Therapist
Questions & Answers - Special Needs & Medical Diagnoses
My son is 10+ years old and in 5th grade. He started having
seizures when he was one and half years old. After six months he
would get attacks (Generalized epilepsy). He was put on Tagretol.
While taking his medicine, he got attacks once more. After one year
his dose was increased and continued for another 3 years. His
medicine was stopped by the doctors slowly in August 2006. My son is
shy, quiet and an anxious kind of child. Sometimes he has odd
behaviors but no complaints from school. But from the last 5-6
months, he started crying excessively, clingy and his odd behavior
has increased.
His physical tests like EEG, MRI and thyroid tests were normal.
He is more difficult to handle. I want to know to how much extent we
should be strict with him. He is taking Cilentra as advised by the
doctor. What do you think about his problem? Sometimes he says he
wants to be the last in line if someone comes behind him. In the car
he wants to sit down but not on the seat. We are handling him
strictly yes for yes and no for no. He doesn't want to study at all.
He attends school but is not doing his class work. I want to love
him but his behavior or habits don't allow me to do that all the
time. I am feeing very distressed.
I am glad that you have taken your son back to the doctor for the
EEG, MRI and thyroid tests to make sure that he is not currently
experiencing seizures or other medical problems. I was not familiar
with the drug Cilentra that you mention, but upon looking it up on
WebMD, I have found that it is the
Asian brand name for the drug called Escitalopram, which is commonly
used to treat depression. I am not a physician, only a therapist,
and my specialty is birth to age three, not school age children such
as your son. However, in the USA, many physicians are very careful
these days when prescribing certain drugs for depression in children
and young adults under the age of 25 because sometimes these drugs
can make symptoms worse, rather than better in these youngsters.
Here is what
WebMD says regarding the drug your
son is taking:
Escitalopram Oral (Cilentra):
Antidepressant medications are used to treat a variety of
conditions, including
depression and other mental/mood
disorders. These medications can help prevent suicidal
thoughts/attempts and provide other important benefits. However, studies
have shown that a small number of people (especially people younger than
25) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience worsening
depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or
suicidal thoughts/attempts. Therefore, it is very important to talk
with the doctor about the risks and benefits of antidepressant
medication (especially for people younger than 25), even if treatment is
not for a mental/mood condition.
Tell the doctor immediately if you notice worsening
depression/other psychiatric conditions, unusual behavior changes
(including possible suicidal thoughts/attempts), or other
mental/mood changes (including new/worsening
anxiety,
panic attacks,
trouble sleeping, irritability, hostile/angry feelings, impulsive
actions, severe restlessness, very rapid speech). Be especially
watchful for these symptoms when a new antidepressant is started or
when the dose is changed. From what you have described it does sound
like your son is very anxious, having perhaps panic attacks and
being impulsive by fighting with other children if someone is
standing behind him, as well as being very restless-not being able
to sit in the car. These could all be side effects of the drug
itself, unless these exact same behaviors were occurring before he
started the medication. I also read that seizures can be a side
effect of this drug, so perhaps you also want to be careful using
this drug given your son's past history of seizures.
I would definitely suggest discussing your son's behaviors again with
your doctor and asking him if his symptoms could have actually increased
DUE to taking the new medication. You may also want to take your son to
a child psychologist or psychiatrist, who may be more familiar with
disorders of mood and behavior in young children. There are many other
diagnoses that affect a young child's behavior, such as attention
deficit disorder (ADD), but these all need to be diagnosed by a doctor
and medication alone is not the answer. Children with diagnoses
affecting mood and/or behavior need therapy, family training, schedules
and routines for home and school life, as well as sometimes medication
to help their conditions.
Make a list of what behaviors you saw BEFORE your son started the
Cilentra and then make a list of what behaviors you saw AFTER he
started the medication and let your doctor know if there are new
behaviors or if any certain behaviors have become worse since
starting his medication. If you son's behavior originally was not
due to depression or a diagnosed mood disorder, than perhaps this
medication is not right for him? But these are all things you will
need to learn directly from a physician, psychologist/psychiatrist.
I would also suggest talking to your son's teacher and school
counselor if there is one, and address your concerns with them as
well. Ask them to document his behaviors in the classroom, so that
you can let the doctor know about the behaviors both in school and
at home and how they differ, if at all.
Therapist
Questions & Answers - Special Needs & Medical Diagnoses
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