Re: Should we go off Lexapro (Cathy)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks SO much for your input. May I ask when you first knew Micah

had TS? And did the TS & OCD appear at the same time? Thanks so

much again. I really appreciate it.

Staci

>

> 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

>

>

>

>

>

> **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email,

and

> favorite sites in one place. Try it now.

> (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-

dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)

>

>

>