I may repeat this message on a couple of different relevant boards. The recent decision by the FDA, to allow kids as young as 8 yrs old to be given the anti-depressant drug PROZAC, has me wondering what has happened to our common sense! We will now be seeing pediatricians prescribing the drug for kids, just because the parents ask, and without any psychiatric evaluation or diagnosis. What the heck is happening to us? Why is it so difficult for we as parents or the medical profession to see and understand that 90% of depressed (as well as a.d.d.) patients would be helped tremendously, if they'd just begin eating better, pursue more productive daily activities and create healthier environment/surroundings?
I have a 5 year old nephew who is a holy terror. His parents allow him to eat anything he wants. Over 50% of his daily intake is either candy, popcycles, cookies, chips and icecream bars. Another 30% is apples and oranges (which makes his parents think he's eating so well). The remaining 20% is chicken nuggets and french fries (also thought to be healthy choices by his misinformed parents). The kid is happy one minute and throwing a tantrum the next. They never get him to sleep before midnight. And I am sure that in another 3 years, he will be on PROZAC or some similar drug.
I have two nieces (from a different family member), who also have no dietary structure at all. They are both young teens; and have both recently been prescribed PROZAC, because "they are always so moody". Their free time is spent fighting over whose turn it is to play around in the internet chat rooms.
There are three grown adults in their little 3-bedroom house, who are all 3-pack a day cigarette smokers. Wake up people!! Put these kids on a proper diet; get the smoke out of the house; and give them something constructive to do...and you won't need the damn PROZAC!!!
Sorry...but I just had to vent. Curious as to other's opinions on the subject.
[This message has been edited by chitrick (edited 01-04-2003).]
I agree that PROZAC, or any other anti-depressant, seems like a bit much for a child. Although I do not doubt that there are some cases that warrant the decision. Just like I do not doubt that there are some children who truly have ADD or ADHD. In my opinion, most of these diagnoses are false, but there are some children who have this disorder.
I agree that your nephew's moods might be more constant is he did not have such a large intake of sugar. However, I think part of the problem is his parents. Who's the boss in that family? Who runs the show? With the limited information you provide, it sounds like he does.
That being said, I also believe that children should be encouraged to eat what they want, when they want. I believe that part of the obesity epidemic is caused by Americans not listening to the signals their bodies are putting out. And I think this is a trait learned in childhood when children are told they cannot have a treat unless they finish their dinner. I think that removing the "treat" status from certain foods makes them lose their allure and children are more likely to make healthy choices based on their bodies needs. Believe it or not, if your nephew is continually allowed to make his own choices, his diet will probably change on its own. Kids go through phases. And our tastes change as we age.
And as a qualifier - parents have to lead by example eating a majority of their calories in healthy foods like fruit, vegetables, lean protein and complex, unrefined carbohydrates. This makes the foods not only available, but more appealing.
Finally, I do not think the smoke in the house accounts for your nieces mood swings. You don't mention how old they are, just that they are young teens, but I would imagine the moodiness is more related to puberty than to the smoke surrounding them. Not to say that the adults should continue subjecting them to second hand smoke, but that is just a different issue.
Hello, I think a lot of doctors just treat the symptoms and don't look at the causes. I've even seen doctors not listening when it come to multi-symptoms and just treat the first symptom. Then there are doctors that have complete disreguard for family medical history or a patient's medical history and prescribe medicine the patient shouldn't have in the first place. There are also other causes of hyperactivity like lead paint, lack of discipline, chemical imbalances in the brain, food allergies, preservatives, ect. The parent really has to do some research when their child is sick, because the doctor is not always right. It does feel really good though when you do find out the doctor is right occationally.
Chelle...I agree that my nephew's parents are to blame for his behaviors. That was precisely my point. And despite it, I bet that they, like so many other parents, will have the kid on prescribed drugs within a couple of years. It seems that drugs for kids (PROZAC just being the latest), have become the "easy" solution to a multitude of problems that could be remedied through more natural means.
With my nieces...one is 12; the other is 14. I'll agree to an extent that their moodiness is partly a result of growing up. Problem is that they've been "growing up" for as long as I can remember. You'd have to spend some time around them, to see what I mean. I've been around a fair share of adolescent kids; but seldom see any like these two. Maybe, as you say, the smoke in the house has little affect on their overall disposition. But I'll tell you one thing...Whenever I visit that house, I leave feeling dirty, stinky, eyes burning, tired and overall just plain miserable. I can only imagine what it would be like for those kids who have to be there all the time. And again, my point is that these two girls are taking PROZAC for conditions that could probably be explained and remedied naturally.
Chitrick - As gross as visiting a smoky house can be, you don't notice it when you live there. My parents were chain smokers when I was growing up and I never even realized how bad I smelled until I went away to college and wasn't around it all the time.
I agree that doctors often prescribe medications w/o trying other remedies first and that people in general, not just parents, are more than willing to take a pill vs. trying something that requires effort on their part. Its a sad state of affairs, there is no doubt about that.
Poor decisions that doctors make 
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