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How do you choose which SSRI to start for child/teen depression? Dr. Elise Fallucco and Dr. Michaela Denison discuss the 3 SSRIs w/ best evidence for depression treatment in kids and teens :

o   Fluoxetine (Prozac)= FDA-approved for depression 8 yo+, activating, long half-life;  Good for kids with fatigue, low motivation

o   Sertraline (Zoloft)=  Works quickly, dose at night to help with sleep; Good for kids w/ initial insomnia

o   Escitalopram (Lexapro)=  FDA-approved for depression 12 yo+,weight gain; Response/side effects moderated by cytochrome p450 2C19 phenotype

** Potential challenges in treating depression

***3 questions to ask kids at follow-up on antidepressant meds

1 – Compliance: (and what time of day are yout taking it?)

2 – Benefit: have you noticed improvement in mood, sleep, energy, motivation?

3 – Side effects: activation, sleep problems, HA, GI side effects ?

***We also talk about our Magic SSRI dosing card to help pediatric clinicians treat DEPRESSION AND/or ANXIETY-       available our website Psyched4Peds.com 

Dr. Elise Fallucco, child psychiatrist, mom, and host of PsychEd4Peds, specializes in adolescent depression and suicidality.  She brings over 14 years experience in training pediatric clinicians to identify and treat mental health problems.

Dr. Michaela Denison, child psychiatrist, mom, and co-host of this episode of PsychEd4Peds,  is the founding Director of the Lockbag program to prevent youth overdoses at the University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville. (UF-Jax) She also serves as the Associate Program Director for the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UF-Jax.

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On-demand CME Course online at:  Pediatric Mental Health CME Toolkit - Cracking the ADHD Code: Essentials for Pediatric Clinicians.