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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bestmom on December 18, 2002, at 14:41:43
My daughter has been suffering from anxiety attacks and/or panic attacks with hyperventilation, she says she feels she is chocking.She gets these almost daily. It can be pretty scary and I'm very worried about her, she is under the care of doctors and a psychiatrist who tried to give her celexa but it made her sick, so now he wants her on effexor. She's 14 and it breaks my heart to see her so distressed. She will start taking them during her christmas break. I want to start her slowly breaking the pill in 4 pieces, it's 37.5 mg.per pill. I've read some of the previous posts and I'm scared of what this pill will do to her. Are there any others who take this medication and are in their teens. Thanks for whatever info you can give me.
Posted by markmn on December 18, 2002, at 15:43:35
In reply to My 14 year old must start taking effexor, posted by bestmom on December 18, 2002, at 14:41:43
Hi Bestmom,
First off I understand what you are going through. It is very scary. I started getting anxiety/panic attacks when I was 18, I'm now 27. The doctors first put me on Prozac with little results and switched me to Imipramine. The Imipramine worked but I don't recomend it due to what it does to one's heart. I then switched to Paxil. Paxil worked well, however, I decided to get off of it due to it's withdrawal problems. I have since switched to Lexapro and have been dealing with the side effects caused by it. The point of my story is that these drugs do help. Your child, if she is anything like I was, feels like she's going crazy. She must understand that she isn't and that there is a lot of help out there for her. Good luck to you and your daughter.
mark
Posted by Jaynee on December 18, 2002, at 20:06:23
In reply to Re: My 14 year old must start taking effexor, posted by markmn on December 18, 2002, at 15:43:35
I am very sorry to hear about your daughter. I had my first anxiety attack when I was in the 3rd grade. It came and went. My parents were out of town and I stayed with their friends. I didn't get much sleep and ended up getting pneumonia. Then when I was in Grade 9, and 14, I got them again. That was 1979 and nobody would have known what is was then and the medication then was pretty grim. Sorry I am starting to ramble. I didn't take anything. I know now that it was clinical depression with some panic attacks thrown in for good measure. I never told anyone, and I convinced myself that it was growing pains. By doing that I realize it was a primitive form of CBT. By convincing myself that everything was normal, the panic went away. The depression took longer to leave. Of course they say now that by taking an AD, you may be able to prevent further depressive episodes. Maybe this is why I still get them every so many years.
The medication can help, and some think it is more effective and works faster, but I think it is far more important at your daughters age to get her some type of counselling, preferrably Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and to let her know she will be okay and that the panic won't kill her. Once she isn't afraid of it, the panic will subside.
You said Celexa made her sick, what do you mean by that?
More than likely there is going to be side-effects from anytype of medication she tries, and if she is anxious, she is going to be bothered by it that much more. All I can say is she is lucky she has a mom that is going to be there for her, and reassure her she is going to be okay.
Posted by EGR on December 18, 2002, at 20:52:43
In reply to Re: My 14 year old must start taking effexor, posted by Jaynee on December 18, 2002, at 20:06:23
My girlfriend's 15 year old has been on 150 mgs of Effexor for almost 2 years. She (the teen) laughed when I told her the problems I was having with Effexor because she hasn't had any (maybe because she IS younger?). I think your daughter will probably do well on it. I don't think the sexual problems it causes will be a problem for her. Good luck... the good news is, there are lots of these drugs out there. The bad news is that there are lots of these drugs out there. One will work.
Posted by cubbybear on December 19, 2002, at 5:46:22
In reply to Re: My 14 year old must start taking effexor, posted by EGR on December 18, 2002, at 20:52:43
Hi,
I read your note and would like to offer whatever suggestion I could. I had my first anxiety/panic episode when I was in my mid teens, and then a real bad one occurred when I was 21. As you've seen from other people's posts, thereare plenty of drugs to choose from these days, but I think that what's equally important in your case is getting the right DOCTOR. You didn't mention what kind of doctor prescribed the Effexor. This is pretty powerful stuff.
It's not a good idea to use your family doctor or GP to evaluate psychological symptoms and decide on an appropriate medication.. While I would certainly agree that counselling can help, I hope that you have chosen a professional (psychiatrist) who is well-trained in anxiety, panic attacks, depression, etc. --a person who knows what would be best for a teenager. Good luck.
Posted by bestmom on December 19, 2002, at 8:39:45
In reply to Re: My 14 year old must start taking effexor, posted by cubbybear on December 19, 2002, at 5:46:22
Thanks to all who answered my post, my daughter is being followed by a psychologist and a psychiatrist, both specialize in the field for troubled children and teens. I would love for her not to have to take medication, but it just seems to be the route to follow, the panic attacks or hyperventalation episodes happen when she least expects them and although she can bring them under control most of the time, there are moments when she gets terrified and really makes it worst. I am grateful that I found this site, and will continue to come here to be helped and encourage those who need it.
Posted by Jaynee on December 20, 2002, at 19:01:55
In reply to Re: My 14 year old must start taking effexor, posted by bestmom on December 19, 2002, at 8:39:45
Posted by bestmom on December 20, 2002, at 22:01:00
In reply to Bestmom, here is an article you should read, posted by Jaynee on December 20, 2002, at 19:01:55
> http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2002/09_02/shugart3.htm
Thanks for the interesting article. My daughter has started taking the effexor 37.5mg broken down into 4 pieces, she started yesterday taking 1/4
So far no side effects, she is a lot happier, and less moody, maybe it's all psychological, but I have seen a big change in her since last night, she is happy, and fun to be with and doesn't complain about body aches and pains as she usually does. Time will tell, anyway thanks again.
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