Re: Question RE Medication

[Guest guest]

Kmikiahh, I would call the doc back and tell him/her the dose may need to be

increased. How long has he been on it? I have been on celexa and another son

started on celexa. He was having racing thoughts and anxiety/depression. The

celexa was not really helping to bring down the anxiety, after a week or so. I

had personally switched to Lexapro which was more helpful for the anxiety. I

got him in to the pdoc and the pdoc recommended switching to Lexapro, similar

med. to celexa so was able to move over to Lexapro, comparable dose. Celexa

therapeutic dose is 20 m., Lexapro 10 m. Lex. is generic now so not so

expensive. If you can get him in to the pdoc, try hard b/c I spun my wheels too

long before getting my OCD son in to the pdoc. Too much wasted time. He is

really thin so the pdoc could look at those issues too.

Roy-17, OCD/anxiety/depression, ADD.

>

> I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After posting,

here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

>

> Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical dose due

to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose, schedule,

and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

>

> Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

>

> Thanks,

> Kmikiah

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kmikiah,

We found starting low dose and going slowly with dose increases best for ours

(15 at the time), also very med sensitive. Increases by smallest amount

possible at three week intervals worked best. If you find he responds well to

dose increase, no negative effects, then you could increase faster.

The advantage to going slowly though, is that you can see the minimum amount

needed for best effect and helps minimize any negative effects of higher doses.

It CAN take up to three months to see the full effects of any dose though, so it

can be a slow process. As one who experienced big problems with the higher

doses, I'm a big advocate of going slow.

How long has it been now and what are you seeing so far? Any positive

improvement? Sometimes it seems to get worse at first, and this can be an

indicator that the medication is impacting. Usually three to five days any

negative effects should start to settle down, and then keep becoming less. If

this is not the case, then it may not be the best med choice, just need to try

another. If you are not seeing improvement yet, but no negative effects, it is

best to give it longer, as it really can take three months or more. Too much

switching around can be destabilizing too.

Ours takes celexa too. He is fine at 10-20mg but got into big difficulties at

higher doses (ie. behavior/impuse control, mood). They do recommend going to

60mg with celexa, and some/many do need the higher doses, but some do not. Only

way to know is to go slow enough. Ours had positive response almost right away,

not typical, but may be indicative of sensitivity too. I'm the same.

Other thought, if you have any close relative who has had a positive result with

any of the ssri's this can be a med to consider.

As mentioned, it is best to have a pdoc on board. If you are not already

booked to see one I would do this. If your son is med sensitive esp you want to

best expertise available to advise and navigate this.

Warmly,

Barb

Canada

Son, 21, OCD, LD Plus

>

> I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After posting,

here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

>

> Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical dose due

to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose, schedule,

and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

>

> Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

>

> Thanks,

> Kmikiah

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kmikiah,

We found starting low dose and going slowly with dose increases best for ours

(15 at the time), also very med sensitive. Increases by smallest amount

possible at three week intervals worked best. If you find he responds well to

dose increase, no negative effects, then you could increase faster.

The advantage to going slowly though, is that you can see the minimum amount

needed for best effect and helps minimize any negative effects of higher doses.

It CAN take up to three months to see the full effects of any dose though, so it

can be a slow process. As one who experienced big problems with the higher

doses, I'm a big advocate of going slow.

How long has it been now and what are you seeing so far? Any positive

improvement? Sometimes it seems to get worse at first, and this can be an

indicator that the medication is impacting. Usually three to five days any

negative effects should start to settle down, and then keep becoming less. If

this is not the case, then it may not be the best med choice, just need to try

another. If you are not seeing improvement yet, but no negative effects, it is

best to give it longer, as it really can take three months or more. Too much

switching around can be destabilizing too.

Ours takes celexa too. He is fine at 10-20mg but got into big difficulties at

higher doses (ie. behavior/impuse control, mood). They do recommend going to

60mg with celexa, and some/many do need the higher doses, but some do not. Only

way to know is to go slow enough. Ours had positive response almost right away,

not typical, but may be indicative of sensitivity too. I'm the same.

Other thought, if you have any close relative who has had a positive result with

any of the ssri's this can be a med to consider.

As mentioned, it is best to have a pdoc on board. If you are not already

booked to see one I would do this. If your son is med sensitive esp you want to

best expertise available to advise and navigate this.

Warmly,

Barb

Canada

Son, 21, OCD, LD Plus

>

> I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After posting,

here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

>

> Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical dose due

to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose, schedule,

and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

>

> Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

>

> Thanks,

> Kmikiah

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, and Barb, for your helpful responses.

started on Lexapro the middle of June 2012 at 1ml. He had worked up to 6ml

by last week when we switched to Celexa because Medicaid wouldn't cover Lexapro.

He is taking 4ml of Celexa now, with instructions to increase by 1ml every

Friday. He checks in with the pediatrician again on August 13.

So, he's really only been on medication for a little over a month. It seems that

the OCD has gotten more severe (for example, whereas was previously

concerned about inhaling tangible things like flour dust generated by baking, he

is now worried about breathing in the dust particles that are just naturally in

the air), anxiety has heightened somewhat, and has lost weight though he

swears he's not eating less (don't know if medication has anything to do with

this). In some way, however, he seems to me to be a little stronger in himself

�� more self-aware and more ready for change.

We have not seen a pdoc, but this is a good idea. Again, our small town only has

one (a different person than the OCD " expert " , who we have a one time

consultation with next week).

My son's father and I emailed 's therapist last night to state our wishes

that she begin CBT/ERP with immediately. With school just around the bend

and feeling like he's gotten virtually no where with talk therapy, we feel

like there has to be some " hands on " working going on. just barely passed

10th grade and was only able to do so on a 504 plan and a significantly reduced

schedule. The therapist has told us that, while she's not an ocd expert, she

does have training and experience in CBT/ERP, and that she currently has other

clients with OCD, so I hope she can deliver what we need.

With gratitude for your kindness and time,

Kmikiah

> >

> > I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After posting,

here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

> >

> > Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical dose

due to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose,

schedule, and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

> >

> > Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Kmikiah

> >

>

[Guest guest]

FYI,

5ml of Celexa carries 10mg active ingredient

> > >

> > > I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After

posting, here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

> > >

> > > Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical dose

due to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose,

schedule, and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

> > >

> > > Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Kmikiah

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

FYI,

5ml of Celexa carries 10mg active ingredient

> > >

> > > I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After

posting, here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

> > >

> > > Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical dose

due to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose,

schedule, and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

> > >

> > > Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Kmikiah

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Kmikiah wrote: FYI, 5ml of Celexa carries 10mg active ingredient.

Boy, did you bring back memories! Not being familiar with, knowing, metric

measurements - which I guess ml is? -- when went on liquid Celexa, my

plan was to start low and slowly go up. The bottle said 1 tsp equals 5 ml. (or

something like that)

Sooo -- I give him the 1 tsp a few days. Then I want to go up (thinking work up

to 10mg) - so I start giving him 2 teaspoons a day. You can see where this is

going?? We were supposed to work up to taking...I think 20mg by the time we

went back to psych in a month. And so me thinking 2 teaspoons is equal to 10mg?

He was on 40 mg after 2 weeks! (me thinking it was 20) We were running out of

medication so I go back to pharmacy, frantic. Got it explained to me.

And this was the son I was so sure was " sensitive " to everything and wanted to

be careful with for minimum side effects, etc. So glad I was running out of the

med, imagine his dose if I hadn't!

> > > >

> > > > I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After

posting, here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

> > > >

> > > > Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical

dose due to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose,

schedule, and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

> > > >

> > > > Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > > Kmikiah

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Kmikiah wrote: FYI, 5ml of Celexa carries 10mg active ingredient.

Boy, did you bring back memories! Not being familiar with, knowing, metric

measurements - which I guess ml is? -- when went on liquid Celexa, my

plan was to start low and slowly go up. The bottle said 1 tsp equals 5 ml. (or

something like that)

Sooo -- I give him the 1 tsp a few days. Then I want to go up (thinking work up

to 10mg) - so I start giving him 2 teaspoons a day. You can see where this is

going?? We were supposed to work up to taking...I think 20mg by the time we

went back to psych in a month. And so me thinking 2 teaspoons is equal to 10mg?

He was on 40 mg after 2 weeks! (me thinking it was 20) We were running out of

medication so I go back to pharmacy, frantic. Got it explained to me.

And this was the son I was so sure was " sensitive " to everything and wanted to

be careful with for minimum side effects, etc. So glad I was running out of the

med, imagine his dose if I hadn't!

> > > >

> > > > I recently introduced myself and my son, , to this group. After

posting, here, I received encouragement from several people to get up to a

therapeutic dose of Celexa and begin CBT as soon as possible.

> > > >

> > > > Since the doctor (family practice dr.) started at a sub-clinical

dose due to sensitivities, I don't really know what a typical starting dose,

schedule, and therapeutic dose are for an 89lb 16 year old with OCD.

> > > >

> > > > Do any of you have any info or insight about this?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > > Kmikiah

> > > >

> > >

> >

>