SSRI's not suitable for children!

Yes, thank goodness they've woken up to that. But this bit I can hardly believe:

"The exception is Prozac, which is licensed for use in depressed children in the US. But the MHRA will warn that, at best, it helps only one child in 10."

You can prescribe a drug that will help one child in 10 regardless of the fact that that is lower than the average placebo response? And what does it do to the other 9? Sure as heck doesn't leave them feeling 'just the same'.

At what age are you considered an adult by doctors? I'm 16 and have been taking Cipramil for about 8 weeks. I found my suicidal thoughts increased after about 2 weeks, and I actually attempted suicide after about 3 weeks of taking it, which I find really worrying. I found that these thoughts became much much less frequent within 5 weeks of starting on the drug though.

Laz

Hi Laz a big wellcome to the forum

I guess the age and which a child becomes an adult (as far as the way they respond to drug treatment is concerned) would be 18 to 20 years old which is about the time that brain development-(particularly the pre-frontal lobes) is complete. I hope things are going well for you.

Best wishes

Mark

Hmm... not sure about this - I think they may differentiate between children and teenagers. Anyone else know for sure?

Just had word - 'children' means 18 and under, which is great news. Thank god kids brains will have the chance to develop properly and GPs will be forced to look for more effective and healthy ways to help them (OR just prescribe Prozac of course )

So is there evidence to show that SSRIs impair or alter brain development in under-18s?

Laz

Not sure laz, but there is definite evidence that your brain does not complete its development until 18 or even 20 or 21 I believe. If there was definite evidence of impairment I doubt it would have taken until now for them to be banned.

Roger