Posted by SLS on February 11, 2009, at 8:00:29
In reply to Re: social anxiety disorder (phobia) for a 15 year, posted by mogger on February 10, 2009, at 11:17:16
> Thanks Scott for the post, I really appreciate it. He is in psychotherapy thankfully so hopefully that will start working as well!
> moggerIt sounds like you are really attacking this thing. If he were an adult, I would suggest looking at either Effexor or Nardil as antidepressants with strong ant-anxiety properties. However, at age 15, his brain is still undergoing changes that some doctors like to allow to occur without the exposure to drugs. Some of their concern is theoretical and not based upon scientific evidence. However, it is a risk versus benefit thing. If it were my child, and his disorder were crippling despite psychotherapy, I would probably choose to go with either Zoloft or Effexor. Zoloft is milder with side effects. I believe he has more to lose in life experience and academic achievement than might be the theoretical risks of undesirable effects of drug exposure.
VERY difficult decision.
I hope the added information will help you make your decisions as you follow a treatment path.
Perhaps you can try Neurontin first. I just thought of that. It is an anticonvulsant with benefits when used in a range of illnesses. Social anxiety is sometimes improved with Neurontin, and its mechanism of action is probably less disturbing to the system than are the antidepressants.
If you can see a psychiatrist who is strong in pediatric psychiatry, that would probably be best.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:879192
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20090204/msgs/879411.html