I need some information about Celexa and children. Can anyone provide any information.

I have a child with a learning difference and life is a bit harder for him than for many children. He is 9 and has been on Adderall since he was 4. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> But it really helps with his ADHD and school.

For about 10 months he has also been on Buspirone but that doesn't seem to be producing the results we wished. It was, in reality, the psychiatrist's second choice as I did not want to put him on an antidepressant last winter.

After some run-ins where son's behaviour was totally and absolutely disrespectful and abusive toward me, I was talking to his LCSW and she said, from several things he had said and I had said that it was time to try the anidepressant.

So, we had an appt that afternoon with the psychiatrist and his antidepressant of choice for this child was Celexa. The doctor sees a lot of children - many of whom go to my son's school since you must have a learning differnce to attend - knows more about this than I do.

S is starting with 10 mg. Celexa in the morning. Anyone have any words of wisdom to share. They are not expecting it to knock him out since he is an ADHD child and he is on Adderall, a stimulant.

x is totally in disagreement with my decision. Sees problems child and I have as a power struggle. Well, if that is so, why is he so emotionally fragile? Why does he have trouble controlling his emotions and temper? Why does he tell his counselor he feels sad or angry so much?

I found total lack of support. x did acknowledge that I have the power to make this decision. All I have to do is keep him informed on major decisions. I don't have to ask his permission. I told him I had not made the decision lightly. I didn't want to do this and it wasn't a decision I made lightly. I even told him he could talk to the dr and the counselor but he wanted the teachers included as if they are highly trained in medication.

Drats - I wanted to be nice and it blew up. I will learn to send e-mails and not engage him in conversation in the future.

Why is your son in counsling?

Congratualtions on helping your son, it sounds like you are in the middle of the "process"...

I myself was fragile as a child, and spent years trying to figure out what was wrong. Finally, after much failure, etc, at the age of 22, I was diagnosed with Bi-polar. I have an a-typical case, with almost 99% depression, so it took years for me to believe it!!

Anyway, I know that your son isn't Bi-Polar, but as with any condition, esp. brain function, there seems to be a common road to travel. Sometimes I wish that I would write a book about all of the lessons I've learned to help others, but that's another thread!!!

What you are describing with the meds is common. It took me 6 YEARS to find something that controlled my severe depression!!! Can you imagine how happy I was the first Spring in 20 years of being "happy." Amazing!

Don't give up. If your son is displaying symptoms that are keeping him from functioning, learning, and developing, then it is important that he be in some therapy and/or take medication to help.

The first several years of my treatment were hindered simply because I couldn't understand that my depression was treatable. I guess it's easy to give up hope when you're feeling hopeless all of the time and the meds don't work.

About your XH, there are therapies that do not involve medication, but it sounds like you have been working with a medical doctor? You need to somehow involve your XH in this process, either by getting a second opinion, or having him come in to see the existing dr. to get rid of any doubts that he may have concerning this line of treatment.

If I could pass along any wisdom that I've learned over the years, it would be that this kind of disorder is a process. Finding the right medication is also as important as environment and other supports.

I vainly looked for a "cure" for years. I'm doing well now, but don't think I'll ever be able to take my hard-won "happiness" for granted. Still have to take meds, and watch my environment, yes different disorders, but some similarities, esp. with ignorance, and stigmas that don't help at all.

-blueberry

<small>[ October 07, 2002, 03:23 AM: Message edited by: blueberryskies ]</small>

Hi Cinderella! I can suggest a website: www.mentalhealth.com written by doctors. I too, have Bi-Polar Illness and also to complicate that, it stemmed from my service in Desert Storm so that really screws things haha! None of the traditional meds work on me - except the side effects - the CURE is worse than the Symptoms, so my wife and I just deal with it without meds. (Sometimes NOT easy, but we make do.) As to Celexa and children, I can tell you that my oldest child also has AHDD - hyperactive and can't pay attention. They put him on Ritalyn at the age of 6 and he's been on it ever since, last I heard anyway - I haven't seen him since June '98. I think this crap runs in the family, I suspect my Dad has it, I have mental problems, my oldest kid has them, my youngest kid has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (so do I) and only God knows what THEIR kids are going to have. I'm afraid to think about it...
But anyway, may I suggest you take a read on that mentalhealth site - it is jam packed with very informational articles all written by doctors. I learned stuff on that site my own doctor didn't know! She asked ME for the site so she could read up on the medicines she was 'guinea pigging' me with!
Just a few thoughts and a suggestion. Hope this helps.
Peace to you, and I'll C U back in the Kingdom laterZ.
Harold (The Pied Piper)

Cinderella dearest,

One of the things that I've found out about myself, is that my need for reassurance and validation far outweighs my reason. In other words, deep inside yourself, you knew DXH would react negatively, and now you are kicking yourself for doing something you knew you shouldn't have - which I think was - expecting him to react in a responsible and mature way and support your decision regarding your son.

Don't get me wrong, you did what you were supposed to do, telling him about the health of his child in a responsible way. You get kudos for that. Kids need their dads, too. And his dad should be informed about his health.

Please don't be so hard on yourself. Taking care of your son's depression is very important, and you are doing the best for him that you can. Knowing that you are doing what you think is best is very important - have faith in your own judgement. I have read your posts, and see you as a smart, caring person.

Your obligation to X has been fulfilled - you told him what he should know. His feedback (and I would not say this if I did not know that he had been abusive in the past) is incidental.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

Hi Cinderella,

I've read of lot of your posts, but I don't think I've ever written to you before. I've been going through this struggle with my son too, and it's just so stressful knowing what the RIGHT thing to do is. Funny, I'll bet your ex-husband wasn't at the doctor appts, psychologist appts, school appts...but he's pretty feel to throw his opinion in when you have been in charge of this entire process...am I close? My son's dad tries to be involved and helps take him to appointments, but I do the majority of the leg-work and so far, he's been behind my decisions 100% (probably because he it too inept to make decisions on his own)

I'm ranting. I am taking my son to a psychologist and he is recieving a series of lessons called NEUROFEEDBACK (or EEG Biofeedback). If you haven't heard of it, it is a natural approach that trains an individual to sustain attention while remaining foluces and relaxed. (ok, i typed that out of the pamphlet) What they did so far was hook these little electrodes to his head (not his brain) and he played a video-game without ever touching the controls. He played it with his concentration. I'm hoping this will help him learn to concentrate. Meds are our next course of action.

Don't doubt yourself, it's a lot of hard work to research and learn all about this stuff. I've had to take off work so many times to take him to appointments they are getting sick of it.

Some times we moms (or dads) have to go with our gut and it sounds like you know what you are doing...but if you see anything on this Neurofeedback give it a read...real interesting.

allison

You're right. Psychiatrist sent x a letter asking him to come in. Guess who never responded.

Child has been seeing his LCSW for several years and guess who used to no-show appts during his week of visitation. I finally got wise and quit making any appointments.

Funny how fathers - or mothers - sometimes claim they want to be involved but object to taking the child to any appts during "their" week. Bygolly, the child needs what the child needs regardless of who is driving the car.

And he wants the teacher's input on meds. Since when do teachers, even qood special ed teachers, have time to study all the education stuff and all the medical stuff for the wide variety of problems in this world?

I know I have scheduled the week full of normal things and sent them to their father's before and have him object to the appts. My response has been, "I can do this. Maybe you need to try it." <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" />

Neurofeedback, huh?

Do you have a legally binding parenting plan of any kind? Would it be possible to consult your lawyer?

If X is refusing to keep appointments with dr.s, etc, then this is kind of a big deal, isn't it? Also, he's fighting you on all of these small issues. In my opinion, it's best to let the small things slide, so maybe this is small stuff, you need to ask yourself if it is or isn't!!

But, if it were me, I'd call the lawyer I trust and find out if there's any way to solve this in an efficient way to help the child.

Or, just let it go because your X has no clue!!

I'm sure there are other solutions as well, but this is all that I can think of!

-take care-
-blueberry

We have legal joint custody but I knew I was dealing with a man who is undeniably sane and a bit irrational where I am concerned. I knew he would fight me on a lot of stuff. So it is worded that I can make any and all decisions as long as I keep him informed on major ones. I don't have to consult him or ask his opinion. I can even have a child's nose amputated and all I have to do is tell him.

Now, I'm smart enough to know that I need him on the team when appropriate.

So, I simply learned not to make appts during his weeks. And no one ever charged me for one he no-showed on. After all, that is a favorite stunt of parents with whom the children don't live.

But, I made the best decision I could and am at peace with it.

Let's celebrate!!!

Son's attitude seems a bit better since we added the antidepressant. Maybe I was wrong last winter.