What Are your Thoughts on Anxiety Medication for Teens?

“What are your thoughts on anxiety medication for teens? My 15-year-old daughter gets shaky and anxious before school some mornings, but I don’t know if meds are the way to go or not.” 

Anxiety medications tend to be effective, but they are most effective when combined with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In this therapy, teenagers are taught skills to manage their anxiety and not to give in to it. With the combination of therapy and medication, their anxiety tends to diminish in a few weeks. Most teenagers are advised to start CBT first and when therapy alone does not work, adding medication is advised. For severe cases, medication can be prescribed first, to reduce the symptoms so the teenager feels well enough to start therapy.  

Three are different types of medications prescribed to treat anxiety. The most common ones are antidepressants (SSRIs such as Prozac or SNRIs such as Cymbalta), benzodiazepines, atypical antipsychotics, alpha agonists, or antihistamines.  

Antidepressants SSRIs tend to be the best medication for teenagers with anxiety.  They improve mood by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that helps regulate worry and stress) in the brain. They usually work quickly (within a week or two) and have little side effects. The exact medication prescribed differs based on the teenager’s diagnosis and the severity of the symptoms.  

However, it is important to know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that in a small number of children and teenagers, antidepressants have been found to increase suicidal thoughts and behaviours.  

I would urge to take to her to see her doctor or a psychiatrist with experience in teen mood disorder, so she gets a proper evaluation and the recommended treatment.  

I hope this information helps. I wish you and your daughter all the very best.  

Love,  

Ana 

Dr Ana Aznar