Medications

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS

Anti-depressants are used to treat children who show physical symptoms of depression, such as disturbances in appetite, sleep, and energy levels.

Trade Names: Tofranil, Janimine, Presamine, SK-Pramine

Side Effects: Sleepiness, nightmare, dry mouth, ataxia(trouble walking), low blood pressure, high blood pressure, heart changes, insomnia, blurred vision, blood abnormalities, Parkinsonism, restlessness

Generic Names: Imipramine

Why Prescribed: Depression for children 12 years and over. Enuresis for children 6 years and over

Comments: Used with caution in children with seizure disorders. Should be stopped slowly, as children can have marked symptoms that are like a flu with no fever.

Trade Names: Prozac, Zoloft, Anafranil, Serzone, Luvox, Effexor, Paxil

Side Effects: Sleeplessness, agitation, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, dry mouth, rapid heart rate

Generic Names: Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Clomipramine-Nefazodone, Fluvoxamine,Venlafaxine, Paroxetine

Why Prescribed:Depression (Prozac, Zoloft, Serzone, Effexor, Paxil) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Prozac, Zoloft, Anafranil, Luvox, Serzone, Paxil)

Comments: Should not be used immediately after a Mono-amine-oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) has been tried.Sleeplessness may bemarked and require asecond drug being added.

Trade Names: Elavil, Amitid, Endep, Amitril, Sk Amitriptyline

Side Effects: Sleepiness, nightmares, dry mouth, ataxia, low blood pressure, high blood pressure heart changes, insomnia,blurred vision, blood abnormalities

Generic Name: Amitriptyline

Why Prescribed: Depression for children 12 and over

Comments: Used with caution in children with seizure disorders.

SEDATIVES

Sedatives are used to treat agitation, anxiety, and insomnia in children.

Trade Name: Benadryl

Side Effects: Excessive sleepiness, dry mucous membranes, skin rash

Generic Name: Diphenhydramine

Why Prescribed: Hyperactivity, anxiety, sleep disorders, allergies, (e.g., hives)

Comments: Also used for treatment of muscular side effects of major tranquilizers. Primarily used as antihistamine.

Trade Name: Xanax

Side Effects: Drowsiness, depression, headache, confusion, insomnia, rigidity, dry dermatitis

Generic Name: Alprazolam

Why Prescribed: Excessive anxiety, panic attacks, school phobia

Comments: If stopped abruptly, may suffer convulsions.

STIMULANTS

Stimulants are used to treat children who have poor attention spans or are hyperactive. Although these drugs are used at higher doses to stimulate adults, they are used at lower doses in children and have the effect of focusing their activities and attention more productively.

Trade Name: Ritalin

Side Effects: Anorexia, irritability, insomnia, weight loss, abdominal pain, interference with skeletalgrowth, mood swings, headache, variable blood pressure response, heart changes, occasionally will overstimulate

Generic Name: Methylphenidate

Why Prescribed: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Comments: Not usually used under 6 years of age. Height and weight should be checked every six months. Used with caution in children with seizure disorders.

Trade Name: Dexedrine

Side Effects: Anorexia, irritability, insomnia, weight loss, abdominal pain, occasionally will overstimulate, headache, variable blood pressure response, heart changes, mood swings

Generic Name: Dextroamphetamine

Why Prescribed: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Comments: May be used as youngas 3 years of age. Usedwith caution in children withseizure disorders.

Trade Name: Cylert

Side Effects: Anorexia, insomnia, mood swings, irritability, weight loss, abdominal pain, occasionallywill overstimulate, headache, variable blood pressure response, heart changes,interference with skeletal growth

Generic Name: Magnesium Pemoline

Why Prescribed: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Comments: Efficacy unproved. Not used under 6 years of age. Height and weight should be checked every six months. Used with caution in children with seizure disorders. Should have liver status checked regularly, as it may cause serious liver problems.

Trade Name: Adderal

Side Effects: Same as dextroamphetamine

Generic Name: d and l amphetamine

Why Prescribed: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Comments: May require less frequent doses than Ritalin or Dexedrine, which can be more manageable for children especially during the school year.

ANTI-PSYCHOTIC AGENTS

Use of anti-psychotic agents should generally be reserved for children with serious disorders, characterized by excessive agitation, aggressiveness, or psychosis. These medications can cause major short- and long-term side effects, so they should only be used when a situation is serious enough to risk these side effects. Other names for antipsychotics are neuroleptics, major tranquilizers, and phenothiazines.

Trade Names: Thorazine, Chloramead, Chlordryprom, Chlor Promanyl, Largactil, Promachlor, Promapar, Promosol, Terpium, Sonazine

Side Effects: Sleepiness, irritability, dry mouth, swollen abdomen, blood abnormalities, liver abnormalities, skin reactions, light sensitivity, dystonic, muscle spasm and stiffness, nasal stuffiness, constipation, Parkinson-like tremors. Long-term effects - changes in skin color, cataracts, tardive dyskinesia

Generic Name: Chlorpromazine

Why Prescribed: Severe anxiety, agitation, aggression, psychosis

Comments: Used with caution in children with seizure disorders.

Trade Name: Haldol

Side Effects: Stiffness, sleepiness, irritability, dry mouth, swollen abdomen, blood abnormalities, liver abnormalities, skin reactions, light sensitivity, changes in skin coloring with high doses over long time, cataracts, tardive dyskinesia. Parkinson-like tremors

Generic Name: Haloperidol

Why Prescribed: Severe anxiety, agitation, aggresion, psychosis, Tourette's Syndrome (multiple tics)

Comments: Used with caution in childrenwith seizure disorders.

Side Effects: Sleepiness, blurry vision, dry mouth, nasal stuffiness, constipation, tardive dyskinesia,heart problems

Generic Name: Thioridazine

Why Prescribed: Severe anxiety, agitation, aggression, psychosis, or to calm children who are tense or agitated, for behavioral control

Comments: Used with caution in children with seizure disorders.

Trade Names: Stelazine, Clinazine, Novoflurazine, Pentazine, Solazine, Terfluzine, Triflurin, Tripazine

Side Effects: Dystonic muscle spasm and stiffness, sleepiness, irritability, dry mouth, swollen abdomen, blood abnormalities, liver abnormalities, skin reactions, light sensitivity, changes in skin coloring with high doses over long time, tardive dyskinesia

Generic Name: Trifluoperazine

Why Prescribed: Severe anxiety, agitation, aggresion, psychosis

Comments: Used with caution in children with seizure disorders.

Trade Names: Zyprexa, Risperdal

Side Effects: Dizziness, sedation, constipation, may be less likely to cause tardive dyskinesia but have not been used long enough to know this for sure

Generic Names: Olanzepine, Risperidone

Why Prescribed: Severe agitation or aggression, psychosis

Comments: These medications are some-times called the "novel" anti-psychotics. They may cause less troublesome side effects.

ANTI-CONVULSANTS

These medications were developed to treat various types of seizure problems, including grand and petite mal and temporal lobe seizures. They are being used increasingly to treat different types of psychiatric disorders, including mania, bipolar disorder, and serious aggressive outbursts.

Trade Names: Tegretol, Depakote

Side Effects: Blood problems, ataxia, drow-siness, hair loss, nausea, blurred and double vision, dizziness. Prone to causeinteractions with other medications

Generic Names: Carbamazepine, Valproic Acid

Why Prescribed: Serious agitation and aggression, mania, bipolar disorder

Comments: These medications should be monitored by blood levels as they may cause toxic states.