Guest guest Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 What is seretonin syndrome? Hi from Australia Hi, Both my sons have OCD. The eldest was in hospital for 4 weeks as he had a very bad episode where he thought he was dying.They put him on prozac but it made him gain weight which was bad for him as gaining weight is one of his OCD worries. He constantly exercises and watches what he eats.He is very obsessive about his body image. The doctors a week ago put him on Abilify and he started to develop Seretonin syndrome. They have taken him of it and he is on nothing at the moment. He had a week previously with no meds and I found him the best he has ever been. I am really scared about him going on anything else as after reading about Seretonin Syndrome I am scared the medications may kill my son.He has had bad reactions to everything they have tried.What do we do??? Kerrie Our list archives, bookmarks, files, and chat feature may be accessed at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// . Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D., Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D., and Dan Geller, M.D. Our list moderators are Birkhan, Castle, Fowler, Kathy Hammes, Joye, Kathy Mac, Gail Pesses, and Kathy . Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list owner, at louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Hi Kerrie, We've had several parents here over the years with eating/exercise issues related to OCD, hope one of them sees your note and can offer some suggestions that helped with their child. With the serotonin syndrome - had he just gone off the Prozac when switched to Abilify? Could the dosage have been too high? There are, as you know, several OCD meds. Some people have to trial a few of them before they find one that works for them. Sometimes a liquid medication might be best as to control dosage a bit better for beginning (instead of cutting up the pills, which parents here have done also). How is he doing now so far as his OCD, motivation to get through this? Do you think he could benefit from therapy alone, no meds or is he still too severe right now? I'm so sorry things are so rough right now. When my son (15) was so severe a few years ago, there were times I wondered about possible hospitalization. But he made it through and things are so much better now. I know your son will reach that point too! > > Hi, > Both my sons have OCD. The eldest was in hospital for 4 weeks as he > had a very bad episode where he thought he was dying.They put him on > prozac but it made him gain weight which was bad for him as gaining > weight is one of his OCD worries. He constantly exercises and Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Hi Kerrie, welcome to the list! Wow you have your hands full I can see... I don't understand how your son could develop serotonin syndrome from being on Abilify. This is an atypical antipsychotic and not an SSRI which are usually associated with this problem. Was he on Prozac until recently? Prozac has a long half-life so that may explain why you have not noticed any changes with him off it this past week. Doctors sometimes prescribe Prozac temporarily to ease people off of other SSRIs without flu and etc. type symptoms. SSRIs are the first-line medications suggested to treat OCD in children. Many of us on this list have had success in raising our childrens' SSRI doses very slowly and gradually toward the target dose. We've had heroic parents shaving pills into tiny doses, and increasing liquid SSRIs drop by drop over time! The advantage of this is that many times, side effects can be avoided. The downside is, if a child is suffering, this approach takes much longer to get to an effective treatment dose and symptom relief. Does your son do Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention? This one type of therapy is the first suggested treatment for OCD in children, and is the only type effective in reducing and eliminating OCD symptoms--obsessions and compulsions. For many kids, this therapy can control OCD symptoms without the need for medication. Other kids, such as my own, need an SSRI plus this therapy to be comfortable and happy. Take care, Kathy R. in Indiana USA ----- Original Message ----- > Hi, > Both my sons have OCD. The eldest was in hospital for 4 weeks as he > had a very bad episode where he thought he was dying.They put him on > prozac but it made him gain weight which was bad for him as gaining > weight is one of his OCD worries. He constantly exercises and > watches what he eats.He is very obsessive about his body image. The > doctors a week ago put him on Abilify and he started to develop > Seretonin syndrome. They have taken him of it and he is on nothing > at the moment. He had a week previously with no meds and I found him > the best he has ever been. I am really scared about him going on > anything else as after reading about Seretonin Syndrome I am scared > the medications may kill my son.He has had bad reactions to > everything they have tried.What do we do??? > Kerrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Hi Kerrie, welcome to the list! Wow you have your hands full I can see... I don't understand how your son could develop serotonin syndrome from being on Abilify. This is an atypical antipsychotic and not an SSRI which are usually associated with this problem. Was he on Prozac until recently? Prozac has a long half-life so that may explain why you have not noticed any changes with him off it this past week. Doctors sometimes prescribe Prozac temporarily to ease people off of other SSRIs without flu and etc. type symptoms. SSRIs are the first-line medications suggested to treat OCD in children. Many of us on this list have had success in raising our childrens' SSRI doses very slowly and gradually toward the target dose. We've had heroic parents shaving pills into tiny doses, and increasing liquid SSRIs drop by drop over time! The advantage of this is that many times, side effects can be avoided. The downside is, if a child is suffering, this approach takes much longer to get to an effective treatment dose and symptom relief. Does your son do Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention? This one type of therapy is the first suggested treatment for OCD in children, and is the only type effective in reducing and eliminating OCD symptoms--obsessions and compulsions. For many kids, this therapy can control OCD symptoms without the need for medication. Other kids, such as my own, need an SSRI plus this therapy to be comfortable and happy. Take care, Kathy R. in Indiana USA ----- Original Message ----- > Hi, > Both my sons have OCD. The eldest was in hospital for 4 weeks as he > had a very bad episode where he thought he was dying.They put him on > prozac but it made him gain weight which was bad for him as gaining > weight is one of his OCD worries. He constantly exercises and > watches what he eats.He is very obsessive about his body image. The > doctors a week ago put him on Abilify and he started to develop > Seretonin syndrome. They have taken him of it and he is on nothing > at the moment. He had a week previously with no meds and I found him > the best he has ever been. I am really scared about him going on > anything else as after reading about Seretonin Syndrome I am scared > the medications may kill my son.He has had bad reactions to > everything they have tried.What do we do??? > Kerrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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