrist. She was 13 years old.

The psychiatrist talked to her with myself in the room for 1 hour and decided she should be on redillin. I was a little shocked at this because my daughter was nowhere near being hyper so I refused the redillin. I told him absolutely no redillin. So, instead, he put her on an anti-depressant. What the two have in common is beyond me but I went along with it in hopes that it would stop her from running away. I jsut wanted my baby safe.

When that kind of anti-depressant didn't work, he then put her on Paxil (stronger anti-depressant), an anti-mood swing pill and an anti-psychotic pill. She was taking all 3 of these pills daily. Twice a day! She got more depressed, more moody and gained about 30 pounds which I might add didn't help at all with the depression. We kept her on these meds for about 1 month then I decided to take her off of them completely and flushed them all down the toilet. I told the doctor that I didn't want her on any meds anymore and that we needed to get down to the root of the problem instead of masking it with meds. He didn't agree with me but went along with it anyway. He never did get down to the root of the problem. I don't think he ever does with any of his patients. He likes to write prescriptions for everyone instead.

When we moved to a bigger city in search of a better doctor for our daughter, she was assessed by a very good psychologist. This doctor found her in sound mind. Nothing wrong with her mentally. There have been 2 more doctors since then and they found her to be of sound mind also.

I don't appreciate the first doctor giving my daughter "brain chemical meds" like he did. I think that could've screwed her up big time if I didn't demand to have her taken off the pills. My daughter isn't running away anymore and with proper sleep (and she needs the sleep or she's impossible!), she seems to function normally.

I think a lot of these doctors are too quick to prescribe these heavy meds to kids. They don't take the time to find out the root of the child's problem before giving them these harmful meds. That doctor told us he was going to treat our daughter as if she had bi-polar to see if it works. Never a diagnosis, just treating her just in case kind of thing. Not impressed!!

So now, our daughter has to go back to counselling so that she can someday become primary caregiver to her baby. I got a letter in the mail yesterday that they want to send her to that same doctor that put her on these brain meds. I don't think so! I'll be calling them up and demanding to have a psychologist talk to ur daughter. Anyone but him!

Have any of you had to deal with doctors prescribing these meds to your kids? Were they diagnosed? Were they totally tested for everything first? If so, did it help?

[darkangelism]

That doctor is a scumball. He is probably getting kickbacks for writing perscriptions

[Merika]

DA is right....there DOES seem to be a lot of doctors out there with Crap for Brains!

I went through something similar when Sn00py was diagnosed with ADD last year. Luckily, the school counsellor had the same type of behavior with her son at the age and suggested we help him focus without putting him on medication. There are just too many negative effects from those meds which are routinely given to children these days.

Maybe some kids ARE a little hyper or have problems focusing....but it would take a really bad case before I would want my kid on brain altering medication.

If your daughter is doing well.... I don't think she should have to take anything. If she's feeling a little depressed....that could be from post partum depression and not necessarily a long term problem.

I agree with you....I would ask for ANOTHER doctor and also consider getting a second opinion even from that point. People managed for centuries without having to dope themselves up on lots of meds. I really think we are an over medicated society.

[Star]

I totally agree. So many kids are on meds these days it's pathetic. Schools to day expect kids to sit straight, don't move and look straight ahead. Kids are kids and they figgit around. I couldn't sit still when i was in school either! I'd move around in my chair, lay my head on the desk, back up again....didn't mean I had a medical problem; I was a kid. A normal kid.

The school suggested to put one of my nephews on redillin and my sis in law did for a month. He is a bit hyper but so what? The redillin only made him higher then a kite (which by the way the drugs that my daughter was on also made her big time high) and moody. She took him off and changed schools. He hasn't had a problem since. Most times it's the teachers that aren't good that suggest these meds to parents. It's gross!

These drugs are serious and addictive. My daughter will not be put on any drugs. She's not depressed now either. She's being a normal teenage girl right now. I know the root of the problem now so I'll be dammed if a doctor will suggest putting her any drugs. and she will not be seeing that idiot that calls himself a psychiatrist either.

I did research on redillin a couple years ago. do you know that you might as well give your kid cocaine? It has the same effect. Kids are getting addicted to this and teenagers are selling the stuff on the streets! and this is the type of med prescribed by doctors to our kids. That's insane!

[Merika]

There has been a big deal in the US where school's want the authority to test all kids for ADD and such without parental approval.

I got a little miffed when they gave my daughter the TB shot immunization and skin check at school without my approval.

I'm beginning to understand why more and more parents are leaning towards private schooling. I don't think I would WANT a child in this retarded school system 10 years from now.

Ofcourse in your daughter's case....I guess if they precribed it for her....doesn't mean she has to take it.

[Meanon]

That is appalling. A child that young should only be prescribed drugs like that as a last resort. The anti-psychotics inparticular should only be prescribed for signs of psychosis. You would have known she was very seriously mentally ill if they were necessary. There is a tendency to over-prescribe in the US generally. Many drugs have not had full clinical trials for children. I would explain that you feel the Doctor treated your daughter badly and ask for a referral to another Doctor.

Many people who have counselling will need no medication, they are not mentally ill. They just need help to work through their problems and get their lives back on track. As there is no suggestion that your daughter is in any way ill, the issue of drug treatment should not arise.

[Stone]

My son is on Anti- Depressants and he is only 4 years old. on the other hand he had a very tramatic experience happen to him ( his stroke) and that effected the left temporial lobe of his brain where behavior comes from. He is also treated for ADHD so am I. We couldn't take care of him if he the meds wern't avialable because of his Violent behavior. Hopefully when he is fully recovered if that ever happends he will be taken off of them.

[Star]

When the behaviour is violent and the child has been tested for everything then yes, perhaps the drugs are the answer as a last resort. My daughter had no violent behaviour that would require meds like the ones she was prescribed; especially that anti-psychotic one! Won't happen again that's for sure.

[Stone]

Is there any way you can report that doctor? I am sure he's prescribing to many other children that don't need it.

[Merika]

I think Noah's case is entirely different Stoneheather. Based on his medical situation... I'm sure he has many frustrations....as well as having to cope physically with a handicap.

As Meanon was saying though....in the US (and apparently in Canada as well according to Star) there is too much mind altering medication given to children who simply do not need it. To make it worse, the school system or the state thinks they have a right to make these calls above the heads of the parents involved.

My Mom was a high school teacher. She had several kids who were on various medications. She felt that most of them needed more chores at home to use up some of that excess energy and perhaps a swift kick in the butt.

I agree with Meanon that most people may need help in dealing with their problems or modify some of their behavior.....but not everyone needs to be on medication.

[Star]

Originally Posted by Stoneheather

Is there any way you can report that doctor? I am sure he's prescribing to many other children that don't need it.

They want this doctor to be krystal's doctor again!! It's not going to happen. I know this doctor. Way back when I was looking for a psychiatrist to talk to about my childhood, I went to see him and the first thing he did was pull out his prescription pad and give me some anti-depressants. I wasn't even depressed!! I just needed to talk about things is all. I refused his prescription and left the office and went to see someone else....someone who I might add never wanted to give me any meds cause i didn't need them. so, this doctor is not going to talk to my kid again! I'll make sure of that!

It's a huge problem here in canada also with the meds. teachers think that every kid that can't sit still need to be on redillin. it's sickening! One thing they can't do is overide a parent's desision. Teachers can't make diagnosis either, they can only suggest it to the parent and then the parent takes the child to a specialist. That'll be the day a teacher overides my rights!

[Merika]

I think a lot of doctors in that field use medication as an easy way out.....rather than listening and working with their patients. They shouldn't go into that particular field if they aren't interested in applying the psychology they've learned....rather than just the prescription cop out.

[Star]

I agree totally. It's the children and the seniors that suffer from those types of doctors. it's sad.

[Duke]

There's a number of articles that cover exactly this type of material. I'll find some and post them on the news page. Essentially it's the same as it is for everyone these days, it's easier to medicate than to council someone, much quicker and cheaper too. The best part is that the doctor still gets the same fee but since he/she spends less time with patients throughout the day they can see more patients and make even more money.

[dogula]

This was in the news a few months ago. I think it was the English health ministry or whatevery they call it. Something about how prozac can cause depression or worsen it in younger individuals.