Robin & Lexapro

[Guest Lulu]

Hi Robin,

 

I was reading your post from January when your son was asking to be put back on the Lexapro. Maybe by now you've done it but just wanted to add my 2 cents! Be advised that in the Laxapro insert it says that "less than 2%" of people taking the drug will develop tics. That's what happened with my son and just wanted you to be aware..Don't know what happens if they already have them...

 

Lulu

[RTO1214]

LuLu, Thanks for the information. I had not noticed that in the patient insert.

 

I hate to say that we did put my son back on 10mg of Lexapro per day. I am so disappointed that other methods did not work for him.

 

He was not able to function in school. He was so anxious and in Panic mode that he would literally cry most of the day. For a 10 year boy that is very embrassing and his classmates were wondering what was wrong with him .

 

I do want to try other methods this summer and am planning on getting some more testing done for food allergies, etc. and try and wean him off the SSRI.

 

He has been on it for 2 weeks now and is still struggling but things are slowly getting better. He did not have an increase in tics with Lexapro in the past.

 

He did have an increase in tics when we tried Zoloft. The increase was very fast. We noticed the tics increasing after just 3 days on Zoloft.

 

Thanks again for the post. Robin

[Susan]

Do not feel bad to medicate you child, if he had another disease and it was necessary you would do so. I tried everything even bringing someone into my house to help. My son is also ADD and OCD and the only thing that helped him was Abilify. He is on 5 mg in morning and takes nothing else except vitimans, he was unable to grade the first quarter of school while I was trying the natural way. He continued to lick his desk and mumble and could not pay attention at all !! The second quarter on abilify he is all A's and B's and our life at home is much happier. I don't have to stand in the bath while he takes a shower, I only have to ask once to get the shoes tied, no anger rages, he is popular in school. Of course I continue to do what is healthy for our family with whole foods and less TV, but not because of tics now, because our time is better spent.

[RTO1214]

Susan, Thanks so much for the kind words. I have been feeling like such an awful mother for having a 10 year old on Lexapro.

 

We tried Inositol, St. Johns Wort. and some other herbal remedies. Nothing seemed to help. We still are having crying in the morning before school but he made it through today and his teacher said he had a much better day when I picked him up.

 

We are able to keep his tics very low with the Vitamins.

 

The ADD is another issue but at this point I just want him to be happy and not have so many fears. I am longing for the day when he can fall asleep on his own without Mom. My sons grades in School are average and for now that is good enough. Thanks again, Robin.