Re: Anafranil Comments

[Guest guest]

Is this customary dosage for depression? Because for OCD it is usually

prescribed in slightly higher dosages...also the variety my son is on is a long

acting one. I don't have the bottle, but now I am worried as he takes 1 1/2

of the 25 mg.

His new doctor isn't an OCD specialist...although he is a well respected

child psychiatrist. The OCD specialists seem to be trained in the meds,

however

other psychiatrists do have knowledge and experience. I did speak to an OCD

specialist from UCLA, now in their own private practice, and she said Paxil

would not have been her first choice, but she has not met with my son, and

doesn't know about his anxiety.

The anxiety seems to be his greatest issue. It is sad that the brightest

kids are the ones who seem to have the learning disabilities and other anxiety

disorders. This is very true of my son. While he has never been thoroughly

tested as gifted, he was 'identified' as gifted by our school district when

he was in the 3rd grade. He has always done well enough in school, and

brilliantly in anything history or politically related. He is in honors and AP

classes in English, history, French. But he isn't doing well at all this year.

I don't think it is because the classes are more challenging, I think it is

because this drive for perfectionism just got the better of him.

You are fortunate that your son is open with you. Do talk to him to see if

the OCD is getting in the way of the freedom he has when approaching his art.

It could be that this is a national contest, and so the stakes are higher,

and if he was only doing art for art's sake, it could be different. I have

to think that this is a mountain we didn't know was around the bend, and

somehow we will find a way around it. He may not go to college on schedule, he

may not head to the college of his choice in the beginning, he may live at home

or at our apartment in NYC...where my husband commutes from. It may just

have to be a different road, but my greatest hope is that the road will lead

him to his dreams, which is Washington, D.C., political activism, think tank,

history teacher, who knows.

Now, I am wondering if the dose should not have been increased. We did it

at my suggestion, yet the doctor thought it was worth a try. From anything I

have seen he has not had any side effects. And I will not allow him to come

off quickly. You are right, though, the doctor probably has used this

successfully for depression in children and adults, and that's why he chose to

use

it. I will give him a call. Neurotic, me?????

YES! What has been studied in children other than Prozac????

Judith

[Guest guest]

Yes, it does help. What was her dosage??? It helps alot, because all we

want as parents is to know that we are not hurting our children, and so much of

this is unknown and experimental. As long as he is OK, safe, I am OK.

Thank you very much!

Judith

[Guest guest]

I am smiling, too! He is not comfortable talking with me about his secret

life, he sees the doctor twice a week. I don't know what he means by 'a

little', other than it must give him some relief. I am sure the doctor knows,

and would take him off the med if it were not helping him, but you are right,

takes months, so too soon to tell. All I know is that my son is taking it.

He is very mature. He takes his own meds. I remind him, just to make myself

feel better. I cut the pills in half though. He stopped taking Zoloft on

his own, because he said it didn't do anything. He is taking the Paxil, so he

must feel something. Right now he is out of town visiting friends in

Philadelphia, being the 'big boy', and when he comes back I will ask him, or

sit in

for a few minutes with he and his doctor, and that way I do get answers.

However, I think it is very important that he be allowed to confide in his

doctor. He is that kind of guy. Such a sweet, neat kid! I am trying to give

his

'teen angst' the privacy it deserves!!!!

Judith

[Guest guest]

Grade six level, when he should be in grade one? He could be highly gifted.

It might not have anything to do with OCD. My guy may be gifted, certainly

in some areas, but not like yours. Have you considered having him tested,

as this is a child who really might belong in a school geared toward the

highly gifted. It is probably this that sets him apart, although I am only

taking

a stab at a guess.

Judith

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/30/2004 7:17:41 PM Pacific Standard Time,

k777thorpe@... writes:

then again, I'm not

sure I'm capable of suprise anymore this year . . . maybe next year.

Oy.

Oh, I am with you on this one. This hit hard when my guy went back to

school in the llth grade this year. Out of the blue, really. I think the one

common denominator here is that we are parents who have set out to educate

ourselves, and are committed to helping and understanding our children. I

tried

to help a young girl who posted to an aol board, that she was sure she had

OCD, but was afraid to tell her parents, as they would think she was 'nuts' or

on drugs. I emailed her to try to approach her parents, and researched for

a doctor in her area.

My son came to me! He had a doctor appointment within days. Don't like it.

Didn't want it. Can think of lots of other things to go into debt over,

other than doctor bills! Surprised? You bet! Has this altered the landscape

around here? Absolutely! Have I spend days under the covers when I couldn't

get him to go to school??? Oh, yes again. Have I cried? Is the grass

green. Give up? Never. We will take a different route to his future, and if

it

means taking time out for doctors and meds, well, that's what it will be. I

can only be as happy as my children. Joined at the hip? Co dependent?

Yes, but devoted at all costs.

[Guest guest]

The OC Foundation says:

Paroxetine [Paw-ROX-uh-teen]

— (Paxil ®) [PACKS-il]

Customary dose range: 10 to 30 milligrams/day.

Paroxetine is another of the selective SRI medications, quite similar

to citalopram (Anafranil), escitalopram (lexapro), fluoxetine

(prozac), fluvoxamine (luvox), and sertraline (zoloft).

Paroxetine has been shown to be effective for OCD in adults, but it

has not been systematically studied in children with the disorder.

Since your son is 16 . . . is this close enough to adult and far

enough from child to qualify as " effective for OCD in adults " ? I'm

partial to anafranil myself - since this is " quite similar " it sounds

like a good choice.

My son hasn't yet been diagnosed (officially) or begun on any course

of treatment so I'm learning all I can real quick!

After reading about your son's perfectionism stopping him from

starting - and after spending the afternoon with my son trying to get

him to spend an hour or two throwing together a scuplture he can

enter into a national art contest (he just couldn't seem to take the

steps to do it!) - I'm going to talk to him tomorrow about if

perfectionism is stopping him . . . he also is extremely bright - his

school grades have suffered for years, but until now, his art was

always right on target and flowed from his hands like water . . .

this would be the ultimate insult if ocd has taken even that from him.

> Well, at first he was on Zoloft, which seemingly did nothing, and

he just

> stopped taking it. Then, We switched doctors, and this is a doctor

who also

> does talk therapy, and he chose Paxil as it is a bit sedating.

His reasoning

> was that my son was so anxious, and had all those teen issues

besides OCD,

> which was diagnosed as 'moderate', although I am not entirely clear

other than

> some contamination issues, making lists, etc....he would rather

confide in the

> doctor than me. He is 16, and filled with the usual self doubts,

> insecurities over his looks, etc. The anxiety and perfectionism is

what was causing

> him the most problems. Just couldn't bring himself to put pen to

paper, type

> more than an opening sentence. So, doctor wanted to relax him

more than wind

> him up. What I have read about Paxil is mostly that it is

difficult to come

> off of, but if that day comes I understand they counteract

any 'withdrawal'

> by giving Prozac. I think that is my only concern. As long as I,

and the

> doctor, don't feel he is in any danger of hurting himself, and we

don't, well I

> will go along with it.

> It is a difficult decision for all of us to use Meds. But I do

believe

> strongly that under the right supervision, these meds can be life

enhancing.

> Nobody here posts that their child is on Paxil. That's another

concern. Why

> only my guy?

>

> Depression, while it presents itself from time to time, isn't his

main

> problem. It is so difficult to know what will work, won't, etc.

His dose of

> Paxil is still very low, up to 37 mg in the long acting version (I

think, bottle

> isn't right here) but he is taking it and says it 'helps

alittle'. We just

> upped the dose from 25 mg. He only started on it in

October/November. My son

> is 16 going on 30, incredibly bright and aware of world events,

very aware

> of what is going on with himself. He was only diagnosed last May,

when he

> came to me and said he had OCD. He had it for years, no doubt,

looking back

> there were some signals. I just thought, as he, that he was

quirky.

>

> The big problem for him is that this has hit in 11th grade. His

grades have

> dropped. That's OK. I need a healthy child, more than I need to

be helping

> with college apps. Still, don't know what will happen with him

school wise

> if somehow the anxiety doesn't subside. He is in a private school

that

> really isn't set up for children with big issues. They are being

considerate, but

> can only go so far. After the new year, he will have all those

emotional

> and cognitive educational tests, just to see if this plays into

it. Pretty

> late to be discovering these things, but better late than never.

> Wow, it came out of the blue, and when school began really reared

it's ugly

> head.

> So, the object I think is to calm him and relax him.

>

> Judith

>

> >Why was paxil chosen for your son and what are the things you

have

> >read about

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> Nobody here posts that their child is on Paxil. That's another concern. Why

> only my guy?

>

My daughter took Paxil for about 4 years and had a good experience with

it until she experienced the " Paxil poop-out " i.e., Paxil often stops

working well after a number of years. Others wrote about the same

experience so we just tried another drug. Now she's on Luvox and

Anafranil. We started her on the Luvox while she was tapering off the

Paxil and she had no problem with the transition.

Hope that helps.

Dana in NC

[Guest guest]

interesting,,you caught my attention here because my son is in grade one and

at a grade 6 level ,he clearly does not fit in with his peers, , this is a

common factor?

Re: Re: Anafranil Comments

>

> Is this customary dosage for depression? Because for OCD it is usually

> prescribed in slightly higher dosages...also the variety my son is on is

a long

> acting one. I don't have the bottle, but now I am worried as he takes 1

1/2

> of the 25 mg.

>

> His new doctor isn't an OCD specialist...although he is a well respected

> child psychiatrist. The OCD specialists seem to be trained in the meds,

however

> other psychiatrists do have knowledge and experience. I did speak to an

OCD

> specialist from UCLA, now in their own private practice, and she said

Paxil

> would not have been her first choice, but she has not met with my son, and

> doesn't know about his anxiety.

> The anxiety seems to be his greatest issue. It is sad that the brightest

> kids are the ones who seem to have the learning disabilities and other

anxiety

> disorders. This is very true of my son. While he has never been

thoroughly

> tested as gifted, he was 'identified' as gifted by our school district

when

> he was in the 3rd grade. He has always done well enough in school, and

> brilliantly in anything history or politically related. He is in honors

and AP

> classes in English, history, French. But he isn't doing well at all this

year.

> I don't think it is because the classes are more challenging, I think it

is

> because this drive for perfectionism just got the better of him.

>

> You are fortunate that your son is open with you. Do talk to him to see

if

> the OCD is getting in the way of the freedom he has when approaching his

art.

> It could be that this is a national contest, and so the stakes are

higher,

> and if he was only doing art for art's sake, it could be different. I

have

> to think that this is a mountain we didn't know was around the bend, and

> somehow we will find a way around it. He may not go to college on

schedule, he

> may not head to the college of his choice in the beginning, he may live

at home

> or at our apartment in NYC...where my husband commutes from. It may just

> have to be a different road, but my greatest hope is that the road will

lead

> him to his dreams, which is Washington, D.C., political activism, think

tank,

> history teacher, who knows.

>

> Now, I am wondering if the dose should not have been increased. We did

it

> at my suggestion, yet the doctor thought it was worth a try. From

anything I

> have seen he has not had any side effects. And I will not allow him to

come

> off quickly. You are right, though, the doctor probably has used this

> successfully for depression in children and adults, and that's why he

chose to use

> it. I will give him a call. Neurotic, me?????

> YES! What has been studied in children other than Prozac????

>

> Judith

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Maybe the brightest kids tend to have the brighter parents who think

things through and take action more often . . . maybe the brightest

kids display a greater contrast between before and after. Maybe

their parents are more likely to be sitting in front of their

computer, seeking out and finding helpful message boards, debating

the pros and cons of their children's meds privately, with the

doctors and with other parents.

My son has so many bright friends who don't have a scrap of ocd - I

would be surprised if it was a common theme . . . then again, I'm not

sure I'm capable of suprise anymore this year . . . maybe next year.

Oy.

Hearing those of you say how long it can take and how worthwhile the

result can be is soooo reassuring, I'm already getting worn out.

> interesting,,you caught my attention here because my son is in

grade one and

> at a grade 6 level ,he clearly does not fit in with his peers, ,

this is a

> common factor?

> Re: Re: Anafranil Comments

>

>

> >

> > Is this customary dosage for depression? Because for OCD it is

usually

> > prescribed in slightly higher dosages...also the variety my son

is on is

> a long

> > acting one. I don't have the bottle, but now I am worried as he

takes 1

> 1/2

> > of the 25 mg.

> >

> > His new doctor isn't an OCD specialist...although he is a well

respected

> > child psychiatrist. The OCD specialists seem to be trained in

the meds,

> however

> > other psychiatrists do have knowledge and experience. I did

speak to an

> OCD

> > specialist from UCLA, now in their own private practice, and she

said

> Paxil

> > would not have been her first choice, but she has not met with my

son, and

> > doesn't know about his anxiety.

> > The anxiety seems to be his greatest issue. It is sad that the

brightest

> > kids are the ones who seem to have the learning disabilities and

other

> anxiety

> > disorders. This is very true of my son. While he has never been

> thoroughly

> > tested as gifted, he was 'identified' as gifted by our school

district

> when

> > he was in the 3rd grade. He has always done well enough in

school, and

> > brilliantly in anything history or politically related. He is

in honors

> and AP

> > classes in English, history, French. But he isn't doing well at

all this

> year.

> > I don't think it is because the classes are more challenging, I

think it

> is

> > because this drive for perfectionism just got the better of him.

> >

> > You are fortunate that your son is open with you. Do talk to him

to see

> if

> > the OCD is getting in the way of the freedom he has when

approaching his

> art.

> > It could be that this is a national contest, and so the stakes

are

> higher,

> > and if he was only doing art for art's sake, it could be

different. I

> have

> > to think that this is a mountain we didn't know was around the

bend, and

> > somehow we will find a way around it. He may not go to college

on

> schedule, he

> > may not head to the college of his choice in the beginning, he

may live

> at home

> > or at our apartment in NYC...where my husband commutes from. It

may just

> > have to be a different road, but my greatest hope is that the

road will

> lead

> > him to his dreams, which is Washington, D.C., political

activism, think

> tank,

> > history teacher, who knows.

> >

> > Now, I am wondering if the dose should not have been increased.

We did

> it

> > at my suggestion, yet the doctor thought it was worth a try. From

> anything I

> > have seen he has not had any side effects. And I will not allow

him to

> come

> > off quickly. You are right, though, the doctor probably has used

this

> > successfully for depression in children and adults, and that's

why he

> chose to use

> > it. I will give him a call. Neurotic, me?????

> > YES! What has been studied in children other than Prozac????

> >

> > Judith

> >

> >

> >