Re: re: Should we go off Lexapro after only 7 weeks for fea...

[Guest guest]

Hi Staci,

I'm pretty new to OCD, we've only had the diagnosis since Oct. Micah (11)

just started on Lexapro this morning.

Micah has Tourette syndrome, OCD and ADD, the psychiatrist that gave him

Lexapro is aware of the TS.

Micah has feel right OCD to...and symmetry OCD.

I read where it can cause tics in some children, but want to assure you that

those tics are not TS. Kids are born with TS, as it is a genetic disorder,

they believe damage to the 13 chromosome.

So taking Lexapro cant give her TS. That said it might give her tics, and if

Lexapro does make TS worse it might bring out something that's already there,

but hasn't been diagnosed yet.

We'll watch to see If Micah's tics get worse, but since he has TS, they may

get worse anyway.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, just wanted to assure you that you

cant get TS from Lexapro. I do wish you and your daughter the best.

In a message dated 12/9/2008 5:21:44 P.M. Central Standard Time,

sharper2u@... writes:

Hi everyone,

(warning...long email question...sorry! and thanks to any who read

all the way through!)

We are in need of some help...

Our OCD therapist recommends considering taking our dd off Lexapro

due to possible tics in future. And I need any & all advice I can

get to make the best informed decision I can for our dd (even though

everyone is different and there is no crystal ball to look into the

future).

Sigh...

Our 11yo dd has the " just needs to feel right " & reassurance OCD.

She started ERP Therapy and Lexapro only 7 weeks ago. She has been

going very slow & low with the lexapro (liquid). She started at 1ml,

increasing every 5 days a ml, and is now at 10ml. She is supposed to

go to 15ml and stay there for awhile per her child psychiatrist. So

she's not on a therapeutic dose level yet.

However, we recently learned from her ERP Therapist that she has a

cough tic, that meds can bring about tics, and that the " just needs

to feel right " OCD is closer to TS on the OCD spectrum line and so

more tics is a definite possibility if we keep her on meds.

Her therapist also said that if she develops more tics, that going

off the meds will not stop the tics and that if it was her child she

would go off the medicine as developing tics would be worse than what

she has now. I guess meaning we could " give " (for lack of a better

term) her TS with the meds even though she " only " has OCD now.

It seems her therapist may believe our dd can attack her ocd without

the meds and just with the ERP Therapy. But she really doesn't know

for sure and she can't tell us what to do.

In the past 7 weeks on Lexapro & ERP therapy, our dd has improved

about 15% but still has severe OCD that affects her entire life.

Has anyone weaned off meds completely before even reaching a

therapeutic dose (with the first-ever med) just to not get possible

tics and fight with the ERP therapy only after?

I'm so confused as to what to do that I just need any & all

advice/comments etc.

Thanks SO much in advance if anyone has any words of wisdom for us!

Staci

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