Just thought I'd share our experience with you: my eight year old was prescribed an OTC reflux med and then a prescription one (for GERD). We've since learned that they made her very anxious. The prescription one built-up in her brain slowly over a three-week period and resulted in OCD and near psychosis. She is better now (took three months to resolve completely), but I am more careful about the meds she takes. There are many family members that have exhibited anxieties and it's possible she may be of that temperament, but until she took those meds, there were no disorder at all. Worse, her psychiatrist didn't want to entertain the thought that the meds might have induced her condition, and insisted she needed high doses of Zoloft. Even when we proved him wrong and she returned to normal and is fine without Zoloft, he still wants us to think there is a mental disorder waiting to come out. Her therapist, pediatrician, the drug mfr and other doctors told us that she has no disorder and not worry anymore. Therefore, please read the side-effects of some meds. There are many that elevate anxiety, cause depression and come on rather slowly. We do not challenge her with meds anymore and make sure she has enough vitamins and minerals. I also make sure she gets her Omega-3 fatty acids and I try to avoid dyes and preservatives (but not strictly -- the kid needs to have some fun!) She shows no signs of anxiety or OCD. However, the experience shook us to the core. Find out the side-effects independently (don't rely solely on the doc who prescribed it).

Take care,
Lee

I just love it when I prove them wrong. Did this on three medications. Funny thing though, as you said, they are never wrong.

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KNOW YOUR MEDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS. I AM PRETTY MUCH SURE MOST DOCTORS ONLY READ THE PATIENT INFORMATION AND LOVE HANDING OUT NEW SAMPLES. THATS HOW I GOT STARTED OUT WITH TWO INTERACTING DRUGS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. STUPID OF ME AND THE DOCTOR. THEN HE GAVE ME ONE THAT INTERACTS WITH BOTH OF THE OTHERS. I'M ONLY ON ONE OF THEM NOW AND I KNOW THE FOUR MEDICATIONS THAT I TAKE VERY WELL. THEY ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO GIVE ME SOMETHING NEW AND I TELL THEM THAT I WILL RESEARCH IT AND GET BACK WITH THEM. IT MAKES THEM SO MAD, BUT OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT THE ONE WITH THE CONDITION OR TAKING THE DRUGS. I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND THAT WHERE I AM AT IS THE BEST I CAN BE AND "NO MORE DRUGS OR DRUG CHANGES". I CAN FIRE THEM AS EASY AS THEY CAN LET ME GO. LEARN YOUR DRUGS

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thanks for that, goodmum,
fancy an 8 year old on zoloft!
anxiety and GERD often do go together, several psychs who specialise in anxiety dont like zoloft type meds at all and prefer valium type meds

sadly many docs and psychs rely on drug company sales reps for all their meds prescribing info and of course they dont get the full story.

avoiding food for say 2 hours before bed helps reduce GERD, also avoid night time refrigerator raids

info about GERD is on the net

thanks HRY33

you'd be surprised how many kids around here take Zoloft or Paxil. Three of her friends take SSRI's for anxiety or OCD! Is it our society that looks for the quick fix, or is there an epidemic amongst our children? Luckily, she has no anxiety disorder, but her temperament is one which she inherited from both sides of her family (I, for one, have the most colorful, successful and interesting relatives all over the world, whose "neurotic" behaviors are viewed with loving humor and acceptance). The cause of her tummy aches is still unknown, but her tendancy to become anxious makes them worse. Initially, GERD was suspected (her Dad suffers from GERD), but they seem to occur only in the autumn, which leads her docs to suspect ragweed allergies (an allergin common in the autumn here which can cause nausea-inducing post-nasal drip). I monitor her foods (for reflux and allergy) and make sure she takes her supplements and she has been brave, creative and wonderful. She'll run from a bee in the backyard and would never share a drink with you, but she'll go rock climbing and submit a story into a writing contest. While I know that medications are useful and necessary in many circumstances, I'm disappointed in the psychiatrist who was so narrow-minded about it that he didn't consider an outside cause for her sudden mental downturn. I just hope others out there can learn from our experience.

Goodmom,

Yes, lots of drugs can cause things like anxiety, depression, even psychosis if the chemicals are toxic to the brain.

The acne drug Accutane is one that got alot of publicity for causing psychosis. Good for you for not accepting what the psychiatrist said. Their bread and butter depends on everyone having anxiety,depression, etc. and drugs like Zoloft and Paxil. I wouldn't always trust they know what they are talking about. Mental disorders waiting to come out? Load of doggy poo...... let me use the famous diabetes arguement(as in people need psych meds like diabetics need insulin) psychiatrists use to illustrate: Does diabetes exist without showing itself unless you take some pill that will unleash it? Is it there but doesn't reveal itself for years? Can they measure and determine proper amounts of the chemicals in the brain synapse like they can measure and know levels of blood sugar........nope, nope, and no. If they want us to believe mental disorders are "biological" the same as other diseases, they must follow the same rules. Nature doesn't bend over backwards because they say so.

I think it's drugs themselves that are really capable of creating chemical changes/disturbance in the brain.