Depression medication for teens

What is the best ADD medication for teens? Are drugs for depression safe for teens? Does DBT work for teen depression?

SSRIs are considered the preferred medications for treating depression in adolescents because they have fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants (Reference 2). Other common SSRI antidepressant medications include sertraline ( Zoloft ), paroxetine ( Paxil ), citalopram ( Celexa ) and fluvoxamine ( Luvox ). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for teen depression — fluoxetine ( Prozac ) and escitalopram ( Lexapro ).

For many teens , antidepressants combined with psychotherapy are an effective way to treat depression. One approach was using the antidepressant medication Prozac , which is approved by the FDA for use with pediatric patients ages 8-18. The second treatment was using cognitive behavioral therapy , or CBT, to help the teen recognize and change negative patterns of thinking that may increase symptoms of depression. Most children who take antidepressants for depression will improve with medication.

However, combining medication with talk therapy (psychotherapy) is likely to be even more effective. Many types of psychotherapy may be helpful, but cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy have been scientifically studied and shown to be effective for treating depression. After all, all teenagers can be moody at times.

Depression in teens is more severe and more persistent than typical growing pains.

If your teen suffers from two or more of the signs of depression for longer than two weeks, they may be facing the painful effects of a depressive episode. The study looked at the effectiveness and safety of two antidepressants in teenagers. One of the drugs was paroxetine ( Paxil ), which may sound familiar to you. The other drug was called imipramine.

It’s probably less familiar to you because doctors no longer use it much to treat depression. Describe your concerns and ask about your treatment options. While some primary care physicians and pediatricians feel comfortable prescribing anti-anxiety medications to teens , others may refer children to psychiatrists. Psychiatrists are specialists who treat mental health disorders. Outpatient therapy is often a very effective treatment for depression.

Talk therapy may involve helping your teen change the way they think or it could involve changing some of their behavior that reinforces their feelings of depression (like sleeping all day on the weekends). Therapy may also involve the family. Medications are commonly used to treat teen depression , though their long-term effects on teens are not well studied. The most common type of medication prescribed for teens is the SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) fluoxetine, or Prozac.

Treatment options for teen depression may include lifestyle adjustments, psychotherapy, and medication for moderate to severe depression. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) and cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ) are the two major approaches commonly used to treat teen depression. Excessive stress, including academic stress and social stress.

Family disruptions, such as divorce, relocating, illness.

Gender identity issues. Chronic illness, such as diabetes. Other types of teen depression , such as psychotic depression and treatment-resistant depression , also exist. Factors that help diagnose a depressive disorder include genetics, upbringing, behavior, pre-existing physical and mental health conditions, lifestyle, hormone levels, and more.

Common Antidepressants for Teens. Different kinds of depression medications target different neurotransmitters. When a teen has depression , counseling and antidepressants are often offered as options for treatment, especially if the depression is considered moderate or severe.

Benzodiazepines— Benzodiazepines are not considered a first course of treatment for teens with anxiety because there is a risk of developing a tolerance to the drug and becoming addicted. Benzodiazepines include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). Understanding teen depression. The teen years can be extremely tough and depression affects teenagers far more often than many of us realize.

In fact, it’s estimated that one in five adolescents from all walks of life will suffer from depression at some point during their teen years. Learn about a depression medication and how it may help treat depression. Find treatment resources as well as safety and clinical data pertinent to doctors.