What is a good antidepressant for a teenager?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and their analogues, including venlafaxine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline, are generally reserved for use in children and adolescents. Although SSRIs and SNRIs with little or no resemblance to SSRIs have been studied, they generally have not been used in children and adolescents.
Because each SSRI has its own list of possible side effects, it is difficult to give precise guidelines about which SSRI to use with which medications. It is generally recommended that SSRIs and SNRIs be used in combination with counseling regarding interpersonal and family issues, including the possibility of suicide.
Additionally, it can be difficult to tell the true extent of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents. In some cases, suicidal thoughts and behaviors occur in response to an SSRI, but then quickly improve to the point where the patient feels better—an experience called “suicide by SSRI.
Although it is not clear that SSRIs and SNRIs cause suicide, they may be used as a weapon of abuse.
