What is the best anxiety medication for teens?
My brother is 14 and has been diagnosed with anxiety disorder. He was prescribed Zoloft about a month ago and it has not made any changes in him at all except for increased appetite. His anxiety has gotten so bad he can’t even go to school or to places with a lot of people. Going back to the doctor tomorrow but would appreciate an opinion from someone who has had a similar experience. I also have anxiety and take Klonopin (benzos) which work great for me but don’t think they prescribe them to teens. Thanks
Chosen Answer:
Send your brother to a therapeutic boarding school. They specialize in treating troubled teens from all walks of life. The private boarding school is highly effective, so much so that many of the students come by word of mouth. They can help any troubled teen get back on the right track. Good luck.
by: murrayskeeter
on: 2nd December 10
17 de November, 2010 at 12:10 am
not recommended but Xanax will work
17 de November, 2010 at 12:15 am
There is no “best” medication for everyone. I would recommend he continue to talk to doctors about it, not giving up because the search for the right med often takes time and trial & error.
Also, I suggest looking into other remedies outside of medication. Some people do need these pills, but some do not. I used to be on various mood-stabilizers, but once I found the right support groups, I found that this emotional therapy brought me to a place where I did not need them anymore.
17 de November, 2010 at 12:49 am
There probably isn’t a “best” medication, here.
SSRIs, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are the “best” for general anxiety, I think. They aren’t as good as Benzos, but Benzos are highly addictive (and stop working with long term use). SSRIs, like Zoloft, can unfortunately cause intense suicidal feelings in people under the age of 18. So if you want to try a different SSRI, make sure you’re monitoring him a lot.
I’m guessing he has a social phobia. If that’s the case, medication isn’t going to solve anything. It might make things more bearable for him, at least for a bit, but he’s going to need some cognitive behavioral therapy to really get over it. Probably 16 sessions worth, at a bare minimum.
17 de November, 2010 at 12:58 am
i have generalized anxiety disorder as well as my fourteen year old brother. a combination of antidepressants, particularly the SSRI group combined with benzodiapines are generally used, but since the age in question is younger, they may change the prescription as needed. chlonazepam is generally used as it is safe, time tested and has very few negative side effects. i recommend he start on a smaller dsage.
has anyone thought of CBT?
17 de November, 2010 at 7:19 am
Angie: You may want to try something natural for him instead of pharmaceuticals. Most are non-addictive and work well without side effects. Hope this helps.
18 de November, 2010 at 3:19 am
Send your brother to a therapeutic boarding school. They specialize in treating troubled teens from all walks of life. The private boarding school is highly effective, so much so that many of the students come by word of mouth. They can help any troubled teen get back on the right track. Good luck.
19 de November, 2010 at 4:15 am
If you are really trying to stop your anxiety attack then you really need to check out the source. I just think it is so unfair that these pharmaceutical companies are alot more worried about money and addiction that actually helping to cure a person.