Markos
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Joined: 03 Mar 2006
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 Posted: 06/09/06 - 10:33 Post subject: Eight-year-olds allowed to use Prozac |
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Prozac belongs to a group called as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Besides causing many disturbing side effects, Prozac has been found to put people at increased risk of suicidal behaviour and thoughts and has been ruled unsafe for adolescent.
However, it has been decided that benefits of Prozac alone outweighed the risks, and that along with on-going psychological therapy could be given to children younger than 18. Every child who starts using Prozac will have to be monitored and if no results are seen in 9 weeks time, the drug should be discontinued.
Treatment of children with Prozac should start with 10 mg per day and the dose should be gradually increased to 20 mg per day.
Children must be carefully monitored because previous experience with another anti-depressant Seroxat, should that the drug was inducing aggressive and suicidal feelings in children and adults. Scientists report that monitoring is essential, so that the same thing wouldn’t happen with Prozac.
Also, children will be followed in order to see if the drug is having an impact on their sexual development.
Doctors believe that the combination of appropriate medication and other behavioral therapies should be able to provide benefits for the children in need. |
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