Posted by Racer on July 13, 2004, at 10:42:45
In reply to Re: Help for my son, posted by Bill LL on July 13, 2004, at 8:57:26
Talk therapy is probably the most useful thing for your son to try now -- in addition to medications, not instead of them -- because even if there is a distinct biochemical imbalance involved, behavior can increase or decrease anxiety. Unfortunately, a lot of insurance companies will cover meds indefinitely, while only covering a few therapy appointments per year, but the therapy really does do a great deal for coping skills.
Has your son tried any of the older anti-depressants? The newer drugs, like the SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil) and Effexor, are quite popular with doctors, because they have fewer side effects than the older drugs. It's a trade off, though, because the newer drugs may not be as effective for as many people as the older, "dirty" drugs. ("Dirty" because they are not as precise in their mechanisms. While the primary focus may be, say, norepinephrine, they'll also hit serotonin or dopamine or one of the other neurotransmitters. SSRIs, by contrast, hit serotonin pretty exclusively. Thus, "clean" drugs.) While that's good -- cleaner action generally means fewer side effects -- it also means that for people who need a little tweaking on several transmitters, the newer drugs are less likely to provide complete remission. It may be that your son would respond better to a TCA or even an MAOI than he does to one of the newer drugs.
As someone who has also suffered from depression with some anxiety since childhood, I'll tell you I believe that there is hope for your son. He's already one up on the game, because he has a father who is providing emotional and practical support. (Even if the only thing you did was post here, that's still practical support -- at least in my book.) That level of social support, familial support, is so crucial to a good outcome. That alone can improve your son's chances for an optimal outcome.
Best luck to you, and to your son.
poster:Racer
thread:365502
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040712/msgs/365635.html