Posted by tealady on February 22, 2004, at 1:54:54
In reply to Re: Depersonalization/Derealization, posted by SJ on February 20, 2004, at 21:21:23
> Well, I'm back again. My 10 year old daughter, week 12 on Lexapro, just finished crying. She can't tell if she's dreaming or awake. I don't know what to tell her. She's got an appointment with her therapist on Wednesday and says she'll be okay until then. She says she spends much of her day wondering how does she see things, can she really feel things. Things don't seem real to her. I feel so awful for her, I just want to throw up. I'm sad for the future she might have before her.
I have to agree with those who say that this drug is NOT for your daughter. If the DP/DR began after she started the drug..then there is a very STRONG chance that the drug caused it..not 100%..but close to it. The only way you will know for certain is to wean her OFF the drug.
I'd phone the doc who prescribed this straight away, explain what is going on and ask to wean her off...she can always try another drug..there are more than one ... and another may suit her better..although I tend to be very hesitant about putting any 10yr old on these drugs...they are usually not tested on children and noone knows for sure just how they will affect brain development ..and children are NOT identical to same as little adults.
I know what you must have gone thru beofre deciding to try her on thsi drug..but it was only that..a trial. If it doesn't suit her...and it clearly doesn't..then you have to wean her off and try something else. I doubt if anyone much gets the right drug the first time..or even the second.She is obviously a clever little girl and is trying to tell you that this drug doesn't suit ..as well as she can formulate the idea. Please consider weaning her off...she is too little to be able to tell you this outright or work it out for herself, or to question a doc's script.
Also I experienced this DP/DR (I think) for over 10 years...it is NOT good and I never want to have it again. I did try SSRI's for about 10 years too..but it lasted longer after I was off them.
I found I couldn't breathe either..like I had a lump at the very bottom of my throat.. I found out later I had thyroid antibodies..and perhaps all those years I did have a lump but the doc and noone could see it as it can grow inwards...so get your daughter tested out for thyroid antibodies (antTPO, TSI, ), CRP at least. Perhaps TSH, FT4 and Ft3, as well..although these may not show initially in the tests. (TBII, and anti TG may be good too)
This DP/DR is very common amongst those with thyroid probalems..and so is the difficulty in breathing.
Best wishes and good luck with everything
poster:tealady
thread:315041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040218/msgs/316388.html