Posted by jtc on March 14, 2003, at 13:38:25
In reply to CHILDREN EFFEXOR, posted by dde on March 12, 2003, at 9:42:09
> I have noticed several references of children under the age of 18 being put on this medication. I would say "Parents Beware." PLEASE NOTE: IN OCTOBER 2002 WYETH APPLIED TO THE FDA TO ADD PEDIATRIC ADHD AND DEPRESSION TO ITS LIST OF INDICATIONS. ON FEBRUARY 12, 2003 THE FDA DENIED THE REQUEST, STATING THAT INSUFFICIENT RESEARCH HAD BEEN DONE AND THAT LAWSUITS WERE PENDING. You can read this for yourself by going to the FDA website.
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> Children do not know how to express all the symptoms, and we, as parents and not experiencing them, cannot relate or pick up on them.
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> Have your child tested for bi-polar, it cycles fast in children and is often misdiagnosed as ADHD or ADD. If your child is crying a lot and is very sad, with ADHD, PLEASE do some research before you put him or her on Effexor.
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> I didn't and lost my child to this medication. Needless to say, I am doing the homework now and encouraging people to get second or third opinions before allowing Wyeth to use their child as a guinea pig.
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> Best regards, deDear de,
Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to hear about your child. I am responding to your post because my 8 1/2 year daughter is taking Effexor XR 37.5 mg for anxiety. I am very worried especially since you said you lost your child to this medication. What happened to your child? Please share any information that you have on this medication with me. My child has taken it since November 2002. I am going to take her off of it in May when school is out and I will not put her on it again. If she still needs medication for her anxiety we will try a different one. She is having more outbursts at home such as she gets mad when she doesn't get her way. Her psychiatrist says she should take the Effexor until school is out. She was having difficulty in school with staying focused so we had her tested for ADD with a psychologist. He said she does not have ADD but she does have a lot of anxiety for a child her age, so he referred us to a child psychiatrist who thought the Effexor could help her. I was very afraid to put her on effexor because I take it and I am trying to go off it right now and having problems with that. Even my psychiatrist told me that there is no research on the effects of this medication on children and that you wonder what effect it will have on the developing mind of a child. I do have to say that it has helped her with the anxiety but I don't know if it is worth it because of the risks to her. Please advise.
Thanks, jc
poster:jtc
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030314/msgs/209098.html