Doctor Mom

Our brains are incredibly complicated organs, and at this point, we really know very little about how they work in relation to how much we need to know. We would like to think that the doctors and drug companies know what they're doing when it comes to treating mental illness, but they don't actually know why some of the antidepressants even work, because they still don't really have a handle on what causes depression.

And that's just when it comes to adults. When it comes to children, we know even less, because we don't know how psychiatric drugs affect them. A recent article in The New York Times told of a teenage girl who now has to receive Botox injections to treat a painful back condition caused by Risperdal, which was prescribed for her eating disorder. The girl's mother was not told that Risperdal is not approved for children. Most psychiatric drugs aren't.

So this is why I'm sounding the alarm and belaboring the points. If your child is being treated with psychiatric drugs, buy a book like The Pill Book (more listed below) and read up on any drugs that are prescribed for them, before they actually take a dose. Also, make sure that over the counter drugs will not affect them adversely or be a dangerous combination with prescription drugs they're taking.

Research. Question. Challenge. Because your child can't.

Books

The PDR Pocket Guide to Prescription Drugs
PDR for Nonprescription Drugs, Dietary Supplements, and Herbs: The Definitive Guide to OTC Medications