Guest guest Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Kathrine My dd was 13 when diagnosed and was also put on Prozac (generic brand). It was a life-saving drug, not only for our daughter, but our entire family. We noticed a small change (improvement) right away. Within a couple weeks - even more improvement. Her psychiatrist told us that S...L...O...W.. is the key when increasing dosage. She started on 10mg and only went up 5mg in 4 - 6 weeks. She told us that the body must be given a minimum of 4 - 6 weeks to adjust and show improvement (or otherwise) and stable out before changing the dosage again. It worked wonders for my daughter. Her highest dose was 20mg. She stayed there for a few months, then was determined to get off meds. However, the meds were what gave her the ability to manage the OCD and fight it back. She is now 18yrs and away at college in Nashville! She is doing GREAT. We count our blessings every day. Good luck to you and your daughter. LT In a message dated 10/1/2009 7:48:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, katherinedobbs@... writes: My dd9 is finally on a med, Prozac 10mg once daily starting tomorrow. The psych appointment was moved to another 3 weeks away, so her ped doc prescribed it. Any advice on what to expect? (Dd has OCD and GAD) Dozey with morning dosing? Hard to sleep with pm dosing? Thanks, Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T ------------------------------------ Our list archives feature may be accessed at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// by scrolling down to the archives calendar . Our links may be accessed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//links . Our files may be accessed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//files . Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D.(http://www.ocdawareness.com ), Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.( http://www.worrywisekids.org ), and Dan Geller, M.D. (http://www2.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/geller.html ). You may ask a question of any of these mental health professionals by inserting the words " Ask Dr.(insert name) " in the subject line of a post to the list. Our list moderators are Castle, Judy Chabot, BJ Closner, and Barb Nesrallah. Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list administrator, at louisharkins@... . Our group and related groups are listed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportgroups/links . OCF treatment providers list may be viewed at http://www.ocfoundation.info/treatment-providers-list.php . NLM-NIH Drug Information Portal may be viewed at http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/drugportal.jsp?APPLICATION_NAME=drugp ortal . OCF recommended reading list may be viewed at http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocd-oc-spectrum-disorders-book-list.html . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 I have read this advice in our group and I followed it for my daughter. Even though our psychiatrist wanted to increase our daughter's dose every few weeks I took it slower. I don't know if this is the reason we have had few if any side effects. On the down side this is a slow process and it took us two months to get to a theraupetic dose of 50mg. She may be a case that needs double that or more. Pam > > Kathrine > > My dd was 13 when diagnosed and was also put on Prozac (generic brand). > It was a life-saving drug, not only for our daughter, but our entire family. > We noticed a small change (improvement) right away. Within a couple > weeks - even more improvement. Her psychiatrist told us that S...L...O...W.. > is the key when increasing dosage. She started on 10mg and only went up 5mg > in 4 - 6 weeks. She told us that the body must be given a minimum of 4 - > 6 weeks to adjust and show improvement (or otherwise) and stable out before > changing the dosage again. It worked wonders for my daughter. > > Her highest dose was 20mg. She stayed there for a few months, then was > determined to get off meds. However, the meds were what gave her the ability > to manage the OCD and fight it back. She is now 18yrs and away at college > in Nashville! She is doing GREAT. We count our blessings every day. > Good luck to you and your daughter. > LT > > > In a message dated 10/1/2009 7:48:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > katherinedobbs@... writes: > > My dd9 is finally on a med, Prozac 10mg once daily starting tomorrow. The > psych appointment was moved to another 3 weeks away, so her ped doc > prescribed it. Any advice on what to expect? (Dd has OCD and GAD) Dozey with > morning dosing? Hard to sleep with pm dosing? > > Thanks, > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Our list archives feature may be accessed at: > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// by scrolling down to the archives calendar . > Our links may be accessed at > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//links . Our files may be accessed at > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//files . > Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D.(http://www.ocdawareness.com ), > Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.( http://www.worrywisekids.org ), and Dan Geller, M.D. > (http://www2.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/geller.html ). You may > ask a question of any of these mental health professionals by inserting the > words " Ask Dr.(insert name) " in the subject line of a post to the list. Our > list moderators are Castle, Judy Chabot, BJ Closner, and Barb > Nesrallah. Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis > Harkins, list administrator, at louisharkins@... . Our group and related > groups are listed at > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportgroups/links . OCF treatment providers list may be viewed at > http://www.ocfoundation.info/treatment-providers-list.php . > NLM-NIH Drug Information Portal may be viewed at > http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/drugportal.jsp?APPLICATION_NAME=drugp > ortal . OCF recommended reading list may be viewed at > http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocd-oc-spectrum-disorders-book-list.html . > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 , We've always given it in the am. and she does just fine. Didn't notice a difference in anything at 10 mgs. At 60, where she is right now, she is tired during the day, but time of day she takes it hasn't changed that. Dina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 My 15 y.o son is on 40mg, takes it in the morning per directed. No trouble sleeping at night whatsoever. In our case he was helped tremendously; scoring it I would say he went from a 8 out of 10 (OCD and GAD) to a 3 out of 10 overall. His GAD was always worse than his OCD. I would love to get him lower on the scale, but am hesitant to go beyond 40mg and who knows if it would make a difference? That last remaining anxiety (reassurances still needed among other things) is negatively affecting his social life. I don't want to hijack the thread but I am interested in those of you whose children take 50, 60gm or more of Prozac. What is the range of safe dosing for Prozac? And to the women with the 18 year old daughter, is she still on Prozac or off meds completely? I suppose it is child dependent, but I am not clear as to how long he is supposed to be on Prozac. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 My son had been on generic prozac and things were going ok, slight improvement, moved up slowly....then all of a sudden - MAJOR rages, the kind that went on for an hour at least and would end in him falling asleep, that was at 40mg. We tapered him off and found that he really does need it, so we started over from 5mg and stopped at 10mg- this is where he's been for about a year now, rages are an uncommon thing now instead of nightly. > > , > > We've always given it in the am. and she does just fine. Didn't notice > a difference in anything at 10 mgs. At 60, where she is right now, she > is tired during the day, but time of day she takes it hasn't changed that. > > Dina > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 My daughter (14) has been on Prozac since she was 7. She has worked her way up through the years and has been at 60 mgs. for a couple of years now. It's still working great for keeping those thoughts at bay, although we've added 15 mgs. of Buspar as well. Her pdoc said she could go up to 80 mgs., but that would change as she ages because children and teens metabolize the meds so fast, they can take more than adults or seniors. Dina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Thankfully, my dd is no longer on meds. She fought a hard battle and won (although, nowhere near as hard as most the kids whose parents are on this board, I'm sure). The highest dose of prozac she went to was 20mg. I was told by her psychiatrist that (if memory serves me) 50/60mg was about the average dose most kids go to. Keep in mind, she said " average " . Some may need to go higher. Again, the important point is to go SLOWLY with the increases. I truly believe that the slow pace at which we went helped with avoiding side effects, etc. What the meds do is they allow your child to calm down, minimize their fears, so that they can recognize the behavior and deal with it with a clear mind. Our dd came off the medication in the same way - SLOWLY. We had a long talk before we left her at college (she is still VERY uneasy discussing her OCD even with us). I said " you know the signs to watch for - you know when to ask for help and when you might need meds again. " She didn't like the subject even being brought up again - but it had to be. We can't be there to watch what's going on with her. I wish you and your son the best. Tell him there IS light at the end of the tunnel. LT In a message dated 10/2/2009 10:52:40 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, wjoltsik@... writes: And to the women with the 18 year old daughter, is she still on Prozac or off meds completely? I suppose it is child dependent, but I am not clear as to how long he is supposed to be on Prozac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 This is exactly why your doctor needs to increase the dosage slowly. If Prozac works for your child, you just never know what dosage is going to be the magic level. Jumping too high too soon can also cause reactions/side-effects that may lead you to believe it's not working... when, in fact, it's just too much too soon. LT In a message dated 10/2/2009 11:22:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, bbrogoitti@... writes: My son had been on generic prozac and things were going ok, slight improvement, moved up slowly....then all of a sudden - MAJOR rages, the kind that went on for an hour at least and would end in him falling asleep, that was at 40mg. We tapered him off and found that he really does need it, so we started over from 5mg and stopped at 10mg- this is where he's been for about a year now, rages are an uncommon thing now instead of nightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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