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Parenting

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Original poster

Prozac for 6 year old?! Any experiences with medication?

25 replies

mindinggaps · 07/03/2023 13:14

Hello, all my 6 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with severe anxiety and possibly OCD and prescribed 5mg of Prozac. We feel completely lost right now and are looking for any support, advice or guidance from those who have children on Prozac or any other similar medication. Was medicating the right choice? How did your child respond? Anything you wish you knew in advance?

Background

Our daughter started showing troubling behavior as a toddler and as she grew, the issues escalated. From a young age she has been terrified of everything, afraid to try new activities, scared to interact with new people and generally petrified to participate in developmentally normal things. As a result, she has struggled to integrate with her peers. Perhaps most concerning, unlike most children who adjust as they grow, each year her meltdowns got worse. Lately, she throws tantrums nearly daily that can turn violent to the point where she was a threat to herself or others. She performs very well academically in school but getting her there and through the day is a near impossibility at this point.

We've been trying to get her help for a couple of years. She's been doing "play" therapy for a while but to be honest we have seen little to positive impact from this. Her pediatrician referred us to a child psychiatrist who monitored her for a couple of months and got to know the situation carefully. They did extensive testing and ruled out ASD or any other sensory processing issue. The child psychiatrist diagnosed her with severe GAD and possibly OCD and said medication was the way to, starting with Prozac since, according to her, it is safe and effective for young kids.

We hesitated for a few weeks - I am concerned about giving her this medication. However, we're also at our breaking point. Are we doing the right thing?

OP posts:

Pythonesque · 07/03/2023 13:27

Use of these medications under the age of 16 is currently fairly unusual in the UK, though I imagine does happen occasionally under the care of specialists. I have certainly heard that it is not uncommon in the US - I'm guessing from your spelling of pediatrician that that may be where you are based? Although this site is becoming more international it is still strongly UK-centric. I don't personally know enough about its use in children to be able to make useful comment, though it certainly can help with anxiety symptoms in adults.

I am at the early stages of developing an interest in ASD diagnosis in children so am curious as to what testing ruled out ASD and sensory processing issues. Personally, and from limited knowledge and experience, I would expect that therapeutic approaches informed by ASD work would be most likely to be constructive in the kind of situation you are describing. High anxiety and meltdowns in girls do seem to be part of ASD related behaviours.

Very best wishes. It is possible you may also get useful help here posting on the special needs chat board.

whatfreshheck · 07/03/2023 13:27

You would give antibiotics for an infection and insulin for diabeties so why not medicine for mental health? I understand your concerns, but if it helps your daughter then I personally would give it. There is no reason why you can't use it alongside thereby/ counselling but at least it puts you on a level playing field. It doesn't mean she will be on it forever. I started medication for OCD/ anxiety when I was 16 and I honestly wish my parents had given it me sooner.

pjani · 07/03/2023 17:42

Have you also done some parenting classes, tried behavioural or other interventions, considered seeking another opinion? It does seem very young for medication though I am not a psychiatrist!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

6 year olds Families General health General parenting

Original poster

mindinggaps · 07/03/2023 23:41

@Pythonesque Yes, I am based in the US and it is true that medications seem more common here, for better or worse. Generally, there is a concept that early intervention can lead to better longer term outcomes. There are risks, but the converse questions is what are the risks of not treating?

We've had ASD testing a different life stages which always involves questions we fill out, but more importantly close observation by psychiatrists. They ask her to do things, see how she responds. Get her to play games and see what happens. She doesn't have standard ASD issues - anxiety isn't triggered by sensory stuff, she's not developmentally delayed at all, she tracks eye movements, speaks normally, etc.

@whatfreshheck Thanks for sharing. There seems to be a lot of negativity toward medication, but many people who struggle also seem to wish they were on it earlier. This is an interesting perspective.

@pjani Yup, we've done lots of therapy as mentioned in the original post, done everything we can it feels like.

OP posts:

ScrollingLeaves · 08/03/2023 00:30

whatfreshheck · Yesterday 13:27
You would give antibiotics for an infection and insulin for diabeties so why not medicine for mental health

These aren’t the equivalent of Prozac.

Original poster

mindinggaps · 08/03/2023 01:58

ScrollingLeaves · 08/03/2023 00:30

whatfreshheck · Yesterday 13:27
You would give antibiotics for an infection and insulin for diabeties so why not medicine for mental health

These aren’t the equivalent of Prozac.

@ScrollingLeaves So what would you do in this situation?

OP posts:

wingingit1987 · 08/03/2023 02:04

I work in psychiatry and the approach here is very different to the US. Because of that, I think you might it find it helpful to seek advice locally through parent/carer support groups or even US based online support as I think you will have a limited audience here with the lived experience you are looking for.

Best wishes.

Original poster

mindinggaps · 08/03/2023 02:08

@wingingit1987 Thanks for the suggestion, I will do so. Reading between the lines, it would seem to suggest that you maybe don't think this is a wise idea. We are still very unsure...

OP posts:

mightymam · 08/03/2023 02:16

Please, please, please look up PANS/PANDAS. Even the medical world doesn't know much about it but awareness is slowly spreading. Anxiety is a huge part of it. How do I know? Because I suspect my little one had it.

www.e-hospital.co.uk/pans-pandas-a-parents-guide/

Prozac for 6 year old?! Any experiences with medication?

mightymam · 08/03/2023 02:17

PANS Diagnostic Criteria

An abrupt, acute, dramatic onset (usually within 24-48 hours) of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or severely restricted food intake* along with two or more of the following symptoms which are not better explained by a known neurologic or medical disorder.

&bull;	Anxiety (heightened anxiety, separation anxiety, irrational fears, panic episodes)
&bull;	Tics
&bull;	Emotional lability and/or Depression
&bull;	Irritability, Aggression, and/or Severely Oppositional Behaviours
&bull;	Behavioural (Developmental) Regression (increase in temper tantrums, loss of age-appropriate language, clingy behaviour not related to anxiety).
&bull;	Sudden Deterioration in School Performance (due to difficulties with memory, concentration, hyperactivity, impulsivity, new deficits of visuospatial skills)
&bull;	Motor or Sensory Abnormalities (dysgraphia, clumsiness, tics, new sensory sensitivities to light, noise, smell, taste or texture).
&bull;	Insomnia and/or Sleep disturbances
&bull;	Enuresis and/or Urinary frequency

&bull;	Whilst not part of the diagnostic criteria, in approximately 25% of cases there have been reports of Psychosis and/or Hallucinations

www.panspandasuk.org/what-are-pans-and-pandas

mightymam · 08/03/2023 02:18

Ps. I am not a medical doctor but do work in an associated child development field.

Original poster

mindinggaps · 08/03/2023 02:31

@mightymam Yes, we are on it. Fairly well known in the US. Tests have been done. But you are right, it is not that well understood!

OP posts:

Hidegard · 08/03/2023 02:41

Have you tried gentle manual therapies to try to help calm her nervous system? Eg gentle osteopathy, shiatsu, or a gentle chiropractor? If she's stuck in a state of heightened alarm, where everything is perceived as a danger, it might be a useful thing to try to see if it can give her nervous system a break and a chance to reset, feel at peace, and recognise that these normal everyday activities are safe and not threatening.

mightymam · 08/03/2023 08:55

@mindinggaps North America is definitely ahead of the game on Pans/Panda than us. I remember mentioning it our GP when I suspected my little one had it and she looked at me blankly. I managed to get antibiotics for my little one though. That was a godsend. Good luck with everything. I'd also try osteopathy- my little one has it. It's slow progress but progress nonetheless.

pjani · 08/03/2023 16:16

Yes I feel your hesitancy and suspect I would feel the same in your shoes. I would be tempted to try a few ‘out there’ things first. Eg do you have a dog or could you try equine therapy? (again I repeat I am not a psychiatrist)

And I know your DC has had a lot of therapy but I mean parenting support not as a dig but has the therapy included you both? Have you tried family therapy? Could there be anything in the family system which is getting acted out by her? Are either of you anxious, is there conflict in the relationship, anything that could be playing out through her etc?

pjani · 08/03/2023 16:18

I just want to stress I’m not saying in any way this is your fault and it sounds very stressful. I’ve just found therapy for myself very helpful and in some cases it turned out some problems with others were linked to stuff within myself, if you know what I mean. So part of finding another way through could be within you/your partner).

Xrays · 08/03/2023 16:33

I’m going to admit I haven’t read the whole thread properly (child with asd needs my eyes on him!) but I have a friend whose child has been on sertraline for anxiety from 5 - he’s now 9 - and it’s been life changing for them. He has severe asd and learning difficulties and was so anxious they couldn’t leave the house; he attends complex needs school and needs 2-1 care so a complex case but the medication has made a huge difference to their whole quality of life.

Original poster

mindinggaps · 27/03/2023 18:43

@pjani Thanks for this kind post. Yes, we're working on therapy and everything else we can before starting meds. It's up and down. She was diagnosed with OCD so it is a struggle. Hopefully we can get it under control!

@Xrays Interesting - happy to hear a positive story about the sertraline. We've held off, but it's hard...her quality of life is not ideal right now.

OP posts:

BringItBackBruno · 27/03/2023 18:59

Hello,

Im in the UK and my DS was on sertraline from age 8 for severe OCD. He was under the care of a psychiatrist and psychologist through CAMHS and had almost a year of CBT which didn't work as the OCD was so bad. I agonised about it when it was suggested to us too, but I'm so glad we tried it. Once he was on the meds, the therapy started to work and step by step he improved. He's a teen now and a different child.

Good luck!

Original poster

mindinggaps · 27/03/2023 19:04

@BringItBackBruno Thanks so much - this is really helpful to hear! It sounds like the medication was the right step. We're leaning in that direction. We've done a year of therapy but it's bit like spinning tires - her OCD is pretty bad and impeding her ability to function so I feel we need to take action fairly quickly.

Do you mind me asking, for the sertraline, was it easy to find a dosage that worked or was there a lot of adjustment? Feel free to PM if preferred.

OP posts:

Musicparent23 · 27/03/2023 19:14

Probably patronising questions but what's her diet and exercise like? Any caffeine or highly processed foods? Enough fun exercise? Limited screen time?

Do you have anxiety and if so, what helps you?

Original poster

mindinggaps · 27/03/2023 19:19

Musicparent23 · 27/03/2023 19:14

Probably patronising questions but what's her diet and exercise like? Any caffeine or highly processed foods? Enough fun exercise? Limited screen time?

Do you have anxiety and if so, what helps you?

Not patronising. Diet is healthy (lots of fruits, veg, etc) with daily exercise. No caffeine, limited processed foods. Screen time limited to 1-2 hours per day. We've been through a lot of the environmental factors and have worked on this aspect for the last year or so to ensure these things are not the root cause.

Husband has a family member with OCD - not sure what treatment was involved there.

OP posts:

BringItBackBruno · 27/03/2023 19:45

mindinggaps · 27/03/2023 19:04

Do you mind me asking, for the sertraline, was it easy to find a dosage that worked or was there a lot of adjustment? Feel free to PM if preferred.

No tweaking dosage was required - they got it right first time. He had zero side effects and we noticed a difference within a few weeks. It was like he'd been trapped inside the circles in his own mind and he slowly started being able to fully engage with the world again. When we talk about that time now he feels really sad for the little boy he was - he really was like a prisoner in his own head.

I know it's not an easy step and it doesn't go well for everyone, but it was life changing for him (and us). The one upside of them being so young is that you can easily look out for side effects as they are always being 'watched' anyway!

Musicparent23 · 27/03/2023 19:55

It's hard as in the uk medication like this is rare I think. We had the Louis Theroux documentary about medicated kids in America and it seemed so shocking to us. Like others above my first instinct was that it sounds like ASD and PDA, which several girls I know have been diagnosed with, and prozac is not being considered for them. The parents of these girls have had successes with routine, understanding, school support, although by no means is it plain sailing. Best of luck whatever you decide

Original poster

mindinggaps · 28/03/2023 15:23

Musicparent23 · 27/03/2023 19:55

Yes, I am familiar with this documentary and I must say it's not really the most accurate representation of the situation in the US. It's not as if doctors are scrambling to medicate children and frankly, it's not that easy to get a prescription. It is reserved for cases where there have been many evaluations, multiple checks, etc. I wouldn't make any assumptions on health care from that representation.

Also, regarding ASD, it's been evaluated multiple times. She doesn't have the symptoms that are consistent with this.

OP posts:

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