im 15 and depressed. i currently self-harm and have eating disorders. i see a therapist but i think i need medication to help also. what is a good anti-depressant for a 15 year old? i was looking at pexeva but it says its not recommended for teens under 18. and ive tried prozac and lexepro. so what is a good medication i can talk to my doctor about when i see him wednesday? (july 15th)
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Q: what is the best anti-depressant for a 15 year old?
Answers (4)
7/16/09 6:53pm
Hi there!
I am so glad you came over to our site!
May I ask...what happened when you took the other medications? Did you have bad side effects?
I think that this is definitely a question for your doctor to give you a list of options and then we can help you by giving you information on those choices.
I do hope you find something which works for you. Please keep writing here...we want to know how you are doing.
7/15/09 9:33am
Hello my friend,
Thanks for coming over to this site, I can put a face with my new friend and pray for you every nite you are a beautiful young lady and if you could only see what I see, you alot to live and do in your lifetime! your question on meds,first they should totally diagnose you prior to giving you meds. From our conversations before I'm not expert but might suggest paxil or possibly zoloft.
So great to see you and always here for you
ladygraycloud/Suzanne
7/15/09 11:21am
Hey,
I really understand what you're going through. I've been seeing a therapist since I was thirteen and I've cut myself since I was about fourteen, and now I'm battling an eating disorder. I didn't start on medication until I was about sixteen. I started off on zoloft which I really disliked because of side effects, and I haven't really heard anything good about it, but drugs effect everyone differently so it might work for you. My biggest complaint about it was that it made me extremely hyper. After that I tried lexapro, but I developed anxiety promblems so I had to quit that. Now I'm on cymbalta, which I love. I'm not sure if it's approved for anyone under 18, but it's worked the best for me. I really hope you find something that works for you, I know how frustrating it is to have to deal with different medication.
Always here to help
-Cassidy
8/ 9/09 9:05pm
Hi wantingtobehappy,
First, I'd like to wish you the best of luck and hope that you will find the happiness and peace that you deserve. Believe me things will get better as you get older, just give some time. Focus on the positive, As for the medication, I have a 15 yr old daughter and we spoke to her pediatrician. Her pediatrician suggested Zoloft, she stated that some of her teenage patients have had alot of success with it. I also spoke to my daughter's therapist and she also stated that some her patients have improved greatly. But it is important you find a good psychiatrist, since they are the only ones allowed to prescribe the medication. I went to see someone and did not like her at all but was able to get the prescription. The dr. stated that it would take 4-6 weeks o see results but for us it's too soon to tell. Please be good to yourself and have faith, you are worth it!
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By wantingtobehappy— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 07/14/09
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thank you for your reply! but i dont think ill find happiness and i dont think i deserve it either. ive given so much time to everything, and it seems like nothing ever gets better! and maybe thats my fault. maybe, im not accepting the help fully but i dont know. my doctor put me on zoloft and i cant really see a difference. i think im going to try pexeva. i see a therapist but i dont see a psychiatrist. i might see about getting a psychiatrist because i think she'll/he'll be able to help more than my doctor.
i hope the medication for your daughter helps. ill try to be good to myself but i cant promise anything. and as for faith, ive kinda lost it all.
kristi.